Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-23

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being swallowed up by the lava stream"
Remarkably like this is letter which that
gifted Roman gentleman and scholar, Pliny
the Younger, wrote to the historian, Tacitus,
nearly two thousand years ago, describing
the eruption of Vesuvius, in which Pompeii
and Herculaneum were entombed. Pliny,
then youth of eighteen, was at Misenum, in
the bay of Naples, whittier he had accompa-
MED his uncle, the renowned naturalist, who
lost his life in that very disaster while en-
deavoring to rescue certain OF his friends.
1t seems that though trembling of the earth
had been felt for many days before, there
was little alarm in consequence, because such
disturbances were frequent in the Campania.
But it was so particularly violent on that
night august Gath, 70 A. ID that it not
only shook but actually overturned every
thing about u.s. My mother rushed into my
room, where she found me rising with the in
tention of waking her. We sat down in the
open court, which occupied a small space
between the buildings and the sea-" PIiny
goes on to tell of how he took up a copy OF
Lixy and amused himself with making ex-
tracts from that author. II know not
whether I should call my behavior in this
dangerous juncture courage or folly
At length he and his mother, who was
equally calm, were aroused and hurried away
by friend who called in solicitude for their
safety AS buildings all about them were
tottering they resolved to quit the town.
"a panic-stricken crowd followed us. Being
at convenient distance from the houses, we
stood still, in the midst of most dangerous
and dreadful scene. The chariots, which We
had ordered to be drawn up, were SO agitated
backwards and forwards, though upon the
most level ground, that we could not keep
them steady, even by supporting them with
large stones. The sea appeared to roll back
upon itself, and to be driven from it's banks
by the convulsive motion of the earth; the
shore was considerably enlarged, and sew
eral sea animals left upon it. On the other
side COT the bay) black and dreadful cloud,
broken with rapid, zigzag flashes, revealed
behind it yariously shaped masses of flame;
these last were like sheet lightning, but
much larger. :. >. Soon after the cloud began
to@descend and to cover the sea. 1t already
had surrounded and concealed the island of
Capreae and the promontory sof Misenum.
Ny mother now besought, urged, commanded
me to make my escape, which, as 1 was
young, l might easily do; as for herself, she
said, her age and corpulency rendered all
attempts of that sort impossible; however,
she would willingly meet death if she could.
have the satisfaction of seeing that she was
not the occasion of mine. But I absolutely
refused to leave her, and, taking her by the
hand, compelled her to go with me- :. The
ashes now began to fall upon us, though in
no great quantity. I looked back; Dense
dark mist seemed to be following us, spread
ing itself over the country like a cloud. Let
us turn out of the high road 1 said, while
we can still see, lest, If we should fall in the
road, we should be pressed to death in the
dark by the crowds that are following u.s.
We had scarcely sat down when night
came upon us, not such as we have when the
sky is cloudy we have no moon, but that
of room when it is shut up and all the
lights put out. You might hear the shreks
of women, the screams of children, and the
shouts of men, some calling for their chill
dren, others for their parents, others for their
husbands, and seeking to recognize each
other by the voices that replied; one lament
ing his own fate, another that of his family:
some wishing to die, from the very fear of
dying; some lifting up their hands to the
gods; but the greater part convinced that
there were now no gods at ALL and that the
final endless nigh. of which we have heard
had come upon the world. At last this
like cloud or smoke; the real day returned,
and even the sun shone out though with a
Every object that presented Itself to our
eyes, which were extremely weakened,
seemed changed, being covered deep with
ashes, as If with snow We returned to
Misenum and refreshed ourselves as we
Ncould, and passed an anxious night between