646 WILLIAM HERBERT HOBBS 



Increased activity of the jiimaroles in the Soljatara. — It was reported 

 that the fumaroles of the Solfatara showed increased activity during 

 the eruptive phase of Vesuvius. Having last visited them in October, 

 1905, the writer was able to confirm this by a visit made on April 

 16 during the closing stages of the main eruption. The vapors 

 which issued from the main fumarole on the later date rushed up 

 with a hissing sound, and in a volume which resembled that from 

 the escape-valve of a locomotive. The services of the attendant, 

 who had been accustomed to stimulate the fumarole with torches, 

 had become unnecessary, and he had deserted his post. 



Fig. 9. — View of the main lava stream of 1906. Above Boscotrecase.. 



The lava streams. — Three large and several smaller lava streams 

 issued from Vesuvius during the recent eruption. The one which 

 caused the greatest damage appears to have been the largest, and 

 flowed from a hocca near the piano above Torre Annunziata to the 

 cemetery on the outskirts of that city, completely enveloping the city 

 of Boscotrecase and burying it to a roughly estimated average depth 

 of 12 feet (see Figs. 9-12). Above an altitude of about 2,200 feet 

 and almost immediately above the corner monument of Torre 

 del Greco (see Fig. i), this stream sent off a branch to the westward, 

 which branch, following the course of a diverging vallone, was again 

 reunited to the main stream near the altitude of 1,500 feet. The 



