[MrsEmmaPeel]

Seems like the eyewitness report was written by Pliny the Younger? Dunno.

Correct. Pliny the Younger, an eye witness to the eruption wrote of the events in a letter to Tacitus at the request of Tacitus. We do not have the original request, nor any work of Tacitus were Pliny's research was used.

Pliny's' uncle, the Elder Pliny was Admiral of the Roman fleet, launched rescue operations and died in the attempt. A heavy asthmatic, he was overcome by the fumes and died.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Pliny the Elder was also a noted natural scientist who wrote De Rerum Naturum.