The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-06-26

a mile to the edge of the precipice. I
had been advised by DIR. Gemmellaro
to keep my eyes shut until the guide
placed me in a position to see the gulf,
and then to look suddenly, as the best
way to Obtain vivid impression. This
did; on raising my eyes a scene of
awful grandeur was before me, and the
story it told was as plain in the history
of past changes in the mountain as in
written record of human action. From
this point the. Val del Bove was some
what quadrangular in form, and even
more grand in its ruins than when seen
on it's bare plain. Here was yawn-
ing chasm SO deep and SO wide that
Vesuvius might be set down in it and
have room to spare on either side. while
it's summit cone would hardly reach up
to our feet!
"The position of the sun, as it shone
in our eyes, was not favorable for a
good view of the valley; yet under the
disadvantages its bold crags. sharp,
wall-like dikes projecting from the
sides, with frigid yet tumultuOus
ocean of lava currents below us, were
remarkably grand and impressive.
"From the Val del Bove we turned
our steps down the mountain in the
general direction in which we had as
cended. And now in the bright light
of day the weary wastes of unbroken
snow seemed more extensive than ON
our ascent. We had been nearly or
quite six miles over the snow, but it
was in the dark, and we could not see
its extent. Now on every side we saw
only an Arctic winter, while below us
ana almost in sight were standing
fields with vines, figs and olives and
lemons, beside grain all yellow to the
harvest. 1t was about $3.50 when
we at last reached our mules and
took our breakfast. The descent we
found more arduOus than the ascent,
not only because we were fatigued, but
also on account of the great strain on
the knees in holding back against the
stirrup. AS we went down the con-
trast of temperature again struck us
very much. Our Etna clothing be-
came oppressive, and one by one we
cast off all our superduous garments.
On entering the wooded region we
were enchanted with its beauty. The
most beautiful features of this region
are the ancient cones whose slopes are
erased and also wooded. They retain
perfectly their form, inside and out;
the trees upon them not thick enough
to hide their forms, while they give
life and beauty in surprising man.
ner.
cit was excessively hot, mules and
men were all thoroughly tagged, and l
noticed as we rode along that our
guide slept quite continuously on his
mule. For myself had not the least
feeling of sleepiness. 1t was 9:45 a.
m. before we reached the hotel, to the
surprise of all, who were not looking
for us until eleven o'clock. They were
all amazed to hear of the wind we had
experienced on the mountain, as it had
been perfectly calm below, aud they
had thought we were entirely success
full in our ascent. Yet, unsuccessful as
we certainly were in not reaching the
summit, we had enough to repay US
for the toll and exposure. The spirit
of adventure alone is sufficient to sat-
isfy most people who have confined
their mountain rambles to the day.
The snow, also, in its extent and mas
siveness entirely exceeded any expect
atiOns | had formed of it; and above
all the Val del Bove, had we seen moth
ing else, would have rewarded US for
the labor we mad undergone. 1t is not
merely for sight o., the rising sun tha.
it is worth while to ascend in the night.
The distance is such that the time con-
sumed is necessarily from twelve to
fifteen hours, and to do all this under
a bright sun is great exposure of
health. 1t is far safer to descend from
the climate of midwinter to summer,
than heated and moist with perspira-
ton to plunge from summer into win
ter. The effect of a full SUI, also, on
the snow, as reflected in the eyes, is too
much for an unprotected vision with
the brilliant splendor of an Italian at
mosphere. ! think it, then, wise
course to 60 up at night, and no one
need fear being overcome with sleep;
the excitement of the occasion is too
great. In summer--that is in July or
Augustine English house is free from
snow. and then adventures may carry
up their mattresses and sleep there.
This reduces the labor very much,
since, when the snow is off, mules may
go quite to the Casa Inglese, and
thence the adventurer may engage
with comfort and strength in his explo-
ratiOns."
The three eruptions of Etna which
have been most remarkable for the
vast volumes of lava poured out and
the changes effected in the contour of
the mountain are, first, that of Mojo
above named, b. c. 1896 (p); second.
of Nicolosi, in 1869, when Catania and
many other towns were destroyed, and
Monte Rossi. the most consider able of
all the minor cones, was raised; and
third, that of 1928, which so COM
pletely changed the aspect of the Val
del Bove, by filling up that vast ancient
amphitheatre, that Sir Charles Lyde,
when he revisited Etna in 1857, could
hardly recognize the remarkable val
ley he had so wildly described in 1928.
This eruption commenced August 20,
1852, with terrible connection of the
central cone (of this no mention is
made in the accounts of the present
eruption so far), and the lava flowed
until May, 1853, a period of nine
months. Yet only two mouths were
active, while now we are led to believe
that there are not less than five, scat
tered over an area of remarkable ex-
tent. B. SILLIMAN.
Pain and the Weather.
IT is familiar experience that GER
tain bodily pains vary in their phases
according to the weather, but probably
fow havo m o6o ovoct ec;ont;f;c ohoorvo