INSIDE THE CRATER OF VESUVIUS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, 1 August 1912, Page 2

INSIDE THE CRATER OF VESUVIUS

EXPLORER’S GRAPHIC STORtr OF HIS PERILOUS DESCENT.

SMOKING FISSURES

Professor Malladra, of tlie \ esuvms Observatory, who made sueh_ a- daring descent into the crater of Vesuvius recently, has furnished the Rome correspondent of the “Pall Mall_ Gazette” with some new details of iiis exploit. “Mv assistant and I, with our lug-

gage,” he said- —“ a portmanteau in which to put specimens of mineja'j

an aneroid barometer, a maximum thermometer (u -1 to 360 deg. C.), a camera, fusible threads for testing +he temperature of the fissures, a compass, an axe, a staff, and forty yards of rope—set out- on May 26. “Supporting ourselves bv the roj>e, and placing our feet against the rocky, sides of the crater, we began our descent. The first -obstacle was an oblique wall formed by the debris of earlier eruptions, and this was succeeded bv an enormous crevasse, into which numerous smoking fissures opened. I measured the temperat-uro of these fiissures, and found it to be SGdeg. C. “Continuing our way, we came to a nearly perpendicular wall of over fifty yards’ in height. Our serious difficulties now commenced. Wherever we put our feet we opened new fissures belching out sulphuric acid; but we managed, nevertheless, to get- down tho wall. - HAIL OF HOT CINDERS. “We now encountered another wall of nearly as difficult a character. All around us now was falling a literal hail of cinders and debris, which we had difficulty My hands and arms were severely burnt and bruised, whilst my assistant is still suffering from contusions or the head. Wo persevered in our descent, and encountered still another nearly perpendicular wall. . , “After some searching we found a crevasse with some negotiable lava canals, and commenced to move on. But now we found we had not sufficient rope. Wo had a hundred yards more descent without a -rope to help us. “At last we found ourselves at the bottom. Our main regret- was that wo had left our lunch at the edge ot the crater. “Tho bottom was about 400 yards in diameter, and we spent some time in taking pb-otc-graphs and making, our observations. The hoar meanwhile increased, and breathing became difficult“l was able to measure the depth of tho crater, and found it to lie 300 yards. The surface at the bottom was irregular, and showed deep oepr-ce-sions and mounds not to be seen from the t-op. “Soon it became impossible prolong our stay in the depens of this pit, wliF-li. was lighted by -a--weird reddish light. The mountain was shaken by occasional shocks. “Our ascent was arduous, long, and difficult, but eventually we arrived at our starting-place with hands torn, arms, -elbows, and knees aching and bruised, -but with an elated sense ot success.” :