Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-04-17

Italian volcano aud CaImIx Mad.
ai. osservssios.-natteucci'. Peril
Gus Esxpsrtesee on n Lonely watch.
The Royal meteorological observatory
on Mount vesuvius. which was de
stroyed by the recent outbreak OF the
Italian volcano. was situated nearly
2,uCO feet above the level Of the sea ON
Cole Csnteroni. "A ridge which In past
eruptions OF the volcano has separated
The lava streams into two branches
says the New York American.
There men of science. at the immi
nent danger or their lives, have taken
observations In time gone by thai
We're OF inestimable advantage ia fore
casting the renewed activity OF the
Volcano. aud there, Oh Saturday night
CApril y the famOu Mattcuccl. OF
ncial observer. with All American named
Ferret. remained amid the storm OF nru
aud lava until finally forced To- d.. FOR
their lives.
A splendidly equipped observatory Ina
every respect, IL was situated OIL "a
ledge OF rock which ran out from the
very loot or the crater. At one time
occupying a position OF vantage where
-" loHHNh II ~ VII
either side, like an island swept by the
Sea. the successive eruptions had filed
ny the ravlne which the ~"watchtower
Of science" overlooked until the ledge
was almost on a level with the sur
rounding country. and thus was in line
for the destruction which met II I'm the
recent torrent OF lire.
Ia OF science
une famous old observatory. and with
The ruined tower the names OF two
fearless scientists are i~ndissolubly link
ell Palmleri and Natteucct. Pal
mleri came FIRST. and for "A score OF
years and until death claimed him al
the advanced age or ninety one. Ia
lSoS, he remained Ia the wutchtoWer.
Without u break he predicted each re
curing eruption OF the volcano for q
period OF than forty years. the In
strument that he had invented for not
Ing the subterraneHn movements Of thu
being OF so delicate Il uuturr
that the slightest disturbance Ina thu
crater. the slightest trembling or the
ground or change In the air was Ia
stantly registered.
During the frightful eruption OF 1872
he had an experience IN the watch
tower calculated 10 Shatter the mind OF
the strongest devOtee OF science. but
what lac then passed through but added
To his Venerntlon for his mistress IA
he termed the ronriug volcano. ON the
night OF April PEI OF that year the erup.
lion reached Its most terrifying heights.
Professor Garrett L. Seryiss. who Wis.
Tied Palmieri in the observatory later,
has NIrtttau ahntt tho aVovN. - 49,.
night.
IL could see him. writes the profess
OF, "on that awful night OF April %.
when his observatory. shaken and
rocked by the commissions OF the noun
tain, on whose very shoulder IL t.
perched. was surrounded by two vast
streams Of molten lava, while binding
clouds OF mo and ashes. intermiu
gled with burning fragments. swept
dow upon IL. bInZing bombs from the
crater dropped 10y scores upon the ter
races, aud terrible lightning strokes fell
thick and fast amid the roar ana bel.
low or the Volcano. audible hfty miles
away.
The t"at At the observatory rose 70
13O degrees. an oven temperature. yet
mas posi-. ale was n captain OF science
ana 'hls was MS bhttleheid. whether II
should prove II R"neesvalles OF n Tours.
MOI was there danger only from fall.
m missiles ana burning ava Vast
antilles II carh"nic acid and sui
pi'ureted h! lrog"u -1IscS II other
noxious exhibitions poured from the
rSnded mountain. rendering the air at
times foul and SufocatinR.
People Ned 10y the thousands from
the semicirclc o. towns and cities lying
on the shore OF tn" bay miles away.
but Palmieri remained at his post.
while around and FAR below him ON al,
sides the fields were blasted with fire
trees were burned into buruin. p,ra
mids, deserted house. we're u,crW helm
ed, and scores Of lives we're lost 50
steady were his NERVE. and 80 uu
shaken his devotion that the records Of
the observatory todn, contain u mi
mute history Of every phase Of this ca
lamitOus eruption. which. Willie 70 con.
tinued, spread the very mndness OF un
FhiDkiu9 terror nypr N,uI.s and all tbe