ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 306, 6 October 1855, Page 3

ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

Italy.—An eruption of Vesuvius having just broken out, a correspondent of the l^imes sends the following graphic account: — "You may conceive my delight this day last week, the Ist of May, when I came to dine at , and the servants told me that Vesuvius had broken out in a violent state of eruption. I thought the dinner would have never ended, I was so impatient to go and see it; however, at nine o'clock ordered his carriage aud we drove to Santa latcia, which is, you know, the quartier on the Vesuvius side. It was a lovely night, without a cloud, and the moon as bright as in the month of August. As we turned the Chiatamone there was the mountain standingout of tlie plain against the blue starry heavens, and a broad stream of lava slowly rolling down its cone, ami from the summit a thick cloud of smoke spitad over it in the shape of a gigantic pine-tree, the luwcr part of which, from the reflected fire, was red, while higher up a thick black layer of smoke, with a white 'top, lay cud-

ing over like the foliage of the tree. The lava was streaming in one broad flood from about half way up the mountain's cone, whence, when it got to the bottom, it seemed, from the ground being less steep, to crawl along until it reached the edge of the old crater thai forms the racutim between Vesuvius and Monte Sum ma. Here it found itself arrested on the brink of an abyss some 200 or 300 feet wide; and from the distance we were at, we could see the stream of fire rushing over like a vast cataract, with immense boulders of red hot rocks hurled over, and chasing each other down until the ground got more even, and the speed slackened. From this point the lava crept on, but so slowly, lhat it was difficult fto mark its progress ; and the effect was beautiful as it burned the trees it met in its course, which flamed up with a bright blue light like Romau candles. The reflection of the burning mountain was thrown across the sea on the very edge of the spot where we were standing, and formed a lovely contrast to the beams of the pale silvery moon as they lit up Capri and the Sorrento coast. The best remains to be told. proposed going to Portici to see the eruption nearer. When )we got there I suggested Messina as preferable ; and, in short, it ended by his taking a donkey we met, and I walked. So we proceeded, both of us dressed as we were, in thin evening shoes and light apparel, until we reached the summit of the mountain, after a severe tug of two hours. However we were well repaid, and I shall never forget the scene, and we stood within a few yards of the cataract of fire I mentioned before, A strong wind blew the smoke over Moute Somma, but the heat was terrible, for we were pretty near it, of which you may judge when I telly ou that faute de mieux, I lit a cigar from the edge of the torrent, as it rolled over the edge of the mountain. We remained there some three hours, which passed quickly enough, and as we descended the mountain, we were gratified at seeing tlie eclipse of the moon, which took place at about three o'clock in the morning, and of which previously we knew nothing. In "short, we were very fortunate in the night,-for it was the only one on which the moon had shone since this day last week. As you may suppose, the lava has made great progress, and it does not seem to be diminished. I went again, but to another part, last Saturday night. It was then threatening a village called .San Sebastiani, for it has already got into the plain, and has destroyed an infinity of property. I hear today that the stream is fioo feet in breadth, and has ingulfed three houses. They have sent firemen to build walls, to try and turn the direction of the stream. However, that won't do much good. When I was there last Satnrdav.it was a curious sight to see the wretched proprietors cutting down their vines and trees to save the wood. Thousands of people were standing in front of the advancing flood, for in the plain there is no danger, as it moves about fifty yards in five hours. - When it is likely to cease, no one can tell, as every day the mountain opens fresh craters, and it is likely to continue to do so. Today we have an awful storm, and it is thundering and lightning and raining torrents, such torrents as are only seen in Naples. If it clears up and I are going this evening to see the ' village destroyed.' People talk of it as if they were going to the Surrey Gardens. However", it is no joke for the owners; and a branch stream has made a direction of its own towards a lovely villa belonging to the Marquis St. Angelo, and in all probability by to-morrow he will havean unpleasant neighbour in his flowergarden This is the most popular eruption, they say, that has ever been known, and all the world goes to Vesuvius of an evening. The King and Queen went there the other night and spent it on the mountain. The last three or four eruptions have always taken place on the other side, and consequently have been difficult to get at, and but little has been seen from Naples. This one, if it goes fon, will do a great deal of damage, as there are three villages between it and the sea, and the ground is much cultivated. I shall be able to tell you more about it in my next letter, as I have not given you much of an idea of what a grand sight it is. The fact is, it would be very difficult to do so, as any description would fall very short of the reality. I had heard a great deal of the effect of eruptions, and pictures representing them are not scarce, but I can assure you that nothing I had seen or heard gave vie the slightest idea of what it really is." A correspondent of the Morning Post writing from Naples on the 14th, says:—" Since I last

