The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-23 00:00:00

THE SUN,

ERUPTION OF ETNA.
CATANIA SEPT. 1.--Zaffarana has been and still
is in considerable danger—by last accounts the lava
was at a very short distance from it, and apparently
nothing but the interposition of Providence could
save it. The soil, on the sides of Etna generally, is
full of undulations, in some places mere hillocks, in
other places hills, caused by lava, or scoria, from pre-
vious eruptions. The lava, as it flows on in its down-
ward course, is naturally turned aside by these undu-
lations or irregularities, and some hltll or obstacle,
may possibly turn aside the lava ere it reach Zaffa-
rana. I may here mention that it is calculated that
the course of the lava since the eruption first broke
out, is, owing to its devious course, caused by the
undulaticn alluded to above, full sixteen miles, while
the distance in a straight line, does not exceed three
miles. The first stream of lava, after nearly reaching
Zaffarana, suddenly ceased, as if the eruption were at
an end. It is a second stream, flowing on the first,
which now causes so much alarm. Great damage has
already been donelto the vineyards and chestnut woods
on the stope of the mountain, and it is to be feared
that the damage will still be very considerable, even
if Zaffarana escape. This village and Ballo, a suburb
thereof, have been deserted by the inhabitants, and
several houses higher up than it have been already
destroyed.
Yesterday evening, and the whole of today,
Catania has been visited by a heavy shower of black
ashes from the mountaie, to such an extent that it is
perfectly disagreeable to be in the streets. Owing
to this cloud of ashes the mountain has been nearly
invisible. to us, but we are warned by the conti-
nuous heavy explosions that it is still in a vary active
state.
Curiosity has carried, and is daily carrying a large
number of Catanese to Zaffarana; there, however,
little more than the stream of lava is visible, I made
a trip on Saturday afternoon to Tre Castagne, three
hours' drive distant from Catania, thence on a mule
and on foot through the Bosco and over the lava of
1819, to the summit of Monte Pumiciaro, a trip of
fouriorhioouurss
saignhdt ahfhathlfe.
twForomnewitlsy
- summitf
o r:w we
had
a craters,g
casting up enormous red hot masses under our feet,
and we could trace the h
W o e course of the different
streams of lava from the source to Zaffarana. The
trip there and back took sixteen hours. 'I would re-
commend it to any • •
one wishing really to see what an
eruption is.

(From the Journal of Catania.)

August 22.—From the point of the eruption, the
lava descended to within a mile of Zappinelli, having
traversed nearly seven miles of ground, over desert
and desolate points, damaging a portion of birch trees
in this communal grove, and nearly all the zappini
(fir trees), and a portion of birch trees forming part
of the revenue of the Bishop of Catania. One branch
took the direction of Milo, a territory of Giarre. To-
day the progress of the lava is less rapid than it was
yesterday. Of a sudden the branch which appeared
to have turned towards Zaffarana, commenced an in-
vasion of some private property in the road below,
and appears to be taking the direction of the road to
the commune named Ballo. The branch which is
taking the direction of Milo is in a state of great
activity.
Up to this moment the height of the lava has not
been visible from the habitations of Zaffarana.

Besides invading some lands little cultivated it has
spread over others covered with birch, cherry, and
apple trees.
Its ordinary course may be calculated at about 40
feet an hour, but its course may be increased by de-
scending the steep ground above Zaffarana, from which
commune it is now distant about four miles, calcu-
lating its tortuous course.
August 23.—The lava, which last night showed a
front of about 18 palms high, attained daring the
night a height of 30 palms, and acquired greater cele-
rity in its course. It has already invaded the heights
visible from the habitations of Zaffarana, and has
passed some, especially that of the Quercia del Vento,
S.E. of the valley of Calanna. One branch towards
the opening of Calanna, and another to the Quercia
del Vento, appear to be directing themselves, the first
for the valley of Calanna (in its course it will take
the hamlet of Zaffarana) the second on the road to
Ballo ; whilst a third smaller branch, which is seen
at the point understood as Motara, tends towards the
lands situated between Ballo and Milo. This morn-
ing the continued detonations issuing from the point
of the eruption have been heard more loudly. The
volcanic fire has already occupied some vineyards, and
menaces others ; it is about three miles distance from
Zaffarana, and a mile and a half ;from the suburb of
Ballo or Sciara.

August 24.—The lava during the night has pro-
gressed rapidly over the steep ground. Its progress
towards Milo has stopped. The arm of the Portella
di Calanna has extended to the plain of the same
name, and continues its course in the direction of
Zaftarana. That too of the Quercia del Vento is sub-
divided into three sections : the first is on the point of
union with the small branch passing by the above
mentioned opening, and is closing on itself; the se-
cond is directing itself towards Palazzo ; the third
takes the route of Dagalone in the direction of Ballo,
and is distant from it rather more than a mile, and

►rom the centre of the commune of Zaffarana a
mile and a half. The branch from the point of Mor-
tara ii now increasing. In a word, the lava has
reached to the base of the Quercia del Vento hill and

its pre-eminence, and has invaded much private pro-
perty, some ready for receiving ithe rye-seed, others
cultivated with vines. Its front, from about 400
canne, has increased to near a mile.
August 25.—A small arm of lava is directing itself
towards Algerazzi and Spoligni in the territory of
Giarre, actually distant from the fire, the first one,
and the second two miles.

