Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-04-14
HOPE DAWNS AFRESH
IN CITY OF NAPLES
Encouraging News Is Recsived
From Nearby Cities.
KING EMANUEL REURNs TO ROME
Sun Shines Brightly and the Air Is
Clear of Ashes and Is InVigorating
Professor Mattucci Predicts that the
Volcano Will Now Become Quiet.

Professor Mattucci Predicts that the
Volcano viii Now Become Quiet.
Naples April 13.-7:11 a. m.-All the
news received here this morning is
encouraging. For the first time since
Tuesday the sun is shining all over
Naples and although above the city the
usual gray cloud is discernible, the fall
of ashes has almost entirely ceased.
Ashes, however, continued to fall
throughout the night, adding several
inches to the accumulations in the
streets.
Nearly 5000 people are employed in
clearing the roofs and magn thorough
fares. Gangs of men are engaged in
piling the ashes in the middle of the
narrow streets, which makes the pas
sage of vehicles exceedingly difficult,
and adds to the discomfort of pedes-
trians. The Neopolitans have be-
come, to q certain degree, sun-worship-
pers. One day they are plunged in
the depts of despair because the sun
is obscured by falling ashes, and the
next day their spirits are buoyant for
the sun shines, and no ashes are
sprinlling over Naples.
Today the inhabitants of Naples are
particularly happy for not only is the
sun shining brightly, but the air is
clear of ashes and invigorating, with
the result that automobile coats and
goggles, the ash storm costume, have
been replaced by the usual gay-colored
apparel, people are arriving in open
carriages, and much color has returned
to the surroundings that the grayness
of the buildings, palms and other ash
covered trees makes a pleasant con-
trast
Several men, apparently, have
braved the terror Of the wild wastes
of lava about the royal observatory
on Mount Vesuvius. One of them re-
turned here this morning and gave an
account of most interesting CONVEX
sation which he had with Professor
Mattucci, director of the observatory,
who was in a very hopeful mood when
his visitor left him. The professor
said:
Very little is known of the volcanic
forces, so one can never safety pre-
dict what is going to happen. But
think | can, with some confidence ex-
press the hope, based on my expert
ence here, that the explosive period of
the eruption has passed. 1t is i'm
possible to make positive statement
to this effect, but the probabilities
point TO qufeting down of the volca-
no. This, however, does not mean
that it's activity will entirely cease.
Unless the crater definitely assumes
It's new shape, that is to say, when the
ridges have been smothered down,
there is possibility of further disturb
ances. For the present, the light
wind blowing will in all probability
carry the ashes in a direction which
will set Naples free from further annoy
ance of this nature, and as it is the
Ill wind is blowing good to other
places, for ashes are the best fertiliz-
er it is possible to use. 1t is merely
a question just now or having too
much of a good thing"
Professor Mattucci today climbed
up Vesuvius to point along way
above the observatory, at the imminent
risk of his life, and ascertained that
unless the conditions change radical
ly there will be no further discharge
of lava at present He added that it
was impossible to determine the guam
tity Of sand in the crater, but as the
cone had diminished considerably in
height and the showers of cinders
thrown out had been transformed into
ashes, he believed the END of the dis
turbance was near.
Professor Mattucci is not the only
person who regards the situation as
having improved. King Victor Eman-
uel and Queen Helena expect to re
turn to Rome today.