Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15

darkness being broken by vivid flashes OF
lightning. giving the sky blood-ltke color.
with short. heavy peals OF thunder inter-
epersed.
These moments were terribie-very ter
ribie Yes, Il was a veritable hell
Asked II his scientific observations had
yielded valuable results. Prof. Matteucci
replied:
Conservation was extremely difiicult IN
der such disturbing conditions. The seis-
matte instruments were badly affected Dy
the electrical intensity. each explosion be-
ing announced by violent movement OF
the Instruments. which seemed ready TO
burst into pieces.
Prof Matteucci sounded long, rasping
RI like a succession of quick taps on a
drum. which, he said. resembled the noise
made by the seismograph when affected
by a violent explosion
Comparison Of Eruptions.
Compared with other great erupuons.
continued the observer. this is one of the
most important In the history of Vesuvius
Its effects are less terrible than those OF
the eruption In the year 20. when Pompefi
was buried. but II equals In Intensity the
great eruptions of 1881 and 1872. What re-
suits this eruption will yield to science
Is not yet certain. Eruptions are not ex-
act in science. You cannot count on Vesu-
yius; each of It's eruptions has Its charac-
'eristics This was marked by an
abundance OF electrical phenomena. l have
already collected quantities OF cinders and
scoria for comparison with similar matter
from other eruptions and later l Will collect
large stones.
The professor pointed to the shelves in
his laboratory. where there were plates
containing cinders varying in size and bot
-les filled with ashes. and there were also
in the room enormous stones, each labeled
witn the date of its election from the vol
cano.
Asked concerning Mount Vesuvius In the
future, Pro-. Matteucct replied:
Uncertain About Future.
Il am unable to tell with any degree of
certainty. 1 sincerely hope this eruption is
over: but who can tell whether such an
other terrible CONFUSION may not come
Auring the next minute. However all my
indications point to period of calm for
the next few days, and, therefore, 1 am
hopeful. But l was hopeful last night. al
though a serious explosion occurred at 10
o'clock in the evening without any warn
ing"
Prof. Matteucci handed the correspondent
stone the size Of a three-inch shell as
souvenir Of his visit, saying These are
very precious stones. Some of them have
hit me at one time or another. They rep
resent my wounds" He then led the way
TO his sleeping quarters. which showed the
confusion that existed throughout the do
nestle branch of the observatory during
the eruption. AS he returned to the portico
Vesuvius gave another deep groan. ending
with fearful explosion, which blew off
a portion Of its new cone.
A Majestic Spectacle.
See exclaimed the professor. the erup-
ton may be resumed at any moment. That
explosion rent the westerly cone"
Mount Vesuvius presented a majestic
spectacle from this point of vantage at the
observatory. This was far inside the outer
circle OF smoke which hides the volcano
from Naples. The great monster stood out
clearly under the bright sunlight. 1t was
entirely white. like a snow-covered noun
tain, for the ashes had turned its former
deep green color.