Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-10-23
VESUylUS AND POMPEII.
In Themselves Alone Worth a Trip
Across the "P0nd."
(Editorial Correspondcnce.l

Vesuvius, with her two craters. one
long extinct and the other still smoking
in several assures, stands as sentinel
above Italy's largest city, and in some
measure may be styled a threatening
avenger ever alert over the city of
Naples. A few miles distant, the great
double peaks, the SON outgrowu the
father, are to be seen from any view
point of the city. and from all points on
the beautiful and circling shore of the
bay of Naples. Three years ago, in the
latest eruption, all Naples was sleepless
for days and nights shoveling warm
ashes from the roofs and streets. piled
several feet deep. as the SHOWS fall
upon our great city streets and roofs.
No Neapolitan ever feels secure, for
Naples, while not so near as unfortu-
nate Pompeii and Herculaneum, is yet
closerthan doomed Stabiae, which was
buried at the time of the other two, 79
A. ID. But like the seafaring man, the
resident takes chances, and thinks dis
aster will not be in his day. In fact,
the people of this cline seem to inherit
from centuries Of their forbears the
careless Indifference to life, for on the
slopes Of Vesuvius are farms and vine
yards. greed tempting them to risk all.
This all consists in the prolific returns
of their crops fertilized by centuries Of
rich ash that has poured from the
H<Nxr al ~ he 81 ,,ot
craters. Their dwellings,, as rule, are
rude shacks, or abodes in the many
cave-holes made by lava long cold.
The people will tellyou that old Vesuve
will always give q rumbling warning in
time for them to flee. This has been
true, even of the most fearful eruption
when two great cities became lost to
sight. OF the $4,000 people within
Pompeii's gates. it is calculated that
less than thousand were caught in the
maelstrom Of pumice and ashes, and
these because they tarried to attend to
some personal affair or to carry off
worldly goods, and lost all even as the
man st sea goes down with his wealth
buckled around his belt.
The visitor is struck with the DISPOSE
ton on the part Of this people to tempt
Providence. Some substantial dwellings
and handsome chatteaux nestle among
the vineclad lava-beds at the base
and first slope of Vesuvius, and on one
high and woody hill, jutting out among
he .l1 - g .f
many centuries, its white walls and tall
chapel fastening the gaze of the tourist.
Providence has seemed to have an
especial care.ever this, for while many
times the surrounding country has been
depopulated by eruption, this has stood
firm. The eminence does not admit of
lava running up to it, but all around
and about it; and so far no current Of
air has waited pumice or ash in any
quantities upon it. When the eruptions
occur. the hundreds of occupants hike
it to the low country or upon the bay, to
avoid the death-dealing gases.
Picture nor pen can comprehensively
describe these great mounds, and only
the eye can grasp-and that but imper-
fectly through amazement-this won
derful product of rebellious nature.
Whether you believe all the retribution
heaped upon Sodom and Gomorrah or
not to be true, here you have more than
evidence Of the wrath of greater
power. That Pompeii got her just
deserts no one visiting there and
seeing the lewdness in which the
people moved and had their be-
ing, though he be most sceptical
and atheistic, will deny. Out Of the
fertile plains of Eden-like Campania long
centuries ago broke forth from level
surface fount of fire and birthstone.
Later years added to the accruement,
until the elimination in the year 70,
when the earth vomited through the
then small apex of cone the memorable
flow Of pumice-stone and ash, carried
by the wind for twelve miles and bury.
ing in its track the two fated cities
first in pumice from 20 to 40 feet deep
and Immediately after strata of black
ash from 5 to Is feet in depth on top OF
the pumice. This covering is of twelvs
miles long from two to five miles in
width. Now, students. get your pencil,
and figure what cavern lies beneath IN
the vomit Of so many millions of cubic
yards ofsubstance. More persons, how
ever. died. we are told. from the deadly
fumes that pervaded the surrounding