wrote, Vesuvius, instead of ceasing its destructive eruption, has been committing, daily, greater ravages. All the artillery of the Roman Catholic Church has been brought out to propitiate that of nature—or the great God of nature, rather. Processions, masses, votive offerings, and the Exhibition of bones of the saints, attended by his Majesty, and the liquefaction of the blood of St. Jaminrius ; and to-moirow, I might add, in all probability, the solemn exposition of the image of the saint, himself-has been tried, yet the mountain still vomits fire—the burning lava still rolls down on the devoted country and the villages beneath. Within the last few days a portion of the lava diverged from the main stream, which flowing down on Cerolo and running to the right, has nearly reached St. Jerovio. How much fine cultivated land has been covered over, and what promised abundance destroyed, I dare not say ; people are much too excited.at present to make any precise calculations, but the loss to some individuals is very considerable, whilst the total amount must be immense. There are, then, you will understand, two large streams at present running down—the one more northerly, in the direction of Creolo, and the other more to the west, in the direction of St. Jovio and Portici. For a day the former stream had _nearly ceased to [flow, but a heavy accumulation of material came down, and since then it has been approaching nearer and nearer to the site where the bridge has been knocked down, as also some houses on the bank. The obvious object of the removal of these buildings was to widen aud deepen the bed of the stream, and to remove any obstacle which might lead to the lateral diffusion of the immense masses of scoriae. Notwithstanding, however, all precautions, the lava has in many places riseu above the banks, though thirty or forty feet high, and committed great havoc. It came as far as the walls of the Campo Santo, and then stopped, which is regarded as a miracle. It advanced to the walls of a large paiazzo, belonging to the family of Cavalcanti, which is no miracle, but nothing but 5a combinazioni, to use a Neapolitan word you will thoroughly appreciate ; curious distinction without difference, by which one may prove anything or nothing ! A good walk will lead us across niasserias and by-roads to the other prong of the fork of lava which is flowing, down on St. Jovio. Alas ! for the pretty village of St. Jovio should it reach it. It is one of the chosen spots for the villeggiatura of Neopolitans. Pretty villas meet the eye in all directions, and their proprietors ai_ now trembling 'around them, fearful to remain and watching anxiously the progress which the destructive stream is making. They count their ruin by the foot and minute. .'Much of the land belonging to St. Jovio has been already destroyed. Should the eruption continue, the course of the lava will lead it over the railway into the sea. It is to be hoped, however, that it will not reach so far. The summit of the mountain is so riddled, and the surface is presumed to be so thin, that it is fearedfit may fall at any time ; and no person is allowed to advance beyond the Observatory. Indeed, it would be madness to attempt it. The spectacle which the mountain presents at night is remaikably grand. Its sides are covered with the fiery fluid, which one may imagine to be blood, oozing out from the wounded giant.'' Naples, May 19.—Vesuvius has nearly done its bidding, and seems disposed to rest from its labours. Comparatively speaking it is still active and still forms a magnificent spectacle from the capitals. The cascade of fire—one of the modern wonders of the world—is now a blackened mass; and contrasted with its late brilliant appearance, strikes one as if it had been arrested by some fell disease which had converted it into this stiffened discoloured corpse. All fear of any further damage is now removed, and has been for several days, There was a suspension.of the flow of lava" for about 18 hours.