The times., 1883-04-27
ETNA IN ERUPTION.
The Fiery M untain Which Has Excited
Wonder and Awo in All Recorded
Time.

The cable news has it that the great
volcano of Sicily Mt. Etna. has again
opened its throat and belched forth de-
youring flame. the eruption being ac-
companied by IN earthquake which has
DESTROYED several houses. The fiery
mountain and its geographical belong
ings occupy an immense territory,
eighty-seNen miles in circumference
But villages lying beyond these limits
have not been far enough away to es-
cape visit from the burning lava. All
around the lower belt of the mountain
group, of which Ktna is the chief, arc
clustered towns and villages, orchards,
vineyards, and olive groves. The de-
composed lava furnishes n rich soil in
which all forms of vegetable life -four
ish with the minimum of attention from
the farmer. II is for this reason that
the Sicilian farmers, undismayed by the
possible danger which>may come upon
them ut any moment without warning,
pursue their calling here, further in-
ducement being the delicious climate. -
Higher up on the mountain is Il belt six
or seven miles wide of forest, in which
are found cork trees, with chestnut,
pine, oak, and other varieties, all of
great size. Here, too, is fine pastur-
age. Still higher up is the region of
eternal ice and snow where no vegeta-
ton is found, but which supplies the re-
gions below with the needed moisture,
and where may be harvested ice for the
use of the people in the villages From
the mouth on the summit of the noun
tain--it is in fact n series OF volcanoes,
some of which have from time to time
added their flames to those of their
chief-there rise continually clouds of
sulphurous smoke, while deep grumb-
ling suggest the secthing commotion
going on in its depths.
The record of the eruptions from this
devil furnace is long. The first entry
is dated 700 years or so b. G. The
succeeding items note occurrences OF
this purgativc effort of nature at vary
inc intervals, sometimes OF two hundred
wears. 1t was in the year 43 B. G.. that
there occurred an eruption and earth
quake. which was believed 10 portend
the death of Cesar, who, indeed, was
soon after slain in the capitol. In 1869
A. ID. the city of Catania was destroy
ed, with $4,000 persons, in the space OF
few minutes, by one Of the Glo5t dis
astrous eruptions, with an accompany
ING earthquake, yet recorded. Occa
sionally it has happened that the mount
ain itself has suffered from its own
doings, the flaming mouth of the crater
having swallowed huge portions of the
cone, thus reducing the height OF the
apex. In 1869 there was an cru )tion,
in which Catania was again oyerwhelm
ed by the frye cascade. The sfeam
was estimated to be fifteen miles long
and two or three miles wide. and il.
flow continued for eight weeks. Again,
4 in 1903, Catania was shaken to the
ground, and $4,000 people were destroy
ed by an eruption and earthquake,
which did not cease until fifty cities and
towns i'm Sicily and 10000 TO 100000 in
habitants were swept from existence.
The record shows IN increase in tht
frequency of the eruptions within the
/ last three or four centuries, probably
because there has been greater care
taken in noting thc events and prcserv
ing whatever registry was made, rather
/ than because of nm actual increase il
the number. Altogether seventy-nint
! ertlptions have been duly noted, tn
latest in the list being dated in 1868
! The volcano, whether quiescent or IL
action, has been Justly called famous,
''immense, "tcrrible, and has excited
wonder and awe in all recorded time