FIRES OF VESUVIUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 3

FIRES OF VESUVIUS.

NAPLES, Aug. 8. An eruption of Vesuvius which befian oh Thursday is decreasing. The lava stream, measuring 750 yards in •width, continues to flow hut in considerably reduced volume. The explosive activity of the volcano reached its maximum at noon yesterday, ejecting red-hot scoriae, forming spectacular fountains to a height of more than 300 feet. The cone presents numerous incandescent fissures, foreshadowing the early collapse of the internal conduit of the lava torrent. The volcano’s return to moderate activity is probable within a few days. The present eruption of Vesuvius is the most violent rcorded since January 2nd 1916. It is calculated that in 16 hours about 60,000,000 cubic feet of lava issued from the cone. The eruption is accompanied hv the usual magnificent though somewhat terrifying phenomena. Every few seconds there is a loud, subterranean rumbling followed by a great explosion which throws several tons of incandescent lava high into the air. The lava after it falls breaks up into hundreds of rivulets of fire. SIGHTSEERS ROOK SEATS. The crowd of sightseers is so great that the Vesuvian Railway is unable to cope with them. Places in the train are all reserved and are sold out many liours ahead. The director of the Vesuvian Obsrvatory has issued a statement stating that the eruption is not dangerous and that there is no renon for apprehenion. Tlio molten lava invaded about half of the floor of the outer crater which has a diameter of more than 2,000 feet, raising its level by about 30 feet. At certain places it almost reached the lowest point of the rim of the outer crater threatening to overflow into the valley below, but even should this happen there is small danger of , any fatal consequences, owing to the comparatively limited quantity of lava now being thrown out by tlio volcano. At night the bed of the outer crater has the appearance of a sea of fire. By day the surface of the lava appears blackened, it having cooled sufficiently to form a crust, under which fresh molten lava flows.