Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-16

beds elected in the eruption of 1872. and
these lay in distorted masses like ice
jam Naples was family visible below,
through curtain of smoke
AS the correspondent journeyed upward a
new crater suddenly burst, and from the
summit of the volcano enormous masses of
sand and mist shot skyward. The monster
Tembled, seeming about to renew Its con-
vulsions, and the native guides hesitated
declaring that warning had already been
given of another outbreak Saturday. For
tunately 1t was a passing manifestation.
Toward the top of the mountain the pic
ture was one OF unutterable deSolation; but
natives, strangely persistent and Wrinkled
with age emerged from their dugouts just
below the observatory. offering milk and
eggs to the party. Vesuvius has no terrors
for them While descending after the inter
view with Prof. Matteucci the sounds of a
mandolin came from of the dugoutS,
which was scarcely visible above the desert
of ashes.
Its contour also had changed. The gigan-
tic, jagged cone no longer rose like the
setting of an enormous jeweled ring. In
stead the top now forms a graceful curve,
harmonizing the gradual slope of the foot
hills. The white surface of the mountain is
slit here and there with a giant Saber
stroke, leaving gulches through which lava
courses. The wrecked remnant of the
funicular railway lay at the bottom of one
Of these gulches, some of the twisted cable
protruding from the ashes.
An American Present.
Singularly, an American scientist is the
only one sharing Prof. MatteuccPs oppor-
tunities of observation. This is Prof. Frank
A. Perret of New York.
az have only been here three months,
said Prof Ferret Il came to Italy orig
irally for my health. l had studied vol
cano disturbances and met Prof. Matteucci.
We became mutually interested, and he
honored me by inviting me to share his
observations as an honorary assistant. The
of ccic ant To IIh I "
appointed by the University of Naples came
at a most fortunate moment, as ii per-
rnitted my observation of this tremendous
disturbance, which is beyond the falntest
conception of those outside the immediate
terrors of Vesuvius The most terrible mo-
ment came Saturday night. | had gone
to Boseotrecase for the purpose of pfoto-
graphing the lava stream that was then
deluging that town. returned TO tne
observatory about midnight. The dynamic
force of the main crater increased enor-
mouslY and new crater mouths opened IN
the mountain side within ten minutes of
each other. This caused immense havoc.
From Naples crowds flocked to Boscotre-
ease to witness the sight, which was grand
er there than at any other point
Ground Rocked Under Them.
AT midnight the situation in the obserya-'
tory was terrible. The ground rocked I'M
der 1t and 1t was impossible to stand firmly
on ones feet. The roaring of the main era
ter was deafening; the volcano operated
like a fountain its discharge rising and
spreading and then falling over great
area. The electric phenomena were terrify-- \
ing. Tile elaps of thunder were incessant,
with a lurid play OF lightning. The cause
of the phenomena was friction from the
ascending particles generating electricity.
which displayed itself in incessant light
ming and thunder claps.
mo enc thought of sleep, but all stood
gazing at the awful scene. At o'clock in
the morning the lowest station seemed to