THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

Southland Times, Issue 1606, 16 July 1872, Page 3

THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

Professor Phillips of Oxford said at the close of 1868, that we were "in the midst of a period of more than average struggle with the imprisoned energy of Fire." At that time Vesuvius was in eruption and had been followed by its great Sicilian rival, Etna, with the addition of earthquakes and lava-floods in the Pacific Sea, and tremors in various parts of Europe. Vesuvius has scarcely ever ceased for one month since that Christmas 1868 ! The present outburst, however, is considered to be the greatest since the convulsion of 1631, when seven streams of lava poured at once from the crater, destroying villages, and leaving layers of ashes and mud over miles of country. The loss of life was estimated at 18,000 persons. In the autumn of 1822 there was another terrific eruption, which, lasted twentynine days, and threatened Pompeii with, a new visitation. At that time an immense gulf or chasm was formed, and more than 800 feet of the cone was carried away by the explosions, so that, according to Sir Charles Lyell, the mountain was reduced from about 4200 to 3400 feet— a less height than our Ben Nevis. Periods of rest and activity — short rest and fearful activity — have since marked the history of Vesuvius. In all of them the phenomena are the same — subterranean noises, rains of scoria3 and ashes, and streams of lava. At present, it is said, a3hes have been thrown a distance of twenty miles. The mountain is described as " girdled with fire." But the red glare in most cases proceeds from incandescent but not flaming bodies: it is the light of the glowing lava and masses ejected in a state of white or red heat, which makes the great column of seeming flame. As yet the loss of life does not seem to have been great, but the destruction, terror, hardship, and poverty thus entailed on the fairest portion of Italy is indescribable. — English paper.