The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-06

the afternoon, my mother desired him
10 observe a cloud which appeared OF
avery unusual iZeand shape. he had
just returned from enjoying the benz.
dit of the sun, and after bathing In
cold water and taking a slight repast,
was retired to his study: he lmmedi'
ately arose and went out upon All EN-
inence, from whence he might more
distinctly view this very singular phe'
1t was not at that distance
observable from what mountain this
cloud issued, but it was Vesuvius. l
cannot give you a more exact descrip-
ton of It's figure than by resembling it
to that of q pine-tree: for it shot up q
great height in the form Of q tall
trunk, which spread at the top into a
sort of branches: occasioned, 1suppose,
either that the force of the internal. va
Dor which impelled the cloud up
wards, decreased in strength as 1t ad-
vanced, or that the cloud, being pressed
Uack by its own weight, expanded It
self in the manner l have mentioned
it appeared sometimes bright and
dark and spotted, rs it was
more OF less .impregnated with
earth and cinders.
This uncommon appearance excited
my uncle's philosophical curiosity to
take a nearer view Of it. He accord
lngly ordered a light vessel TO be pre-
pared, and offered me the liberty, If |
thought proper TO attend him. L
rather chose to continue the employ
ment in which l was engaged: for it
happened that he had given me certain
writing to copy. AS he was going out
Of the house with his tablets IN bis
nand be was met by the mariners be-
longing to the gallies stationed at Re-
Una, from which they had fled in the
utmost terror: for that port being sit
uated at the foot of Vesuvius, they had
10 other way to escape than by sea,
They coDjured hun, therefore, not 70
proceed and expose his life to emmi-
uent and inevitable danger. In com.
pliance with their advice he changed
mis- original intention, and, instead of
gratiting his philosophical spirit, he
resigned 1t to the more magnanlmous
principle of aiding the distressed.
With this view ne ordered the fleet
Immediately to put to sea, and went
nimself on board with an intention OF
assisting not only Retina, but the
several other towns which stood thick
upon that bea utiful coast. fastening
10 the place, therefore, from whence
others fled with the utmost terror, he
5teered his direct course to the point OF
danger, and with 81 much calmness
aud presence Of mind as 10 be able to
make and dictate his observations upon
the appearance and progress OF That
dreadful scene. He was now 30 near
The mountain that the clnders, which
grew thicker and hotter the more he
tell into the ships, together
with pumice-stones and black pieces of
burning rock: they were likewise In
danger, not only of being aground by
The retreat of the sea, but also from the
vast fragments which rolled down
from the mountains and INSTRUCTED all
the shore. Here he stopped to con-
slider whether he should return back:
TO which the pilot advised him, For
said he, "befriends the brave;
steer for Pomponianus," Pomponianus
then at Stabiae, separated by u
gulf which the sea, after several lnsen-
sible windings, forms upon that shore.
Pompanianus had already sent his
baggage on board, for though he was
not III that time IN actual danger, yet,
being within the view OF it., and in
deed extremely near, he was deter
mined, lift should in the least in
crease, to put TO sea as soon as the
wind should change. 1t was favorable,
however, for carrying my uncle to
Pomponianus, whom he found IN the
greatest CONSERVATION, and embracing
rim to keep up his spirits. The more
TO dissipate his fears. he ordered his
servants, with an air of unconcern, to
carry him to the baths; and after hav-
ing bathed he sat down to supper with
sIeat, or at least (what is equally he
roic) with all the appearance OF cheer
fulness.
In the meanwhile the fire from We
famed forth from several parts
the mountain with great violence:
which the darkness of the night con-
tributed to render still more visible and
dreadful. But my nncle, in order to
calm the approximations of his friend,
assured him it was only the con1agra-
lion of the Villages, which the coun-
try people had abandoned. After this
be retired to rest, and it is most certain
was so little discomposed as to fall
into a deep sleep: for, being corpulent
and breathing hard, the attendants IN
the anti-chambers actually heard him