Year: 1871

Vesuvius in Eruption-A New Crater


A correspondent of the London Times


writes from Naples, under date of Janu-


ary l6 A few days only have elapsed


since you heard that Vesuvus was emit


ting flames. Hitherto they have been


little more than a fash in the pan, but


they promise or menace something on a


larger scale, and visitors are gratifed by


the spectacle, such as it is. For upward


of year our mountain has been growl-


ing and shaking, and though there has


been no accomplished fact in this neigh


borhood, still this agitation was regarded


as the indication of disaster at some dis


tance. Palmieri inquired of his seismo-


meter and the instrument interpreted


these movements as signs of earthquakes


in the Clabrias, Romagna and elsewhere,


and everything happened as the Profes-


sor foretold. Indeed, the sensitiyeness
and correctness of the seismometer have


now been so well tested that the Govern


ment has consulted Palmieri as to what


parts of the kingdom it would be well to


place them in, and by his advice they
are to be fixed at various railway stations


in Romagna, Calabria and elsewhere.


AS yet there is not much to be seen on


the summit of Vesuvius; but at intervals
of a minute flames burst out with greater
or less violence, as if propelled by the
respirations of giant. Some changes
have been effected in the form Of the
mountain. Near the base of the cone,
which was formed in 1868, and of which
Prof. Phillips has given good report
new mouth has been opened toward the
north, at the summit of Vesuvius, and
from this lava has been elected as far as
the sides of the cone in the direction of
the Atrio del Cavallo. The generalreader
may not understand these details, hut
those who have studied the history and
form of our mountain will recognize each
feature with interest. Giovanni Cozzo-
line, the principal guide, writes to me as
follows, and surely the man whose meat
and drink is Vesuvius should know all
about it; ll1N


"0n the night of the 18th inst, a new
crater was opened about midnight under
the grand cone toward Somma. 1t sends
forth large column of fire, and from the
10th to the 18th of January the grand
principal cone was filled with fire to its
very edge. Besides this new cone, two
others existed previously which sent out
columns Of stones; hut these have re-
laxed in their activity as though willing
to divide the labor with their newly con-
stituted neighbor. Shocks are frequently
felt and are sufficiently strong to cause
houses in the neighborhood to tremble,
but beyond awakening some degrees of
trepidation they have produced no other
consequences. Vesuvius is still covered |
with snow, as are all the mountains near
Naples and as far as the eye can see
hut over the white mantle one can trace
a black line marking the course of the
lava. This, says Ralmieri, is first
phase of the increase of the eruption,
preceded as usual by the unfailing indi-
cations of the selsmograph and of the
apparatus of variation. af


The Professor is of this opinion that
this agitation indicates the cessation Of |
the period of earthquakes which for
some months have shaken Europe, and |
Italy especially. If so, we may expect /
a grand blow up, and visitors will not be |
in their hopes Of witness
ing magnificent spectacle. Hitherto /
Palmieri has been marvellously success
full in his predictions; we have yet 70
see whether he will be eagally so as re-
CARDS the future Yesuvius, as far as / /
can tell, may be blowing its head OF this
morning, for il is covered with such
dense clouds, and such a persevering
rain is falling, that it is impossible TO
any object beyond a mile,
and such is the weather We have had for
two months; It has been most atgociOus.


The failure Of the Farmers and Ne
chanics' Life Insurance Company broke
up many men. Among other victims
was a man whose name all knew, who
returned 10 the country three months
ago from serving the nation abroad. He
a considerable tract Of land
and enough ready money to maintain
him in comfortable manner, In an
evil moment however, he vas persuaded
BIZ some friends in ReW York TO sell his
land and invest the proceeds in this com
pany. The failure now cOmpels him,
though bordering on seventy, to look
around for something to do.