The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-16
Eruption or Mount Etna.

letter In Malta paper Of the goth August
gives the following particulars OF the late erup-
ton Of the great fire. mountain Of Italy:
At p. IN Of the 18th of August, party Of
English, with three guides, three muleteers, and
q servant, together with eleven mules, left Nico-
lini, with an intention of ascending Mount Etna
and taking shelter at the Casa Ingese. At IL
O'Clock the party, In excellent spirits, reached the
Bosco, where they put on their light clothing.
Passing the Bosco about two miles, the huge
crater below Etna called the Coloss glared awful.
ly, and shortly threw up large bodies Of fire and
smoke. Immediately after Etna vomited forth its
Casa Inglese, it not prudent to seek its friend
ly shelter, as in all probability 1t would be de-
stroyed; their course was therefore changed, the
Coossi being now the point to which it was di.
Ieoted.
The weather, which had been very cold, was in
creasing in its comfortess intensity, and when
our travellers had got above the height of the Casa
Inglese, in narrow dchle, Of which sand and
small lava were the component parts, they were
overtaken by hurricane so violent that in an in
slant seven mules and their riders were blown
over; and not only 80, but to render the scene
more terrific, it was afterwards found that they
were blown to the very edge of the crater.
For the gentlemen to descend in search Of their
companions was the result OF moments decision.
At this time the scene was indescrbably grand;
heaven and earth presented one magnificent glare
of light-Etna above vomiting its suIphuric flames,
the CoIoss below belching forth its dense masses OF
smoke, lurid from the furnace below, the huge
mountain pouring out from lis interior prolonged
meanings, without the hurricane roaring in all its
mighty and awful majesty. Crawling on their
knees and hands, unable to face the violence of the
hurricane, the gentlemen sought the ladies, who
were not discovered and collected together till at
ter search OF thirty minutes. They were then
placed under columns Of lava, their light clothing
literally blown off their backs, and pyramid Of
living beings formed around them for their
safety and protection.
As by magic the scene suddenly changed. An
earthquake shook the land. Up jumped the guides,
bawling their unmusical 0uant! aoanfi! (get on,
get only the mules were Immediately abandoned
10 their fate; the hurricane increased in strength;
the scene around was too majestic for contempla-
ton, too diversified for descriptions in ten minutes
the little party had fallen from sheer exhaustion
the pointed lava. To face the wind charged with
sand and small stones, was beyond power. In this
manner two hours passed away, and moet anx-
iously did they look for the approach of dawn.
Within the crater, which some OF the party had
courageousiy examined, forty small furnaces were
burning awfully; these, they reached Catania,
peared to carry destruction to some villages and
pasture lands which, as reported, has been seriously
injured.
Often has the indomitable courage of the soft
sex, when tested. been proved to be greater than
that of man. Nothing on this occasion could equal
their more than heroism. On setting forth on
their return the sharp points Of the lava presented
no obstacle; courageously did they undertake
their six mile walk, regardless Of all inconve-
after abstinence Of sixteen hours, hasty dejeu
was welcome event After spending a few
minutes in this employment, they continued their
journey by mules, and reached Nicolini by 10,
whence they started for Catania, which they
reach at 2. 30 p. m.