The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-11-17
A VOLCANIC EPISODE.

The following is letter in the Pal
Mall Gazette, describing the recent
volcanic eruptions in the Island Of
VulcanO. The letter is signed "a. E.
Narlian," and dated Lipari, August 80
@On the third instant we had an
outburst in the crater, with stones
flames, thunder and regular lightnings
1t was strong enough to throw stones
of considerable size to the sides of the
mountain. We had often seen such
-eruptions during twelve to thirteen
years / have been on the island, and
1 hoped it would end like former
eruptions. Towards evening, how
ever, the rushes of smoke, steam and
ashes (Which used to be projected into
the air to about twice the height OF
the mountain) had completely ceased.
AS the night approached the leading
fstnsayole (Which was very active, Civ
ing ofan offensive smell for months be-
fore the event) had begun to show a
clear high flame, much paler than the
flames produced by the burning OF
wood, and somewhat greenish or blu
ish. This phenomenon, together with
the sudden stopping of the smoke, was
not evidently good omen. Conse-
quently, l spent all the night dressed
on a sofa in the drawing room. To-
wards morning I was overpowered by
sleep, and went to the little bee. room
which looks toward the mountain,
rested on the bed, and soon was evil
IDENTIFY sound asleep. Soon afterward
l was awakened by q tremendous din.
which can hardly be described. :
GAS jumped up felt stones falling
on the roof ss hail-such canncnading
going on. I understood what was the
matter, and ran to the opposite room,
where / had made my children sleep
that night. They were also up In
consequence Of an INDISPENSABLE noise
of thunder, rush of gases, falling of
huge powders, rocks, etc. / took
them to the drawing room, but as
soon as the door was opened a big
stone, red hot (all these stones were
quite red with heat), fell though the
roof, ceiling and floor a few yards
from us, smashing all, setting FIRE to
everything. Now / took my children
back to the bedroom which looks out
on the veranda, and tried to gain the
terrace by that side.
"The house doors were shivered and
shaking, SO that it was a difficult mat
ter to open them. At last succeeded.
but before we were out In the veranda
another stone fell at our feet, was
smashed to fragments, and burned the
feet and legs of my boys. Now we pass
through the verands, regained the
house at the top of the stairs; here
another stone fell very near us (none
Of these stones were less than two feet
in diameter.) This last stone (which
is the fourth that struck the house)
has nearly blocked our way out in the
that it brought from the roof.
We passed through over the heap of
and were now out in the open
to the north of the house. By this
time (not many minutes after alN the
whole place was lighted up; woods,
grass, buildings, hedges-all was on
fire; the huge powders and stones
were literally raining everywhere
about us-what confusionl Natal,
the faithful boy, had by this time
come to the help of my little boys.
We all began to run to Vulcanello and
away from the dreadful laundering
Toward noon boats of res
cue reached us from Lipari,
and we thus ended one of the most
eventful days of our life.
"On revisiting the spot saw the
whole plains below the mountain, to
the distance of one and a halt miles.
the neighborhood of the
house and the mems habitations, liter
ally covered with powders and rocks
Of all sizes, which have embedded
Themselves in the ground to various
depths. The most huge of them is
near the well of the house, which Ia
not less than ten yards In diameter, or
better length, and In some ten and
eleven feet deep in the ground. This
ID about three quarters Of mile from
the crater. Another of nearly equal
1imensions Is on tho shore near the
Quarantana, at the end of the bay of
The Levante. Rocks of one yard in
diameter are as plentiful as can be ss |
EAr as the middle of Vulcanello, near
the Punta Samossa. No doubt mauv
IF these powders are from ten to |
fifteen yards across, and are projected
ls far a. the sea, but often fall back in |
he crater itself. This state 10 con-
inning incessantly and uninterrupt-
IDLY, causing further damage and
frightening everybody"
RAadv Rrr ahA Or,~~s,~-