Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-15

great eruption of 1867, in which there
appear to be three craters, one within
the other the outer of which is Monte
Ii Somma, and the second the present
cone of Vesuvius.
A stupendous eruption took place in
were hurled to height of over 1000
feet. The eruption of 1894 was even
more terrible in it's effects and was re
markable for the vast streams of lava
which were precipitated into the sea
near Tore del Greco. During the
century volcanic outbursts
of remarkable violence occurred in
1904. 1905, 1922, 1881, 1850, 1855 and
1858. During the last mentioned the
upper crater sank several hundred feet
below its former elevation. In 1861
another exceptionally violent outbreak
occurred which again devastated Tore
del Greco.
After a decade of comparative quies-
cence the mountain inaugurated a new .
series of outbursts by the emission of
a number of small streams of lava in
January. 1871, series which culmnat
ed in 1872 in the tremendous eruption
of that year. The greatest intensity
was manifested from the oath to the
80 tn of April, and during this period
great streams Of lava burst forth from
all sides of the slope. One of these is.
sued with such suddenhess at the Atrio
del Cavalo-the valley between the
cone and Monte diSomma-that it ov
ertook and destroyed a number of per-
the same time the crater vOmited
great masses of vapor, stones and lava
to a height of over 1000 feet. while
clouds of ashes rose double this dis
lance into the air Such was the VIC
lence of this great eruption that 1t
seemed as if the gigantic tragedy of
4 70 We're about to be re-enacted, for sew
eral of the great molten rivers even
threatened to rach the walls of Naples
itself. while the storm of ashes and
red hot stones appeared almost mex
haustible. Until 1895, Vesuvius re-
manned in a fairly quiet condition, but
in that year a violent eruption took
place, accompanied by flow of lava
! which continued to advance for a mum.
err of years, but fortunately did not di-
rectly threaten any of the neigh borins
towns or villages.
The present eruption is unqueston.
ably one of the most violent OF modern
times and already has shown itself TO
be of a most destructive nature. The
flow of lava has not been of remark
: able magnitude. though this, too, has
caused enormous damage; but the ia L
of lapilli and stones has ben almost
unprecedented. The danger due to the
latter is the more pressing one. anc
door alone. for the people, terror
I stricken by the violence of the vOlcan
) ic detonations and the murky yellow
gloom. huddle together in buildings
: ildnH III WHICH ColldpSS ulluSi lh'
q weight of the accumulated materia
J. which has fallen upon them. Even il
l. Naples itself this danger has been fo
n lowed by fatal results. for the direc
:. ton of the wind not as in former eruL
S tons. has been steadily toward III
l. crowdede city. The darkness whic
e has enshroudei the vicinity for day
Ie has been so deep that it was not pc
" sibe for vessels to enter or leave tn
4 harbor, and it has at times raised III
t. terror of the thousands of homeless
ar refugees 10 a pitch bordering on frenZ
le The communities lying on the slop'
lie of the mountain have naturally 81
Il fered most severely, and entire tow
ID have been wiped ont with heavy To-
e of life, while miles of fertile, blossol
II ing farms and vineyards have bee
a converted into a desert of smokil
re gray ashes. Astonishing as it me-
ar seem, the sesmograpnic Observable
II. on Monte di Somma again appears
es have escaped the general destructit
at which involved the railway up Il
of mountain and the rest houses. TIL
of is probably due to the foresight of Il
Al founder who placed it on a solid ro'
n ridge and in such situation with l
IT. gard to the natural courses of the la
in streams that its only probable pc
IS. arose from the fall of volcanic bonn
IS and ashes. During the eruption
be 1872 Prof. Palmieri remained al Il
or observatory the entire time. iowa
of the end of the CONFUSION two stream
w of lava coursed down ravines on ca,
he side of the building. and notwithstan
US ing that all the doors and windoN
di We're tightly closed, the temperate
Is. within arose to IFS degrees, causil
re the inmates to suffer terribly. Pr
to Mattucci, the present director, has
Of so remained at the observatory duri
ne the present eruption. and notwit
at standing great suffering and the