Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-11-07
Raining Red-hot stones.


Perhaps the most marvellous narra-
tive of escape from an eruption ever
recorded is that given in letter from
A. E. Narian, describing volcanic out
burst in the Lipari Islands on August 8.
The volcano of Stromboli, on one OF
these islands, which lie off the coast of
Sicily, is still in violent eruption, accord
ing to the latest cable advices. On the
occasion referred to Mr. Narlian and his
children were in their home on the
watch for the eruption. On August 80
he wrote a letter, an extract from which
is given in the Washington Star:
con the Sd inst. we had an outburst
in the crater, with stones, flames, thun-
der Irregular hghtnings). 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 I have been on
the island, and I hoped it would end
ing, however, the rushes of smoke,
steam an ashes (Which used to be pro-
jected into the air to about twice the
height Of the monument had complete
ly ceased. AS the night approached
the leading fumarole (Which was
very active, giving off an often
sive smell for months before the
event) had begun to show clear high
flame, much paler than the flames pro-
duced by the burning of wood, and
somewhat greenish or blush. This
phenomenon, together with the sudden
stopping of the smoke Was not a good
omen. Consequently [ spent all the
night dressed on sofa in the drawing
room. Toward morning was overpow-
cred by sleep and went to the little bed
room which looks toward the mountain,
rested on the bed, and soon was evil
IDENTITY sound asleep. Soon afterward [
was awakened by tremendous din,
which can hardly be described.
GAS ] jumped up from my bed I felt
stones falling on the roof as hail such
cannonading going on. | understood
what was the matter, ran to the oppo-
site room, where [ had made my chill
dren sleep that night. They were also
up in consequence of an Undesirable
noise of thunder. rush of gases, flames.
falling of huge powders, rocks, etc. I
took them to the drawing room, but as
soon as the door was opened big
stone, red hot (all these stones were
quite red with heat), fell through the
roof, ceiling, and floor few
yards from us, smashing all, and
setting fire to everything. Now,
took my children back to the bedroom,
which looks on to the veranda, and
tried to gain the terrace by that side.
the house doors were shivering and
shaking, so that it was difficult matter
to open them. At last succeeded, but
before we were out in the veranda an
other stone fell at our feet and smashed
to fragments, and burned the feet and
legs of my boys. Now we passed
hn ndo II hah a,1
at the top of the stairs; here an
other 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) had nearly
blocked our way out in the rubbish that
it brought from the roof We passed
through over the heap of rubbish, and
were now out in the open to the north
of the house. By this time (not many
minutes after ally the whole place was
lighted up; woods, grass, buildings,
hedges-all was on fire; the huge
powders and stones were literally rain
ing everywhere about us-what con-
fusion! Natal, the faithful boy, had by
this time come to the help of my little
and away from the dreadful laundering
mountain. Toward noon boats ofrescue
reached us from Lipari, and we thus
ended one of the most eventful days of
our life.
'sOn revisiting the spot saw the whole
plains below the mountain, to the dis
lance OF one and half miles, especially
the neighborhood of the house and the
mems habitations, literally 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 we'll of
the house, which is not less than ten
yards in diameter, and is some
ten or eleven feet deep in the ground
This is about three-quarters of mile
from the crater. Another of
nearly equal dimensions is on the 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 as
far as the middle of Vulcanello, near the
Punta Sanossa. No doubt many of
these powders are from ten to fifteen
yards across, and are projected as far as
the sea. but often TALL back in the crater
itself. This state is continuing inces-
sanity and uninterruptedly, causing
further damage and frightening every
body"