108 J. W. Judd — On Volcanos. 



eruption was actually in progress. During the continuance of the 

 eruptions, the operations of the labourers in the crater were of course 

 suspended ; but the first explosions were so sudden that, before the 

 workmen could make their escape, three of them sustained serious 

 injuries. From the entries in Signor Pinconi's journal, a copy of 

 which now lies before me, and the notes which I made on the spot 

 only two months after the eruption had ceased, I have drawn up the 

 following account of it. 



On the 7th September, 1873, signs of renewed activity began to be 

 displayed in the crater of Vulcano, and a series of small eruptions 

 took place within the crater. These continued with varying inten- 

 sity and many interruptions until the 24th of October. On the 

 22nd January, 1874, the activity of the crater was renewed, and 

 continued till the 5th of February. 



During these eruptions rumbling sounds were heard, which were 

 compared to a fusillade alternating with discharges of cannon. 

 These noises were audible at Lipari, which is situated at a distance 

 of 6 miles from the crater. 



Several fissures were opened on the northern side of the bottom 

 of the crater, and from these clouds of vapour were discharged 

 and considerable numbers of stones thrown out. Some of these 

 were of very considerable size ; but the majority of them were, by 

 repeated ejections, reduced to small fragments. Most of the stones 

 fell back within the limits of the crater ; but a few of them fell 

 outside of it, and are seen scattered all over the sides of the cone. 

 Some of these stones are 8 to 10 lbs. in weight ; they are composed 

 of highly siliceous rock (quartz-trachyte), and can be distinguished 

 from the products of earlier eruptions by their pale-green colour and 

 unweathered appearance. The fragmentary materials accumulated 

 in great quantities around the orifices of ejection, and would doubt- 

 less have given rise to the formation of small cones on the bottom 

 of the great crater, had not the large quantities of materials shaken 

 down from the adjoining crater-wall caused the whole to assume 

 the form of a great bank or talus, leaning against the northern side 

 of the circular cavity. 



On ascending to the top of this pile, which rises to the height 

 of more than 100 feet above the bottom of the crater, I was able 

 to see that from four still open mouths, ashes, lapilli and larger 

 fragments of rock had been discharged, giving rise to the formation 

 of a line of cones, the regularity of the building up of which had 

 been greatly interfered with from the cause alluded to. From these 

 open mouths considerable quantities of vapour were still (April 11, 

 1874) issuing. 



Among the blocks of obsidian and quartz- trachyte, usually with 

 highly contorted internal structure, which strewed the floor of the 

 crater and had been ejected during the recent eruptions, were many 

 which weighed several hundred-weights. 



Considerable quantities of white ashes were ejected during these 

 eruptions, and fell both in the islands of Lipari and Salina. 



While these eruptions were taking place within the crater of 



