The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15
THx ERUPTION OF noUzr RTNA.
The Land Covered vita BIacax Ashes aad the
Meuntain vsniti.a Fire.


Roans La.d- TS-..
TAoRMINA, Sicily, May 29-On the night
OF May % there were continuous murmurings
from Etna, but this not being an uncommon oc-
On the morning Of the 26ah these murmurinEs
Increased and called the attention Of a SER
want OF mine to the fact. Somebody called at
tention to the glass rattlng in the window
frames. anJ somebody else suggested an earth
quake. suggestion which was met with de-
rision. However, at about 1914 p NJ, n danse
cloud Of smoke was seen TO be issuing from tho
great crater OF btna. 1t was a broad cloud
which stretched over the bind and oyer the sea
until II WIS lost on the horizon. II had very
red or rather IL might be described as OF a
purnt sienna color. and minute specks Of ash
to bed.
On the morning OF the 9th all seemed in re-
nose-not cloud was upon the mountain. save
the Nat cloud with q lump in the middle which
often overhangs the crater in the summer
months, and WHICH the Sicilians call " the
Cardinals nat" But at half past 8 a dense
cloud was observed to issue from the earth
upon the northern slope of the mountain as
well as could be Judged about half way between
LinguaRrossa and Randazzo. but much higher
10 the mOuuiain. This cloud grew aud spread.
ana became so dense that the whole mountain
became perfectly invisible: the light became so
much ohscurcd that IL rcsemhled the darkness
produced by q total ecipse Of the sun. and a
promoniory Of Naxos, but two miles distant. be.
tinued the wliole OF the day loud reports could
occasionally be- heard from the mountain. and
no doubt now remained that an eruption on a
grand scale had commenced. Nobody could
ascend the mountain under such circumstances.
Lima IS So enormous and So precipitous and
rain OF ash and such darkness would have been
almost an esihility.
All night this black rain went on. About mid
night huge hres could bs seen looming through
tue dense clouds. In the morning most ex-
traordinary scene presented itself; the whole
lace % nature was black. the hills and plains
were black. the sea shore was black the usually
daZlingly white roads were black. the roofs u
the houses We're black. Ny garlon is Just now
a mass OF flowers but every leaf every petal
every cup was loaded with black. the edges Of
the petals giving bright line Of the color q the
Hover. II breath OF wind passed. a black
shower fell from the trees. and still the BLACK
rain went on. The effect upon the mind was
most depressing. This ash penetrates every
thing; Il is found in closely -shut linen drawers
IN close boxes Il Is all among my paper ms |
WrlV' anu " seems u TAKE dc, lght IN inserting
chewing grit. Tho effect OF trees and figures In
this universal black IS very strange. the colors
AZ q'ciock in the day started on horseback
10 Pieimonie 70 try and gain some positive
news. and heard that three orators. each about
mile apart and situate like the points of n
triangle had opened In a valley about six miles
above postal station called Passapcscaro. a
place nearly midway on the road between Lin
guagrossa and Randazzo--a most difficult place
To reach a. lodging Of any description could
not La obtained within fourteen miles. over pre-
c,ptous and rugged ground. with every path
ooiiterated by the ash. the mountain thunder
INK ana vomiting IRE IN unknown directlOns.
with the terrible darkness and eternal rain Of
BLACK ash, and general CONSERVATION every
where. The lava was said 10 BE- flowing hut
only ia reheted light could be seen at night.
az u was in valley, which, ~ far as | can
ascertain. must be next the Valley del BOve.'
Ny eyes we're most painfully iunamed by the
line ash rs I returned. as were those OF my
horse. My pockets were fun, my boots were
tui; Il was down my neck. in my hair and
b"art aud my ears were blocked up with IL; the
polished surface OF my saddle was ground away
with the grit On the road home / came across
priest charging uuon the eruption to a select
audience OF COHfddBil. and ventilatng his
knowledge by describing the destruction OF
Ppmpeti. and among other accuraces described
the sentinel At the Herculaneum gate sticking
g. his most through II all. and being found with
his gun. 500 years after.
Al night the scene was magnificent: a ire
men ous stream OF lava. many miles long de-
scendet IN the apparent direction Of Rantazzo.
while from the new craiers great halls Of FIRE
were thrown high in the air and burst into
showers Of fire, like gigantic rockets accom-
panied by laundering explosions. This morn
ing the explosions are still going on. the stream
OF lava seems more active than ever. but the ash
has much dim nished and although much OF
tho mountain Is obscured il 10 by a cloud APP
pareutly 81 vapor rather than Of ash. and this
gives Indication OF clearing away when the
whole scene may become visible. Two English
gentlemen left here this morning TO try and
reach the CRITTERS. p. Z. X