Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-14
PERIOD OF DANGER IS NOW PAST
Only Awful Desolation and Slowly Declin-
ing Panic Remain.
CURTAIN OF SMOKE HIDES VOLCANO
from the Bowels of the Earth
Have Ceased,
OBSERVER STAYS UPON THE MOUNTAIN
Prof. Matteucci Remained at Royal
observatory and Approached
Closer to Crater During
the Disturbance.

NAPLES. April 1s.-The period of danger
has passed and only desolation and slowly
declining panic remain. Mount Nesuvius
has ceased to give any sign Of life. The
volcano seems to have spent itself in one
enormous convulsion. Director Matteucci.
who herocially holds his post in the OBJ
servatory, believes that the eruption has
ended and every outward indication CON
firms this view. No more rumblings come
from the bowels of the earth, giving ter
rifying warning to the inhabitants. The
volcano is hidden behind n thick curtain
of smoke, which rises from the crater and
then spreads and falls, enveloping a vast
circle in semi-darkness. Naples is just
beyond this circle. and today the city was
bathed in sunshine. while the ugly black
pail hung to the westward over belt mid
way between Rome and Naples.
Nesuvius today bellies all popular pic
lures. which represent the mountain clearly
outlined against tho sky vomiting smoke
and ashes by day and fire by night. Today
not the slightest outline is visible Of the
crater, crest or foothills, all being swa-
lowed up in dense mass of smoke. There
is the same obscurity tonight, unrelieved
by flashes or reflected light such as are
seen during quieter periods. Vesuvius
quiescent is picturesquely grand, but, ac-
tive or smouldering, it is terrible only in
it's blackness and obscurity.
Scenes in the Ash BELT.
The Associated Press correspondent to-
day Travelled in the belt over which ashes
continue to fall. This lies to the north Of
Naples, as the wind now carries the dis
charge away from the city. At Rome
there was sunshine. but twenty miles south
a thin veil of smoke made nearby noun
tains dimly visible their snow peaks soiod
and sooty. The zone of semi-obscurlty
began twenty-five miles above Naples Here
there was an uncanny phenomenon. The
sun, though shining. was invisible It's light
seemed to come through smoked glass.
shedding a sckly glare upon whitened
vegetation Everything was covered with
powder. The locomotives were coated as
though they had ploughed through tar.
Pretty white villas were daubed and Drip
ping with mud and people were busy. on
the roofs shoveling of the ashes. The
crowds at the stations resembled milers.
their clothing covered with graphite
powder. Campania presents the appearance
Of a Dakota prairie after a blizzard. except
that everything is gray instead of white.
The ashes lie i'm drifts knee deep. Villas,
trees and churches have been beaten with
gray mud on the sides exposed TO tho
volcanic storm.
Area of Scmi-NiEht.
Ten miles north OF Naples the train enters
an area Of sem-night. Billows of thick
smoke roll from the direction of the noun
tain. The railway telegraph poles become
invisible twenty feet away. The train moves
with extreme precaution to avoid collision
Breathing is difficult and the smoke makes
the eyes water. This obscurity lasts until
a short distance north of Naples, where the
sky clears and normal conditions are re,
sumed.
After the last great eruption, which oc,
CURED I'm 1872 the land covered by cinders
did not produce crops for seven years and
the losses in this respect alone averaged
so, ,OOc OOO yearly. II is believed that It viii
take ten years to bring the land under cul
| tivation again.
The people as a demonstration of theil
gratitude for the sympathy which led tC
! the French squadron being sent here en-
/ Enthusiastically greeted the French sailor!
when they landed
/ The duke OF Abruzzi arrived today in hi
motor car. lie had passed through IN,
! ash belt and was hardly recognizable, be
/ ing covered with ashes and cinders. IL,
! will soon sail on his projected tour Of eN
| ploration in South Africa.
OmciaI Report of Director.
| No better evidence of the improved con
dIuon OF affairs in the section affected b!
the eruption Of Mount Vesuvius can be pre-
sented than the following telegram from
Director Matteucci sent this evening fron
the observatory on the side Of the volcano
Last night and today the activity o
/ Vesuvius and the agitation at the surfac
| Of the volcano sensibly diminished Eleo
| trio discharges ceased today and the dis
| charge was less abundant. From the pre-
| sumed formation of the crater and othe
I indications, and II the news coming TO m
/ is true of the cessation of lava at BOscotre
| case / predict with reserve that In two o
three days volcanic calm will reign.
The publication Of this assuring dispatc
has brought JOY 20 the people, and tonight
Good Friday services at the church. whic
was attended by large congregations, too
the form of fcrvent thanksgiving for dan
Ger past,
! Tho Neapoltans have become TO a Ger
! tain degree sun worshpers. one day the
are plunged in the depths of despair be-
cause the sun is obscured by falling ashc
and the next day their spirits are buoyan'
for the sun shines and no ashes ar
habitants Of Naples are particularly happ
for not only Is the sun shining brightly
but the air Is clear of ashes and IN
vigorating, with the result that automC
bile coats and goggles, the ash storm COS
tune, have been replaced by the usua
gay colored apparel; people are drivin
about in open carriages, and much colo
has returned to the surroundings, that IN
grayness of the buildings palms and othe
ash covered trees, makes a pleasant col
trast with the sapphire tinted sea.
Men stay at Observatory.
Several men apparently have braved N
terror Of the wild wastes Of lava abou
the royal observatory on Mount Vesuviu
One OF them returned here this mornin
and gave an account Of a most interestin
conversation which he had with Prof Ma
tucci director of the observatory, VIII
was in very hopeful mood when n
visitor LEFT him. The professor said:
Very little IS known OF the volcan
I forces, so one can never safely predi,
what Is going 20 happen. But / think
| can with some confidence express n
| hope, based on my experience here. tins
/ the explosive period OF the eruption hs
] PASSED II Is impossible 70 make . pos