Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-09-21
Eruption OF Mount astnn.


We learn from, our correspondent at Malta, that
on the night of the goth of August, Mount ftna
became suddenly convnlsed, and magnificent
eruption took place, which has mot been surpas-
sed by any, within the past forty years.
An English party from Malta, visiting CatanIa
forthe fiesta, and afterwards the mountain, hap
pened to be ascending it at the time, and contra
ry to the advice of the guides, persisted in their
journey, notwithstanding thepremonitory signs OF
the approaching event.
The party consisted of Capt. Hallet, r. N, Mrs.
Hallet, the Misses Sankey, the Hon. Lieut.. Finch,
of the 6Sth Light Infantry, and Lieut.. Rayenhili'
of the Royal Engineers, accompanied by their mule
teers, and the usual Scilian guides They look
their departure late at night from Nicolosi so as to
ensure Teaching the summit of the mountain by day
brake, in order to enjoy the grandeur of the scene
at that peculiar hour. AS they proceeded, the
wind raised soivoilently that the guides, fearing
their steps, but the intrepid party, unwilling to be
baked in their Intentions, persisted in proceeding.
Soon afterwards, the wind Increased, and the
mountain began to shake like giant, arising from
his slumber. All ola sudden, when the party was
in narrow pass, mules and riders. male and te-
male, conductors and guides, were precipitated to
the ground by an awful blast, and lay rolling
and over among the cinderS and ashes, whilst at a
spot called Coossi, scarce one hundred yards dis
tant from the party, the mountain opened and burst
out with terrific violence, the wind keeping pace
and apparently struggling which should roar the
loudest. Crawling under projecting block OF Ia
va, the formation of former eruption, they hud-
died together for protection from the piercing cold
blasts, and clouds of acutely sharp dust. The
eruption commenced at A. NJ 5..i' itl 80"
The flames issued in widely-spread sheets from
the summit but by far the most fearful eruption
took place at the foot of the cone, at spot called
the Crater Colos This explosion caused the
mountain TO heaye the rock, and the liquid lava
flowed over from the boiling gulf beneath-minor
craters opening from time TO time, and forming
grand junction, from which huge masses were
thiown up amidst reandsmoke.
| Fortunately for the party, the wind blew from
them, towards the crater, or they must have been
inevitably suffocated by the sulphorous fumes, and
as twas each moment threatened to he their last.
After daybreak, when another stirriic explosion
and outbreak shook the lofty mountain to its very
centre, the partyleft their retreat and made their
way with difficulty back to Nicoosi. s,.r.
| For several days previous, torrents of rain had
descended, and passengers from Messini, by the
French steamer which arrived at Malta on the NOR
ming of the Goth, report that the volcano still
in activity during the night of the 24th.-National
| IntelGgencer. p. 9l.i = 80 * y
rs-tt4tt=---+ e.-~----.---
HAUNTED HOUSE, IN CiNcrsNArl.-The Gazette
says there is in Cincinnati fine built house situated
| in the heart of the city, which, although very
desirable residence, has been for long time un-
tenanted, on account of former inmates having been
disturbed by "ghosty noise" and "une1plainable
appeaIanceS.' ~ ~ u gE u EYEF1 ~ q IE4ItzrJ
| One day, last week, a Mr.. Edwards engaged the
upper appointments as a boarding house; but had
been I'M the house but a few days-just enough TO
be comfortably fixed-when, one evening, a noise
similar to the discharge of pistol was heard in an
upper front room; but on examination, no cause
for the report could be asccrtained Several hours
aftcrwarI, and when the family and boarders had
retired, succession of reports were heard by all
| the inmates Of the house, accompanied by loud
screams, from n room where was several young
lady boarders and daughter of Mr.. Edwards.
The whole house was aroused, and, rushing in the
direction of the noise, found the young ladies i'll the
utmost trepidatioh from terror. They declared
that the "pistol shots were made, at their bed
. side, repeated as from revolver, and that they
saw flashes ofred light following each report. One
of the girls, pale and almost senscless from fright,
affirmed that, just at the moment Of the sounds, a
tall dark figure twice stopped over the pillow.
Such was the excited condition of the whole
family that cots were prepared for all in one room,
and the remainder of the night was passed in COM
papy, but no furthor disturbance was experienced.
4 The next day, about noon, another sharp report
was heard in The kitchen, and for several hours
during the day a noise heard in the dining
room, resembling the mortcing of a carpenter in
heavy timber. Mr.. Edwards, not being able to re-
tain his borders, was obliged to leave. '' 50