eappeared. On this
occasion that vast phantom extended its menacing shadow over Capri, at a
distance of twenty-eight miles from Vesuvius.

The lava at first came out of a mouth about one hundred yards below the
crater, on the side toward Monte Somma. While occupied in viewing this
current, the observer heard a violent noise within the mountain; saw it
split open at the distance of a quarter of a mile, and saw from the new
mouth a mountain of liquid fire shoot up many feet, and then, like a
torrent, roll on toward him. The earth shook; stones fell thick around
him; dense clouds of ashes darkened the air; loud thunders came from the
mountain top, and he took to precipitate flight. The Padre's account is
too lively and instructive for his own words to be omitted.

PADRE TORRE'S NARRATIVE

"I was making my observations upon the lava, which had already, from the
spot where it first broke out, reached the valley, when, on a sudden,
about noon, I heard a violent noise within the mountain, and at a spot
about a quarter of a mile off the place where I stood the mountain
split; and with much noise, from this new mouth, a fountain of liquid
fire shot up many feet high, and then like a torrent rolled on directly
towards us. The earth shook at the same time that a volley of stones
fell thick upon us; in an instant clouds of black smoke and ashes caused
almost a total darkness; the explosions from the top of the mountain
were much louder than any thunder I ever heard, and the smell of the
sulphur was very offensive. My guide, alarmed, took to his heels; and
I must confess that I was not at my ease. I followed close, and we ran
near three miles without stopping; as the earth continued to shake under
our feet, I was apprehensive of the opening of a fresh mouth which might
have cut off our retreat.

"I also feared that the violent explosions would detach some of the
rocks off the mountain of Somma, under which we were obliged to pass;
besides, the pumice-stones, falling upon us like hail, were of such a
size as to cause a disagreeable sensation in the part upon which they
fell. After having taken breath, as the earth trembled greatly I thought
it most prudent to leave the mountain and return to my villa, where I
found my family in great alarm at the continual and violent explosions
of the volcano, which shook our house to its very foundation, the doors
and windows swinging upon their hinges.

"About two of the clock in the afte