Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-12
THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS
THE STORY OF vEsuvIUs SINCE
a. D. 10.

Vesuyius has been more than ordinarily
active within the past few years, Offering
spectacle of keen interest-of which tour
! lists have not failed to take advantage.
In 1885, 1897. 1899 and 1903 the noun
| tain's energies have been violent enough
| to convey dreadful suggestions of possible
disaster. but happily they. were only sug-
gestions.
The present eruption. which began thir-
teen days ago, has been heralded by many
signs of trouble, extending back to last
| spring. AT time. last June, the pre-
! feet of Naples felt sufficient apprehensions
to cause him to warn the teening popula-
ton about the sides of Vesuvius to be pre-
pared to abandon their homes at a signal
The fertile slopes of Vesuyius have at
tracted from tire most ancient times a
swarming population of vine growers and
farmers, and great number of hamlets
and villages dot the country about, to-
Resiha Con the side of ancient Hercu-
aneum), Tore del Greco, Tore Annunciata.
Oltanio, Boscoreale, and Anastasa places
of 10,G00 to 5000 inhabitants.
Its Charm of Outlook
The magnificent scenery, with it's charm
of outlook upon the Bay of Naples, has
led hundreds of persons to build handsome
country seats along and near the shore,
one of the most noted being Favorita, the
chateau occupied by Ismail Pasha. once
khedive of Egypt.
The first recorded eruption of Vesuvus
was that which destroyed Herculaneum
and Pompeii, August -, 80 A. ID. Sixteen
years before that an earthquake seriously
damaged those two cities. both popuiouS
summer resorts of the Weather Romans
On the fatal day. familiar to all readers
through Bulwers tale, the mountain burst
and buried under ashes and lava the two
cities and al the surrounding villages. 1t is
estimated that $1,000 persisted then.
1t was by that eruption that the present
peak was formed. Before that there is
good reason to believe, what is now called
Monte Somma,' a rounded crater sur
| rounding the cone, the extreme height
of the mountain
The height of Mount Vesuvius varies
from $500 to 1890 feet according to the
growth or subsistence of the lava cone.
History of Eruptions.
Vesuvius rested for 1874 ye4rs. Again in
the year 203, under Septimus Severus, there
was an eruption worth recording. In 472
the volanco belched ashes, which fell In all
then known parts of Europe and even in
Asia Minor and the northern part of
Africa. Other violent disturbances appear
in the records of 512 and $50
The first reported discharge of liquid
lava appeared in the year 1888. Down to
the year 1900 there had been nine eruptions
in all. From that year to 1881 the vol
cano was quiet. but In that year there was
plosions and the discharge of torrents Of
boiling water This eruption overwhelmed
the places now most in peril-Torre Annun-
ciata Tore del Greco Resina, Portici and
Boscoreale
There are authentic and detailed descrip-
tons of this eruption Vesuvius was wholly
covered in that year with woods and
bushes and cattle were taken to Craze
within the crater. On December 16, 1851,
huge cloud of smoke ard ashes arose in
conical form, making day like night in
Naples. ten miles from the summit. The
cloud extended over the whole southern
portion of Italy, as far as Tarentum. Heavy
stones were thrown ten miles. One weighing
twenty-five tons fell in the village of Som
ma. The earth was convulsed by terrific
earthquakes and seven streams of lava
poured out, overfiowing the doomed vii
lagos. In all 5000 lives were destroyed in
this disaster.
Ten Years of Activity.
From May to August. 1907, the volcano
was inconstant eruption, showering ashes
upon Naples and keeping that city in
long-contnued state of panic. Vesuvus
was again persistently active from 1717 to