The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-16
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
MAGNIFICENT ERUPTION OF NOUN /
ETNA

MAGNIFICENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT
ETNA.
On the night Of the 10Th Of August. during
the celebration fthe centisajs, or every hun
dredih anniversary OF Saint Agata, the patron
saint Of the town Of Catania, Mount 1E,ua
became suddenly convulsed, and q magnificent
explosion took place, which has not been sur.
passed by any within the past forty years, and
fears were entertained that, from the noriherly
direction which the lava took, the neighboring
villages of Zafarana and Giarre have very se-
riously suffered, if not, perhaps, entirely de-
stroyed.
One Of an English party from Malta, visiting
Catana for the festo, and afterwards the noun
tain, accidentally happened to be ascending
IT at the time, and who, contrary to the advice
OF the guides, persisted In their journey, not
withstanding the premoniiory signs of the ap.
preaching event, thus narrates what was wit
messed
The party consisted of fCapt. Hallett, r. N,
Mrs. Hallett, the Misses Sankey, the Hon. Lt
Finch, Of toe 68th Light Infantry, and Lieut..
Kavenhill, ofthe Royal Engineers, accompan-
leo by their muleteers, and the usual Sician
guides. They took their departure late at
night from NIcolosi, so as to insure reaching
inc summit of the mountain by daybreak, in
oIoer 10 enjoy the grandeur of the scene at that
particular hour. As they proceeded, the wind
rose SO violently that the guides, fearing some
inisnap, recommended them to retrace their
Steps but the intrepid party, unwilling to be
oduiKed IN their intentions, persisted in pro-
ceeaihg' boon afterwards, the wind increased,
anu The mountain began to shake like A sianr
arising from his slumber. All of a sudden
when the party was ia narrow pass. mnles
and riders, male and female, conductors and
guides, were precpitated TO the ground by an
awful blast, and lay rolling over and over
| among cnders and ashes, whilst at the spot
called Colossi, scarce one hundred Yards dis
| tant from theaparty, the mountain opened, and
burst out with terrific violence, the wind keep.
ing pace, and apparently struggling, which
should roar the loudesl. Crawling under a
projecting block of lava, the formation of O
former eruption, they huddled together for pro
lection from the piercingIy cold blast, ant
clouds of acutely sharp dust the eruption
commenced at about A.. nj. The flames is
sued in widely spread sheets from the summit
but by far the most fearful eruption took place
at the loot of the cone, at spot called the Cra
ter Colossi. This explosion caused the noun
tain to heave and rock, and the LIQUID lavt
flowed over from the boiling gulf beneath, mi
nor craters opening from time to time, ant
forming grand junction, from which huge
masses were thrown up amidst fire and smoke
Fortunately for the party, the wind blew from
been inevitably suffocated by the sulphurou.
fumes, and as it was, each nome Mt threatened
to be their last. After day break, when ano
ther terrific explosion and outbreak shook the
lofty mountain to its very centre, the party left
their retreat and made their way with difficult
ty back to Nicolos.
For several days previously torrents of rain
had descended, and passengers from Messna
bv the French steamer which arrived at Malta
on the morning Of the 25ih, report that the vol
oano was still in activity during the night o.
the 24Ih, and no doubt dreadful ravages will
result.
A CoAL.HoLE ADvEsTURE.-A highly re-
spectacle sheet in our town was, a few nights
ago, the scene cfa novel and laug ghabIe Incl
dent. Two lady residents had gone out TO somt
place of amusement, leaving in charge of ihe
house female servant, whose particular pen
chant was the holding conversations on the
door steps with one of the deceving SEX
While thus pleasantly engaged on the night in
question, the door suddenly closed, and the
key being inside, all the efforts of the coquets
ting maid and her flirting admirer to enter the
house were unsvailing. In despair, the girl at
last determined to 60 TO her mothers house,
leaving her mstresses TO enter the domicil as
they could.
In,due time the ladies arrived, and knocked,
and knocked, but Of course unavailingly. AT
length a stout but gallant neig hb0r, learning
the nature of their fix" offered TO assist them:
but in vain he tried to force the door. At last
he discovered that the coal grid was loose, and
brig hit idea struck him that by his entry thus
through the cellar, he might be able to house
his fair friends He lifted up the grid and gently
slid his body through the black and unearthly
orifice. A load of Goals had that day been get
in, and our fat friend could 60 thus far but no
farther. The bystanders, who were collecting
fast, now tried to pull him out by main force,
but in vain. At last, by the elevation OF a
small bov TO the window, pane Was broken
and window unfastened, and an eAtree thus ef-
fected.
The gallant gentleman was the ladies' first
care and the Goals were shovelled from be-
meath his feet, in the hope that he might de-
scend. but alasi his extreme plngudity rem.
dered him iniInovable. and there ne remained
in the semi earthly and semi heavenly position
usuaily aserlbed to Mahomet's coffin. The
case now became serious; another effort was
made TO pull the sufferer upwards; and alter
frightlul exertions in screwing IN his waist,
SC. he was at length hauled out, breaihless,
and baihed in perspiration. We hope the next
time his " vaulting ambition" is SO eonspicu-
Gus, his rotundity may not hinder ms being
hauled over the coais.-LtrerPool Times.
TIE YoUsG GPRUssIAs.-Frederick King oi
Prussia, one day rang his bell-and no one
answering. he opered his door, and found his
page fast asleep in his ebow-chair. He ad.
yanced toward, and was about to awaken him
when he perceived letter hanging out OF his
pocket. Curiosity prompted him to know
what il was-he took il out and read II. II
was letter from the young mans mother, 10
which she thanked him for having. sent her
part of his money TO relieve her misery-and
telling him that God would reward him for ms
6Iial affection. The King, after reading II,
went back softly to his chamber, took s. out . .
| nurse fall ofducats and slipped 4 with the
| ie,ter into the pages pocket. Returning 70
HIS chamber, he ruDg the bell so loudly that At
! awoke the page, who INSTANTLY made his aP
| pearance. .,o.,n sa;a n.
| King. -
| h;msef-ard putting bis hand in his pocket BY
ahance. TO his utter aslenishment he found
,here ! purse of ducats tie took il out, turned
nalr. and looking at the King, shed tor
| rem. Of tears, without being able 10 utter