Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-04-12
VESUVIUS POURS
OUT LIQUID FIRE
Great Streams Of Motion Lava Wind
Way Down Mountain Side.
BOSCALTRECAEE 4 HEAP OF RUINS.
Rum6lIgns and Great Explosions Within the
Mountain Make the Earth Tremblc-
PitIfuI Scenes of Men and Women
Helplessly Watching Destruc-
tiOn of Their Homes.

Naples, April Mount Vesuyius is
a colossal brazier and the town of Bos-
caltrecase, on its southern declivity,
has been transformed into a gray island
of ruin by the ashes from the crater OF
the valcano. Torrent of liquid fire, re-
sembling in the distance serpents with
glittering yellow and black scales, are
coursing in all directions, amid rum
blings, detonations and earth tremblings
while pail of sulphurious smoke that
hovers over all makes breathing diff
cult.
The streams of lava are resistless.
They snap like pipe-stems the trunks
of chestnut trees hundreds of years old,
and blight with their torrid breath the
blooms on the peach trees before the
trees themselves have been reached.
The molten streams do not spare the
homes of the peasants, and when these
have been razed they dash into wells,
as though seeking to slake their thirst,
and having filled them, continue their
course down the mountain side.
Everywhere in the vicinity of the
volcano pitiful scenes are Witnessed
women tearing their hair in their grief
and old men crying aloud at the loss Of
their beloved homesteads, while in the
distance in striking contrast, lie the
sapphire-colored Mediterranean, the
violet-hued mountains of the Sorrento
Apprentices, and the Island of Capri in
the tranquil sea.
Artillery carts have been sent to the
assistance Of the fleeing peasants, and
the Duke of Acosta, Cardinal Joseph
Priscoe and all authorities, despite the
rain, today went TO the portions of the
mountains most threatened in order to
succor or comfort the people. Previous
| ly Cardinal Priscoe ordered special
prayers to be said for those in danger.
Boscoe Beale, the village which is most
in danger of destruction, is the birth
place of the cardinal and the home Of
most Of his relatives.
These personages talked with the
peasants in endeavors to pacify them,
and the duke Of Aosta was especially
active. He explained the means he
thought best to save lives and property
and had the engineers and soldiers erect
parapets and dig trenches in order to
change the course of the lava streams,
and at times gave an example of his
energy by working himself. Cardinal
Priscoe distributed necessaries of life
to the peasants, and even went so far
as to give away the rings on his fingers.
Repeatedly he exclaimed to the peas
ants: "Pray my children, you may be
sure God will not desert you.
The statue of St. Ann, which was
taken to the mountain side to confront
the lava, is frequently moved backward
as the tide advances.
+ Considerable apprehension is felt be-
cause of the earthquake shocks, which
are growing stronger and are felt even
at Castellamore, fifteen miles southeast
of this city, Each shock is accompa-
MED by deep and prolonged detonations.
Ottajano, at the northeast foot of the
mountain, is threatened by stream Of
lava and the people are beginning to de-
sert the town. The populace of Tore
Annunciata, at the foot have requested
that night trains be run to the town.
This request has been granted and
trains are now ready to proceed thither
in case of need.
Signor Matteucci, director of the OBJ
servatory on Vesuvius, still continues
to occupy most dangerous position.
With him is an American engineer
named Perret.
New craters have opened at differ
ent points on the mountain, but it is
impossible to ascertain their number or
where they are situated.