Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-11-04
GIRLS DESCEND
vESUvIUS' CRATER
Novel Experience OF Three Trav-
elerS in Italy.
VOLCANO ACTIVE OF LATE

Thrilled by Appearance Of inside Of
Crater the Girls Are Seized With
Irresistible Impulse 20 Descend
into Crater ltself-Describes Scene
as One Never to Be Forgotten
Smoke and Rocks Occasionally
Belched From Mouth OF Volcano.
Three English girls travelling in
Italy have had the novel experience
of going down into the crater Of We
suyius and then Of ascending the in
ner cone. which OF late has been vio-
lently active one Of the three. Miss
+. NJ Woodhouse. in the London
Sphere, relates the trip as follows:
THE day on which two girl friends
and myself decided TO ascend vesu-
vius was glorlously warm and sunny
one. a gentle breeze was blowing
from the southwest. and we could see
the smoke from the volcano being car
ried inland 10 the northeast. We had
intended merely 10 do the usual climb
up 70 the edge Of the large mouth Of
the volcano, but when we arrived
there with our guide we were SO
thrilled by the appearance Of the in
side of the crater that we we're seized
with an Irresistible impulse to descend
into the crater itself and climb the
inner active cone. This latter rises
about $50 feet from the level Of the
crater floor. and from IL red-hot lava
and volumes Of thick smoke We're Is.
suing NJ intervals.
Wonderful Stiffness.
II asked the guide II we could go
down. He seemed little doubtful
about IT, BY dint of little persua-
sion, however, matters were satisfac-
torily arranged. What struck me
most as we stood on the edge Of the
crater was the extraordinary stiffness
Of everything: no stir or sound Of any
kind except an occasional rumble. the
prelude Ia IN emission of smoke and
stones from the inner cone. The
dense fumes would MI the crater for
n time and then gradually dispense
We started To descend the crater wall
walking over lava which crumhled IN
der our feet. There was no path we
had TO follow the guide as best we
could scramhing down the steep de-
scent ana getting our shoes filled with
hot ashes
AZ last We reached the level floor,
where the going was easier though
the heat from the earth steadily In
creased. and we could now see the red
hot lava showing between the cracks
on the surface We We're approaching
the inner cone and every now and
then were enveloped in clouds OF sui
piurous gases which made our eyes
smart and gave US choking feeling
in our throats.
Through riffs in the clouds OF
towering above us, from the top of
which bclched forth great volumes Of
smoke accompanied 10y showers Of red.
hot lava. II was really terrifying
spectacle. and I realized that a change
In the direction of the wind might
have most unpleasant consequences
Scene Never to Be Forgotten.
Never shall forget the scene
which greeted my eyes a stood upon
the lip of the inn"r cone Just be
low my feet was dark and sinister
abyss within which thick masses of
yellow vapor surgcd and rolled Now
would come "a rumbl!ng. increasing 10 a
roar the heavy smoke showed signs
~ greater agitation, was finally blown
into the air. and shower of glowing
lava. with fra giuents. both large and
small. fell within few yards of us
I; seemed 10 me the guide himself was
almost frightened
We returned In different dlrec-
ton 10 the way We had come. crossing
the floor Of the main crater with its
rough surface OF Enthusiastically shaped
lava, somewhat resembling q dricd-up
mud swamp, stained in parts by great
yellow patches Of sulphur To my
establishment. OF looking M one OF my
friends ! noticed that she no longer
had on the pretty rose cOlOred frock
with which she had started bu; she
now wore dirty green one; only IN
der the collar and belt could be found
traces Of the original rose. My own
gray frOck had not suffered. but my
rope Soled tennis shoes which was
wearing had become most uncom.
fortahly hot. and noticed that the
sOles themselves were smoking. II in
terested us greatly "a read In the
papers thar a few weeks after our as
cent vesuvIus became very active. the
Inner cone being partially destroyed.
large quantities ~ rock being thrown
into the air and the sky III up for q
great distance by the reflection OF the
volcanic fires"