Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-03
THE ERUPTION OF vEsUvIUs.
Scientific Summary of the outburst
and It's Results.
From the Geographical Journal.

From the Geogrhpnical Jouihhi-
Among the earliest scientists to visit We
suvius after the late eruption was DR.. Ven
turino Sabatini. from whose report the fol-
lowing description OF the outburst and It's
results has been taken. The eruption
brought to close a phase In the activity
of the volcano which had lasted thirty
years, during which period the crater formed
In 1872 became gradually filed by the quiet
yelling up of lava In the interior. only
few of the eruptions making their effects
visible externally. though in course of time
the piling up of material changed the pro-
file Of the summit considerably
Between and 6 am. on April a assure
opened on the southeastern side of the cone
at an altitude of 5000 feet. an avalanche of
blocks of all dimensions destroying the AL
bergo Firoenza, while a narrow stream of
lava flowed down a gully of the mountain
side. At 3 pm. the small lateral cone fell
in. and dense column of smoke rose above
the crater black ashes falling at Naples in
the evening. On April second assure
opened at a lower level, and a lava stream
flowed two and one-half miles TO within
some 500 yards of Bosco Trecase On the
9th still more copious stream poured
forth. and by midday of the 18th had APP
preached TO about 800 yards from Tore
Annunzlata. BY the evening the main era
ter began to hurl out huge white hot blocks.
with the accompaniment of loud detona-
lions and flashes OF light, while at the same
time rain of lapilli and ashes began the
destruction of Ottajano and San Giuseppe
Earthquake shocks were felt at Naples and
elsewhere. On the Sth the ashes, which
continued to fall in great quantities. were
reddish gray. instead of black. as at first.
and were sometimes so dense as 10 form a
dark pail. rendering artificial light neces-
sary in the daytime. This cloud extended
- Ia&N - ,~xll.~ = f,Ir~
ashes took place at Venice. Paris. etc.
rough calculation places the total
amount of ashes and lapilll which fell at
S5,000.00 cubic meters the place most dam
aged being Ottajano. The lava streams oe-
cupied sector OF thirty degrees. and evil
IDENTIFY had their source at various points of
the crater The three principal ones reached
a height of ten to twelve feet. and in places
rapidly disintegrated. probably because 1t
was formed OF a chaotic mixture of irregu-
lar blocks and fragments.
AS regards the more general results. DR..
Sabatinl points out that, while lesser out
breaks increase the height Of the volcano, a
catastrophe like that of April last tends to
lower It Whatever may have been the case
In 10 A. D.. We know that this was the result
I'm 1881 and 1T94. when the cone appeared
after the eruptions as IL truncated. SINH
larly the pointed profile of March last
exists no longer, and the present height
seems below that of the crater OF 1872
coed $50 feet Besides this. the whole form
and composition OF the surface of the noun
tain have been changed. the old assures
having disappeared. whole sections of the
crater wall fallen in. and the whole surface
having been covered with a thick layer Of
ashes. These still retained a high temper
allure on April II. and. owing to their loose
nature. were constantly slipping down hill
or being raised into the air by the wind.
Except at the time of the most violent
outbursts. the smoke rose quietly from
three assures In three unbroksn columns
accompanied by puffs OF smoke much re-
sembllng balls of cotton wool. Owing to
their great density. these rapidly fall to the
ground. and the density and weight In
crease give rise TO the avalanches OF hot
ashes which have been frequently reported.
and of which the occurrence Is now definite
ly established There are really nothing
but the so-caIled glowing clouds OF very
restricted mobility. and the phenomenon
may occur whenever the necessary contii-
tons are present. and may occasionally lead
to destructive results. These emissions may
account In part for the high temperature