New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-15
NUMBER 13e.
ETNA...A THsrlLrre TALE.

discount will be sde WIFE those VINO yef
All AaVsssmsTta no. marked will pa6hsd month,
charged accordingly. SE&
ETNA....A THRILLING TALE.
Among the wondrous sights on earth, the vol
cano of Etna will always hold just pre- emf
nence. Renowned by past and present history,
sublime by its elevation, its form. and the aw-
ful secresy of unknown terrors that lie con-
cealed within its bosom, the Sicilian volcano
will always be viewed with the deepest, the
most solemn awe.
| 1t was with such feelings and with such
| thoughts as those that | began to ascend the
volcano on the morning of the fifth of May,
l849. had left Catania on the day before. in
| order to visit this wonderful spot. / did
| not wish to glance carelessly upon it-no; for
| to me there was always something reverend,
something almost divine, in connection with this
great mass of upheaved lava, which led me to
look earnestly at its rugged sides. I wished to
ascend. to view from its summit the fairest re-
| gions on earth; TO glance down into those un-
sathomable depths where fire, fire in all its ter
| ror, for ever dwells, for ever struggles!
1t was with slow steps thet assembled the
cone, after the patient and hardy ponies had
bdeD dismissed. / had been been an invalid
and the fatigue Of climbing up the steep and
rocky deelivity might well have daunted me
| But, after many restings and haltings, was
able to attain the summit.
The summit! Good heavens! can ever forget
the delirium, the transport of joy, which the
boundless prospect there awakened within me !,
| Can lever forget the glimpse which first caught
of all the glories and all the horrors of Nature,
mingled togther in such fearful unison
Far away on one side spread the fertile plains,
the green meadows and the gentle valleys Of
Sicily There were streams glancing and flashing
| in the sun, as they wandered to the sea, with
l ten thnuannd lahy fI1rp los
whose CLASSY surface showed not rutfie, not a
ripple; there were terraces upon the sides of o
hundred hills, where vineyards were planted,
and where the trellised vines passed along, all
green, all blooming there were gro7es Of
orange trees, amid the dark green foliage of
which the golden oranges peeped forth like the
flashes of phosphorescent light in midnight
sea; there were long avenues of expresses, of
acacias, Of noble trees of many kinds, amid
which kingly assemblages at times could be
seen the noble summit of some stately palm, as
it lowered on high above the others.
And the seattle wide, the boundless, the
deep blue Mediterranean-the it spread away,
on the other side, as far as eye could reach, as
far as thoughts could run-glorious as
! SiIver-fashing +
Sergss Of San Salvador u
But turn aside-and there, beneath, far be-
meath, lies an abyss like that of which Milton
hassung in sublimest mortal strains.
Ipaused upon the brink, and, shuddering,
) gazed down-down The thick and funereal
volumes of tortuously ascending smoke came
seething upward, as from cauldron. II
escaped a myriad crevices in the rocky, precipi
tous sides; it poured forth from behind projec
| tions, and united with the vast mass which cam,
sublimely upward from the unfathomabl,
depths
Here, upon the sandy, rocky edge, where sui
phur, and crumbled lava, and pumice-s stone
l were all mingled together to form horrid soil
here sat and looked down From the seem
!, beyond, from that glimpse of earth, which mad
II it seem like heaven; from that vision of all tina
was most lovely and all that was most overpow
ing; to turn and gaze into volcanoes awfu
' | depths-what change!
+ involved in q thousand thoughts / sat there
thinking myself alone, when sudden gratn
struck my ear. l was startled exceedingly
and turned around. The place where l ha
been sitting was peninsular projection of tn
cliff which formed part of this internal chasm
| Upon the narrow strip of land which Joined
to the other cliffs upon the isthmus,--I saw
d mild-looking, middle-aged gentleman approac
e me.
!. !. lie was dressed in plain black clothes, and
his hand he held light stick
81 beg your pardon, signor," said he, in
!, polite manner, and with great softness of tom
. ''I beg your pardon for intruding myself upo
IS. your company But it is not often that / $,
Is any visitor so far up
si my dear sir! lbeg you will make no e.
. cuses,'. | replied. 81 was just admiring tn
scene below" ny
n "Ah yes, tits a glorious sight,
Glorious! Say, rather, q terrible one."
sss Terrible, perhaps, to you; but do not
d surprised if say that to me it is lovely, abs
A- lutely lovely!' t
!, And as he spoke smile of bewitching beau
- crossed his features. @ $50
bs 81 suppose your tastes are different fro
= those of many people, signor. have not su
= feelings. But may ask you if you are oft
w here ~
''oh, yes live here" he replied, wavi
= his stick around. ss / live here.'
thought that he meant me to understa
that his home was on the mountain, where We
= many villas are situated.
by SO And should suppose 1 continued, ss IL
t. you are often on the summit
Ut g Oh yes, am here always"
!. Always! What a strange fascination it |
- for you!"
= ss sOh fearful, and his voice grew low a
hollow-ssa a terrible fascination"
T. l was silent.
ID, 81 will tell you,'' said he, sitting closely
!. my side, and turning his eyes full toward n
|
Use me that you will not
. | had not noticed his eyes before, but 8
by now that within their depths there cleaned
!. strange and sinister light.
| promised him, and at the same time l U
easily drew back farther from the edge.
"Well, then, signor," said he, g am ki
here! rule Mount Etna!"
'sYes ?'' l answered, a little alarmed at
words, and attempting to smile.
"Yes l am king here. In me you see |
:; being who causes the lava to pour forth, a
les overwhelm the regions below, | have lived h
81 for centuries. The spirits Of the deep obey L
see!''
). He leaped up from the ground There wa
for fearful fire in his eye, his nostrils were dilat
" his pale face became as white as marble, and
, bloodless, save that on either cheek there glo,
:. a deep red spot,
'ks s'See!" he shrieked wildly and loud
and stspirits of the deep, arise! Ha i-yonde
i see them they are ooming-in clouds
ale robed in thunder garments--see!" 7"
St leaped up from the ground: 1 gazed
- him