Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-07
VOLCANOES AND CYCLONES.
Inter-Ocean.

When it is stated that as many people
live on the volcano Mount .Etna as in Chi.
cago, the average man is apt to wonder why
people will locate in such a district and
build houses, towns and cities. He forgets
that the cultivated district of 1i,na ia the
garden spot Of Sicily, with soil extremely
fertile, producing grapes, olives, oranges,
lemona, figs, and other fruits in abundance,
and yielding good crops Of grain. The en-
tire Etna region is nearly half as large as
the atate of Rhode Island. The upper limit
of the cultivated district is ten miles from
the main crater Of the volcano, and is sepa-
rated from the bleak, desert region BY . belt
of woodland. As the eruptions are at long
intervals, and as many of these are not dis.
astrous, the inhabitants of Etna live as free
from anxiety. possibly, as those Of the plains
Of Kansas.
Lava has been streaming down the slopes
of Hstna for a week, destroying farms, in
terrup.ing travel, and creating great excite
ment, but up to date not a life has been lost.
Last Friday night a tornado plowed its way
through the farming districts of kansas,
Nebraska and Missouri. 1t destroyed towns.
overturned farm-housea, tore up forests,
caught men, women, and children, and car.
ried them high in the air; whirled hor-es
and cattle headlong to destruction, swept
the water free from rivers and wells, and
accomplished more destruction in two hours
than the eruption at 1,!na has in two weeks.
At 1Itns thirty craters, or assures, vomi,
fire, smoke and ashes darken the atmosphere,
balls of FIRE shoot into the air, aud there is
heard the thunder of internal explosions.
1t is a tremendous spectacle, that may result
in q great catastrophe, and all the world is
interested and excited. In kanaas the light
faded, heavy clouds were dashed down to
the earth, and with the paralyzing fury Of
the storm came intense darkness. People
we're blown out of their houses, hurled into
tree-tops, or dashed againet fences. Over
forty were killed, and twice az many wound.
ed. Hundreds Of houses we're destroyed,
and a wide path of desolation was cui
through = fertile and populous district! l,
was an appalling spectacle tremendous
catastrophe, and stands out in contrast with
the lurid picture which threatens catastro
Pie at Etna.
Since the last eruption Of IEtna, in 1865
We have had in this country a score of tor
|, nadoes, any one of which was more dieaa
trous than was that eruption. We hav
; little reason, then, to call this a land fire
, from the calamitous action Of natural force,
, even when We compare it with the vint
yards Of uncertain and treacherous A1tnl
The terrors of our tornadoes and cyclone
eclipse those incident to the ordinary erul
tions OF the great volcanoes. 1t is the grea
!. eruptions of Ktna and V.suvius that caus
the names of the volcanoes to TEEN Wit
suggestions of great calamities, and by til
9 side Of these our tornadoes are as nothin,
The eruption of Etna in 1869 destroyed j
towns ana villages, and that of 1893 deva
tated SO towns, and resulted in the loss
100000 lives. In the year 70 a sudden GU
' burst of Vesuvius swallowed up the thr.
cities of Stable, H%erculaneum, and Pompe
Both Of these volcanoes are now in a sta
K of eruption, and the possibility of what ma
happen, gagged by what has happened,
what causes uneasiness and excitement.