Last night the branch of the Portella di Calanna,
united with a section of that of the Quercia del Vento,
advanced 92 canne towards Zaffarana. From the
point at which it was yesterday evening to the pre-
sent moment, it has reached the vineyards of Ango-
nicel!a and Angona, and is distant from the village a
mile and a quarter.
The section towards Palazzo and Dagolone has
assumed the form of a peacock's tail, invading several
vineyards in the district of the grand Vigna, Palazzo,
Sciarrone, and extended to the grotta, named Ciechi-
tella, from which place the lava last night advanced
100 canne, and this morning it continued its course,
so that from the commune of Zaffarana it is less than
a mile distant, and from Sciara, or Ballo, about 100
canne. The branch from Point Mortara progresses
in a N.E. direction towards Giarre by the Algerazzi
and Spoligni roads.
August 26.—The lava has considerably lessened
its onward course. From a hill four miles from Zaf-
farana ahother strada has appeared, which is following
the traces of the first one.
During the eruption it has bean remarked that the
front of the lava has been variable ; now being large
—now small ; that the various branches have often
I.l.garuieteadterwoirthantah smaller .
mass, and that the course of the fire
,
!1
,:is generally taken to the valleys. It divides itself
te
to several branches when impeded by hills or high
rugged otB and on finding a level again the
branches reunite. The expansion of the lava is
or less proportion as the ground is more
Augustey.
T
closely, th lava beei village of Ballo is menaced
side the eruption Increases
distant only 12 cantle. On this
other branches have rceeaassesd in intensity, whilst all the
August 29—The lava which
has deviated from its counec inclined towards Ballo
side has ceased. The eruptio'nahnad all danger on that
towards Zaffarana Etnee, from
wahircehsumed its course
distant, spreading over te vineyards.it is two miles
The other branches are dead.

WEST INDIA MAltaciETs.
A
AUG. -ca
3.
(From De Cordova's Merntile Ate
haWye
—We veneer '
--g, 26.)
MONDAY, NOON,
aeeydt.lnver
Ye
through
°'
in
another dull fortnight, business operations, except
instances, having barely risen above the range
ordinary retail transactions. supplies, generally, aim
ported goods are quite ample to meet the present re.
stricted demand. Produce continues firm at better prices
than last given. Not any of the new crop of Pimento
has yet found its way to market.
Alewives continue very inactive. We have no sales of
any consequence to report.
Butter—The operations in Irish have been unimport-
ant. We quote it at 11d. per lb. Of American 500
kegs have changed hands at Bd., and 200 packages Hali-
fax have been moved at Sid. per lb.
Beef may be quoted at 545. the half-barrel nominally,
but there is no stock.

Brandy is in large supply and very limited demand,
at ss. 6d to 6s. per gallon, short price.
Bread—We note sales of 125 barrels Wattson's Pilot,
and 25 barrels Crackers, at 15s. and 18s. respectively.
Of domestic the sales are confined principally to retail
parcels, at the same rates.

, ----
Cornmeal-100 barrels were moved at 225., but for a
subsequent arrival of 600 barrels 21s. was accepted.
Coffee—There is not any at market.
Cheese is wanted.
3,Ylour—The sales reach 1,400 barrels Baltimore at
n nl:Cl:nat 831341'5c. uplearti barrel.on f
"! and 850 Philadelphia supposed at the same rate.
ca
jiniaatitti.Tthoe
arriZT
A resale
600 barrels Baltimore has
bee
Doubloons ,
Gold vkir,;
quote American at 1 per cent. premium.
not in demand.
Haros-47
English at 81.dteseriptions are dull of sale. We quote
still
reached
110
7i19d.; Irish at 51d. to Bd.; and Ameri-
lb.
to decontinuo on a liberal scale, and
press the market. Of bottled the
sales barrels Strongditto, ale, quarts, at 10s. 6d.,
145 ditto pale ale, quarts, at is.
in, linuuarrats, at 75., all of the Sacell
Brewery Company's
t, e,
9nd
ae. :tura. No operations in
other descripti;;Ls have re h d us. Bulk is unusually
inactive.
st oc
Ok
is veil—Mary y
li be quoted at 2s, 7id. per gallon. The
ght.
Pimento-4d. would be readily •
paid for it, but there
is none on offer.
Rice—Bengal has been in active iz
W-U/ and seversi