The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-07-28
ErNA's STREAM OF LAVA.
Several Villages In Great Danger OF
Destruction.

| l.
ROME, July 14.-The eruption of Mt
Etna is rapidly increasing in violence
Immense streams of lava are pouring
down the mountain side. and it appears
certain that several villages and mum
Der of dwellings in the paths the lava
seems destined to take will be destroyed
All the craters are active. One is
| ejecting continuous stream of lava
several yards deep and very wide. This
stream presents the appearance OF q
river of fire, and is very beautiful to look
at, though it is bound to prove very de-
structive.
Another OF the craters is hurting large
incandescent rocks to an immense
height, while the edges of the third era
ter threaten to tumble.
| Mount Etna now has eighteen open
| ings, nine of which are active. The lava
is flowing in the direction of Nicolosi at
the rate of fifty yards an hour. 1t has
already passed the lava deposits formed
by the violent eruption of 1886. The
flow of the laya toward Pedara is less
rapid.
The subterranean rumblings and the
loud and startling explosions continue.
The alarm among the inhabitants of the
various villages in the vicinity of Mount
Etna is increasing.
Since 1868 there have been five erup>
tions, in 1868, 1874, 1879, 1888 and 1886.
Tha IF
were those OF 1879 and 1886. The former
lasted from May 26 to June 6. This &C.
Cured on the north slope and was ac
companied by the unusual phenomenon
of simultaneous outbreak of lava on
the southwest side of the crater, which,
however, ceased flowing at height of
$500 feet.
On March 90, 1886, there occurred an
eruption that had been threatened since
1883. Earthquakes and loud reports had
been followed by the formation of large
fissure in the south side of the mountain,
to the east of Monte Concilio. No fur
tier effects were observed until May Is,
when the large central crater resumed
steam and showers of ashes. Early the
next morning a violent earthquake was
felt on the south slope of the mountain
and new crater about 1850 feet above
the sea-level was formed to the north
east of Monte Concilio. from which seam
molten stone and ashes were hurled
amid crashes and reports like thunder.
Molten lava flowed rapidly in the di-
rection of the town of Nicolosi, the ter
ror- stricken inhabitants of which place
bore the pictures of the saints from the
churches in a supplicatory procession to
the so>called Altarelli, building dedi-
Gated to the patron saints of the village
and situated about one mile above it on
small eminence.
On the evening of the oath the Bishop
of Catania solemnly displayed the veil
of St. Agatha. Three days later the
lava stream reached the Altarelli, but di-
vided at the eminence and gradually
slackened its speed.
Another stream, however, on the east
side of Monte Rosso, made straight for
Nicolosi. At midday on May 81 the
Project ordered the village to be evac-
uated, and guarded the approaches to it
with soldiers. On June 3, however, the
lava ceased flowing within $40 yards of
the first houses, and the next day the
eruption ended with another earth>
quake.
This eruption, though one of the most
violent of the century, was less impor-
tant than those of 1865, 1852, and 1913.
The length of the lava stream was about
four miles, 1t covered an area of more
than 1000 acres, and destroyed vineyards
and cultivated lands to the value OF
So50 OO0