The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-30
RIVERS OF DESTRUCTION.
TIE LAVA FROM ACTIVE ETNl FLOW
ING Slowly BUT SURELY.
Broad and Molten streams Covering the Land
at the Foot OF the Mountain-The Grief
and Frisht OF the People-vnin Appeals.

and Frisht OF the People-vain Appeals.
pom n, E,eptg Post
ROME, June THE full accounts OF the
destruction caused by the terrible eruption OF
Mount Etna are heartrending. Catania was
one Of the provinces Of Italy where there was
promise Of a good harvest. but now the green
neds and vineyards are buried under a heavy
weight OF hard. gray lava Tho possessions OF
the Sicilians living on the sides or at the foot Of
the mountains are destroyed. and many pro-
prietor who in May was rich in June is IA poor
as the humbest Of his servants. The story.
only one Of many. is told OF n proprietor. the
father OF nine children. who yesterday saw
everything no possessed, houses barns, cabins,
olive trees. corn and wheat fields and Vine
yards. oil destroyed. The inhabitants OF the
towns and country houses near the course OF
the lava are discouraged nj the extent OF
their misfortuncs. They remove all the house
hold goods that can be transported. the cattle.
the wine In the cellars. and even the tiles
on the roofs OF mo houses. The roads near
the advancing lava are like battlefield.
Wagons laden with goods, herds OF cattle
crowds Of weeping women and children fleeing
from their homes. lnnumerablo strangers
from every nation. on the contrary. go forward
on the road and advance so near the lava that
the guards are obliged 10 send them back. Al
though they can advance SO near as to light
cigar at the stream OF lava 1t is dangerous. as
dull. is liable at the next to burst open 10y it's
own Sar w I, I; ana maze new path for Itself
are stationed all along the rOnds To keep order.
and lincs Of them guard the edges OF the stream.
A correspondent from Randnzzo describes how
the inhabitants OF that town and of Lngua-
grossa stood on the national road Watching the
lava slowly advance. and as II began to cover
the road they sadly shook hands and said fare
we'll when the lrry stream separated them.
There WIS cry OF despair from tho people ut
this point when the bridge Of Pciarn was
burned. uuu tho INNH ftl from a little lpirh t
into lovely nyar,is and filed them MP.
months ON tn AZ OF of oy g bs cIer GT nys
out with great noise a vast quantity of dense
salt and smoking mud. This made an inter-
feet above the level ~ tho soil. Occasionally
great balls Of mud filled with ras grew larger
and larger until they burst. The river 81 mud
constantly fed from tho crater descended the
sides OF the mountain. and for n distance Of four
miles nlled up the canals used for irrigation.
Tho frightened country people, unconscious Of
the worse ills that were coming upon IN, IN,
sought 10 defend their fields from the entrance
the afternoon Of the 2Gth Of May the eruption
BEGAN. which IS said to be the most violent OF
this century. The people were startled 10y
repeated shocks 81 earthquake. loud thunder
high wind. und heavy rain. Two new
OF the mountain. which vomited lava smoke,
and nno ashes. The next day three columns
OF smoke were seen on tho tack OF the noun
movement Of this inrandeseent stream wns
at tlrst rapid hut as it increased in sir aud
and the plains Il became slower. Its ndvnuce
~ now csi imat"d ut FORTY five lc"t IN hour and
The width OF tue three streams into which it is
dNlu.I are Nariuusly estimated. That which
threatens the town Of Mo!n with two hundred
inhabitarit. and III" river Acantara is said to
be- iliiccn hundred feet wide. and this width
continuny increases on account Of the height
OF the stream. lftLa river Alcaniara. which is
one OF the principal streams OF Sicily, and sun
plies several large towns. gardens md mil S
with water IL iiiird up the calamity will be in
calculHllc The lava is already within n few
N nj n ntg q a xur
Ing; but II Is hoped that il may turn and run
nlong the bank, or not have strength to reach
the water. the violence OF the eruption having
diminished. One Of the streams Of lava has
travelled a distance Of thirteen miles from the
crater; 1t IS estimated that in less than four
days more than two hundred and thirty million
cubic yards OF lava hnye been thrown out.
The spectacle OF this tremendous convulsion
Of nature Is wonderfully and fehriully heauti.
ful. II Is specially impressive at night whom
the fiery current often throws up In It's progr SO
great misses OF molten stone. The column OF
smoke and fine black sand which follows the
lava reflects tho red tint Of tho fire and looks
like an aurora borcnlis. From the craters On
tho top OF the mountain rise dense columns OF
smoke. now very white and again dcnsely
bincki 9nd often pierced by sharp streaks Of
thither view these wonders with ecstasy. but
the poor con'adni or the rich man reducpd to
the daytime the cloud Of smoke and sand il 30
dense that the sun e INVISIBLE, and the day
seems 10 be almost like the night. Spectac les
anu umbrellas are necessary projections for
whoever walks out IN tho nelghOorhood OF the
hhuhlhlus lOT tut me sHfQ covers everything
with thick. heavy coating and blows into tho
eyes. The ERUPTION IL accompanied by con-
slant rumbling noises ike the booming OF ar.
tIllery the earth trcmblrs. the skv is leaden
The mass OF Lawn Is from fifteen to thirty feet
high. and according to its height or the tino OF
day varies in color from bright. fiery red TO a
dull leaden shade. Ii II was not for the Jets Of
smoke which issue now and then from this
mass II might be thought dead lava OF half a
century ago, Tut when II moves us waves Slide
over each other and emit Jets OF fire.
Enough superstition fingers to induce the
peasants or Cltania at the foot Of Etna to hang
images 81 the saints and apostles on the trees
and vines in the truck Of the lava. They hoped
In this way TO save their fields and houses from
destruction, but the lava would not stay its
majestic course for these idols. Ii advanced
slowly. ami touched the trees and the vines, the
houses and cabins and barns with its fiery
finger. ami they bHzed w with a white heat
aud were destroyed. At KandaZZo. n town nj
the foot OF Etna threatened 10y lava. 1t is related
thar toward evening "A procession Of men,
women, and children. with lighted candles In
their hands, moved toward the advancing mass
Of fiery lava. They carried hn image Of the
Madonna. and held Il up before the burning
Hood. while they called odt in anguish. Have
pity! have mercy upon US" Tho lava. how
ever. did not stop, but covered tho national
roau, which connects that town with Messina
and tho sea. as well rs with the other towns
near. Its trade is ruined by this cutting OF OF
Its communications and the people are awe
struck and depressed.
he