The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-04-13
STREAMS OF LAVA
CITY OF NAPLES THREATENED
WITH DESTRUCTION.
Vesuvius In Eruption Thousands
Killed Property Loss Estimated
at $80,OOO,OOO.

Thousands of lives have been lost
as result of the eruption of Vesu-
vius, while the property loss is esti-
mated at $50, 900, 900. Towns
throughout the district are being over
whelmed with ashes and the darkness
of night hangs over the entire region,
showers of stones as big as hen Is eggs
are falling upon the fleeing refugees
while lava is again ON the move
down all sides of the mountain. 1t is
believed that Naples is in the gravest
danger. Business is at a standstill
and the people are positively mad.
There is a wild scramble, to get out
of the city. The poorer classes are
lighting madly for places in churches
to prostrate themselves at the affairs.
Engineers have refused to take out
railroad trains because of the darkness
and traffic is entirely suspended. All
shipping is preparing to leave the
haIbor, but the number Of vessels is
wholly inadequate to take the people
away. Hundreds of tourists are
marooned and unable to leave.
The story of Mount Vesuvius is one
of disaster. The first record Of the
volcanoes eruption dates back to So A.
D. when Nero ruled Rome. Hercu-
laneum and Pompeii were partially
destroyed. The following year
Naples was threatened with another
eruption but escaped with an earth
quake. 1t was during the reign of
Titus on August "a, A. D. 70, that
Vesuvius broke loose in all her fury
and completely buried the cities Of
Pompeii and Stabiae. Then the
mountain slept and the next erup-
tlon is recorded in the reign of Alex.
ander Serverus. A. d. 203. There
was another eruption il A. ID. 473,
during which ashes were carried as
far as Constantinople.
Between that date and the year 1900
nine eruptions of more or less de-
structiveness occurred. October 16,
1881, more than 5000 persons lost
their lives in a severe earthquake and
flow Of lava that extended as far as
Tarentum, and destroyed Bosco
TIeoaze, the town which suffered in
the present eruption, and other towns
in the vicinity. Another eruption in
1907 lasted for four months and kept
the people of Naples in constant fear
of death.
Again in 1887, 1850 and 1897
Vesuvius poured forth rivers Of lava
and showers of ashes, covering
Portici and reaching as far as Naples.
In August 1907, redhot stones were
thrown 1000 feet above the crater Of
the volcano, aud in 1894 over 400 peo-
pie lost their lives. On that occasion
the lava flowed to the sea.
Other eruptions followed in 1904,
1906, 1922, 1850, 1855 and 1858. In
the last mentioned year the crater
sank 1876 feet below its former height.
Tore del Greco was destroyed ON
December s, 1861. Becoming active
again in 1871, Vesuvius spread threat.
ening lava, and in April Of 1875 the
eruption burst suddenly and buried 20
persons who were watching the spec
tacle, and partially destroyed the
| towns of Mass and San Sebastiano.
In 1885 signs of unrest were noticed
about the mouth of the crater and for
a number Of years slight eruptions
occurred.
In 1894 a new peak was formed by
the Stag thrown from the crater, and
in 1895 another still. violent
eruption followed in 1900, since
which date the volcano has been
almost constantly active. On last
February the flow of lava covered
the railroad that climbs to the top of
the mountain. But it was repaired
and sightseers have continued to ven
ture up the sides of the volcano.