MT. VESUVIUS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8138, 12 May 1906, Page 5

MT. VESUVIUS.

THE RECENT ERUPTION. INTERESTING DETAILS. Received May 11, 10.32 a.m. FtfEMANTLE, May 11. Files by the Orient Paoiflo steamer Ortona contain interesting aooounts of the earlier stages of Vesuvius in eruption. At one period of the eruption enormous quantities of salt whitened the country for miles around the mountain. This was followed by an eruption of sulphur, which painted the country yellow. From the crater poured immense columns of smoke, while red hot stones and debris were burled high up in the air, forming a magnificent spectacle. When the lava stream invaded the towns and villages, a wild panic ensued, the people rushing through the streets shrieking in terror. The soldiers under the command of the Duke d'Aoato, did magnificent work. In the earlier stages, they were' employed trying to dam the stream ' of lava, whioh was invading the centres of population. The soldiers visited all the houses, and helped the inhabitants to escape. They also removed the sick, and went where the houses were tottering to unearth the dead. They also comforted the dying, and buried the dead. Terrible scenes were witnessed at the various hamlets nearest the volcano, whioh were overwhelms d with lava and debris. The position of the J bodies whioh were recovered showed that the people suffered great fear before death, their faces retaining the of terror. Throughout the week Naples appeared a grey city, and inhabitants i were like grey ghosts from the per- j pelual rain of warm asbeß and and, whioh covered the streets to a depth of from two to three feet. People went about Naples wearing masks. Owing to the weight of debris, the roof of the great central market collapsed when business was in full swing. A scene of wild consternation ensued, and it is estimated tnat two hundred persons were buried in the ruins. Rat for the premonitory cracking of the beams, the death roll would have been much larger. Crowds of women and children sought a sanotuary in th« various churches, in some' places tearing down the doors in order to gain . admission. In their religious fervour the women carried images from the chuiohea about the surrounding country, chanting hymns and prayers, until obliged to retreat by the advancing lava. At San Guiaeppe the roof of a church fell, barying a great number of women an.l old people. Last accounts stated that one hundred and ten dead bodies had been recovered, besides many who were injured and were extricated. It is believed that altogether two hundred persons were buried in the ruins. King Viator and Queen Helene had a splendid leoeption when visiqing the afflicted districts. No satisfactory explanation of the cause of the eruption is forthcoming.