In the Crater’s Mouth.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3, 3 January 1914, Page 5

In the Crater’s Mouth.

CINEMA EXTRAORDINARY.

EXCITING INCIDENTS IN THE BOWELS OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

AMID LAVA FUMES AND HEAT

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright 1 [United Press Association.] (Recei/ed 8 am.) Loudon, January 2

Mr Frederick Burliugliam, lepre[sentative of ttie British E inenatographors’ Company, lias returned after a thrilling descent of 1200 feet ime the crater of Mount \ esuviusdo ohra.'.i a pieturo film. He spent several nights in the crater mouth. Mr Burlingham succeeded in avoiding the authorities. He secured a rope of sufficient length to cover the precipitous first portion of the crater edge, and was accompanied hy three guides, one of whom was left in charge of the rope. The others descended 500 ft with great difficulty, and relied on a favorable wind, hut it changed, and for twenty minutes the party was iuveloped iu suffocating fumes. The guides wanted to retreat, hut Mr Burlington would not allow them.

During tho next 500 ft, tlio paity descended between two walls of smoke, while on all sides were steam fumaroles, from which the lava exuded, tho heat registering from 300 to 400 decrees centigrade. ’ Thence the party slipped quickly to •i lower level, where the fumes turned the metals black and affected their eyes and throats. Reaching 1000 ft. they commenced photography amidst continuous noises of bubbling lava. The heat was GOO degrees, and l was like the blast of a furnace in full work. Next, the party descended to 1200 feet and obtained more pictures. They reached the surface at tho end of four hours, struggling, but unharmed.

The films are developing well, though it is impossible to reproduce the marvellous irridescent scenes witnessed in the inside of the crater.