ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 522, 3 August 1850, Page 4

ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

A letter from Naples, dated February Bth, says: — "On the evening of the sth there burst forth an eruptiou of Vesuvius so brilliant and tremendous as has not been witnessed for many years. No one expected it, none of the usual signs had preceded it, — so that our astonishment and admiration were the greater. The mountain literally roared with the efforts which it made to disgorge itself, — the noise being not unlike the firing of cannon at sea; and at every discharge there was thrown up a mass of lava and of rocks which by night showed like balls of fire. It is impossible to describe the beauty of the scene ; for the night itself was pitch dark ; yet so brilliant was the light from Vesuvius that every point was brought out in relief for miles round. Castella Mare, Sorrento, even over to Capri, were more distinctly visible than by day, — whilst the sea looked like a mass of liquid fire. The report of a guide who was on the mountain at the time, is as follows: — *In the middle of the mountain towards Somma, in an instant a grotto was formed full of stalactites of salt and marine salt. I was about to gather some portion of it when the grotto began to open as if under the influence of an earthquake, and as I fled I found that my clothes were burned upon my back. Had I not quickened my speed my life would have been sacrificed, foe in the same moment there issued forth a current of

lava forty palms in breadth — whence, as also from the crater, were thrown up bombs and lightnings. In ten minutes the lava extended to the foot of Somma, forming a most wonderful and beautiful scene.' Some of the crystals of salt I have seen this morning — white in colour, lightly shaded in green, and extremely delicate and elegant in form. "While standing in Santa Lucia, together with many thousands of persons, gazing on this stupendous object, beneath our very feet, the elements of destruction were at work, and danger of a different kind threatened us. Underneath this part of Naples — on which stand the royal palaces, a portion of the Arsenal, Santa Lucia, Pizzifalcone, and no one knows what else (for their extent is a mystery), are numerous vaults of great antiquity ; and as his Majesty has taken it into his head of late years to be a great naval power, and has brought a number of war steamers from England, he has laid up in these vaults a goodly provision of coals. In fact, at the very lowest statement there are 15,000 tons. In these close confined vaults, they have lain, — never have been turned, — until within the last few days it was perceived that fire-damp existed. His Majesty had been warned of the danger three months since, but his Majesty laughed and would not allow anything to be touched ; so that, at length, the horu of danger came — and Prince Leopold, the unole of the King, and all his family, were to be seen flying from the palace, whilst all the furniture was carried out rapidly in detail. The Neapolitan engineers at first adopted every method for excluding the air ; and the consequence was that a slight explosion took place, which shattered the beams of several rooms, and destroyed one which, a short time before, had been occupied. Seeing that this plan did not succeed, they began to form a variety of vents ; but, as in this country, there is nothing like any continued principle of thought or action, the idea of one moment being thrown aside the next, nothing is or will be done. I have spoken to several English engineers, who tell me that their suggestions are neglected, either from ignorance or from jealousy — and there must be a general 'blow up,' if the present plans are persisted in, A friend of mine, Mr. Nicholl, who had asserted that he could extinguish the fire at a small expense, and in a very short time, was last night called in ; when he suggested the introduction of a stream of carbonic acid gas (the method which was adopted, I believe, some time since in one of Lord Ashley's coal mines with eminent success) ; but Colonel Agostina, the Neapolitan engineer, denying the possibility of the thing, and expressing his vronder that foreigners should interfere, Mr. Nicholl had to retire. The Colonel has today sunk a shaft in Santa Lucia to communicate with the coal, and near it he has accumulated immense quantities of sand to be thrown down upon the fire! There are at present, about 500 men at work (the galley slaves) in taking out the coals ; but, though they have been more than a week actively engaged, as yet they have not taken out more than 500 tons of the 15,000 — and every moment increases the difficulty and danger. At present, the heat and odour are so intense that the workmen have to be continually changed ; and the poor fellows may sometimes be seen coming out with the blood flowing from their noses and quite exhausted. It is remarkable proof of the invariable want of system in this country, that no plan exists of these vaults, though they extend half way under Naples. No one appears to know anything about them — and thus it is that how, or where, or when to work no two men are agreed. Every sound is now listened to eagerly, as announcing, therefore, the explosion of a palace or a mountain. Indeed, the roaring of the mountain has been so tremendous during the last night,, -that, although the sea and the whole of the city intervene between us and it, I have been unable to sleep. 11