Its Chief
Features 246

CHAPTER XX.

THE NEW SAN FRANCISCO.

A Modern City of Steel on the Ruins of the City
that Was--A Beautiful Vista of Boulevards, Parks
and Open Spaces Flanked by the Massive Structures
of Commerce and the Palaces of Wealth and Fashion 255

CHAPTER XXI.

VESUVIUS THREATENS NAPLES.

Beautiful Italian City on the Mediterranean
Almost Engulfed in Ashes and Lava from the
Terrible Volcano--Worst Eruption Since the
Days of Pompeii and Herculaneum--Buildings
Crushed and Thousands Rendered Homeless 267

CHAPTER XXII.

SCENES IN FRIGHTENED NAPLES.

Blistering Showers of Hot Ashes--The People
Frantic--Cry Everywhere "When Will It
End?"--Atmosphere Charged with Electricity
and Poisonous Fumes 279

CHAPTER XXIII.

VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES EXPLAINED.

BY TRUMBULL WHITE.

The Theories of Science on Seismic
Convulsions--Volcanoes Likened to Boils on
the Human Body, Through Which the Fires
and Impurities of the Blood Manifest
Themselves--Seepage of Ocean Waters Through
Crevices in the Rocks Reaches the Internal
Fires of the Earth--Steam Is Generated and
an Explosion Follows--Geysers and Steam Boilers
as Illustrations--Views of the World's Most
Eminent Scientists Concerning the Causes of
the Eruptions of Mount Pelee and La Soufriere 285

CHAPTER XXIV.

TERRIBLE VOLCANIC DISASTERS OF THE PAST.

BY TRUMBULL WHITE.

Destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah and the Other
Cities of the Plain--The Bible Account a
Graphic Description of the Event--Ancient
Writers Tell of Earthquakes and Volcanoes of
Antiquity--Discovery of Buried Cities of
Which No Records Remain--Formation of the
Dead Sea--The Valley of the Jordan and Its
Physical Characteristics 303

CHAPTER XXV.

VESUVIUS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF POMPEII.

BY TRUMBULL WHITE.

Most Famous Volcanic Eruption in History--Roman
Cities Overwhelmed--Scenes of Horror Described by
Pliny, the Great Classic Writer, an Eye-Witness
of the Disaster--Buried in Ashes and Lava--The
Stricken Towns Preserved for Centuries Excavated
in Modern Times as a Wonderful Museum of the Life
of 1,800 Years Ago