The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-06
FIRST ERUPTION
DESCRIBED BY PLINY.
Only Authentic Account Of the Greatest Explosion by
the Great Roman Author in the Year A. .. 79.

time my mother and I were at Mise
mum.
My uncle having left US, I continued
the employment which prevented my
battle; after which I went to supper
and then fell into a short and unquiet
sleep. There had been, during many
days before, some shocks of an earth
quake, which the less alarmed US as
they are frequent in Campania, but
they were 80 particularly violent that
night that they not only shook every
thing about us, but seemed indeed to
threaten total destruction. Ny moth
er flew to my chamber, where she
found me rising in order to awaken
her. We went out into a small court
belonging to the house, which sepa-
rated the sea from the buildings. AS
I was at that time but Is years of age,
[ know not whether 1 should call my
behavior in this perilous conjuDcture
courage or rashness. But | took up
Livy and amused myself with turning
over that author, and even making
extracts from him, as If l had been per-
fectly at my ease.
While we were in this situation q
friend of my uncle's, who was just
come from Spaln to pay him q visit
Joined US, and observing me sitting by
nv mother with a book in my hand,
reproved her patience and my securi-
ty; nevertheless, I still went On with
my author. 1t was now morning, but
the light was exceedingly faint and
Ianguid: the buildings all around US
tottered, and though we stood upon
open ground, yet as the place was mar
row and confined, there was no re-
manning without imminent danger:
we therefore resolved to leave the
town. The people followed VI in the
utmost CONSERVATION, and las to q
mind distracted with terror, every sug-
gestion seems more prudent than its
OWN pressed in great crowds about US
in our way out. Being advanced at a
convenient distance from the houses,
we stood still. in the midst of q most
hazardous and tremendous scene. The
chariots which we had ordered to be
drawn out were 80 agitated backward
aud forward upon the level ground
that we could not keep them steady,
even by supporting them with large
stones.
The sea seemed to roll back upon it
self and to be driven from its banks by
the convulsive motion of the earth; 1t
is certain, at least, the shore was con-
siderably enlarged, and several sea.
animals were left npon it. On the
other side a black aud dreadful cloud
bursting with an igneous %serpentine
vapor darted out a long train OF fire,
resembling flashes of lightning, but
much larger. Upon this Dur Spanish
friend. whom I mentioned above, ad-
dressing himself to my mother and
me with great warmth and earnest
ness, "If your brother and your un-
cle," said he, lis safe, he certainly
wishes you may be 80 too: but If he
persisted it was his desire no doubt
that you might both survive him: why,
therefore, do you delay your escape a
moment?" We could never think of
Jul own safety, we replied, while we
were uncertain of his: upon which our
friend left US and withdrew from the
danger with the utmost precipitation.
Soon afterward the cloud seemed to de-
SCcuu duu CoNCI CAC "AOlC OCSdu, az
indeed it entirely hid the Island of Ca
prea and the promonotory of Mise
mum.
My mother copjured me to make
my escape at any rate, which, as I was
young. I might easily effect; as for
herself she said her age and corpulency
rendered all attempts of that sort i'm
possible /; however, she would willing
ly meet death fshe could have the sat-
isfaction Of seeing that she was not the
occasion of mine. But I ABSOLUTELY
refused to leave her, and taking her by
the hand l led her on. She complied
with great reluctance, and not with
out reproaches to herself for being the
OCCASION of retardihg my flight. The
ashes now began to fall upon us
though In no great quantity. 1 turn
ed my head and observed a thick
smoke which came rolling after us
like a torrent. I proposed, while we
had yet any light, to turn out of the
high road, lest she should be pressed
to death in the dark by the crowd that
followed us.
We had scarcely stepped out of the
path when darkness overspread US,
not like that Of a cloudy night or when
there is no moon, but of a room when
it Is shut up and all the lights extinct.
Nothing, then, was to be heard but