Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-20
MT. ETNA IN ACTIVITY.
Eighty-Fifth Outbreak of Fire and
Lava Within Historic Times.
VILLAGES AND VINEYARDS GONE.
A Molten Stream Menacing Thousands Of
People in the Neighborhood.
SOME GREAT ERUPTIoNs OF THE PAST


ages, is again in eruption. Its presen
activity repeats the history of the "a erup
tions which have occurred within historic
times Now, as heretofore, earthquake
presaged and accompanied the outbursts o
lava Loud explosions have been heard
Fissures have opened in the side Of tn,
mountain, and lava, issuing from them, ii
flowing down the gentle slope, following
the line of the least resistance. Passing
below the region of barren rock and scorie
the molten stream is overwhelming the
vineyards and villages in its route.
The lava has already invaded the town Of
Nicolosi, half way down the southern slope.
This is the place where tourists who ascend
Etna to see its wonderful crater and to wit
ness the magnificent sunrise from its sum-
NIT usually begin their climb. 1t is proba-
BILE that the present eruption has destroyed
the favorite path of tourists and buried or
carried away the Casa del Bosco and the
Casa Inglese, two huts built on the route
where the animals used in the ascent are
foddered and tourists rest awhile.
There are no mountain slopes in the world
SO covered with vineyards farms and vii
lagos as those of Mount Etna About 300,
600 people live on its sides They have be-
come accustomed to the dangers that always
threaten.
One of the Worlds Garden Spots.
The richness of the soil, formed of decom-
posed lava and vegetable mold, has made
the slopes of Etna one of the garden spots
of the world; and so the people cling to
their mountain home, though they do not
know how soon they may be driven away.
The brief cable dispatches report that a
large area of this tillable land has already
been overwhelmed. and that thousands of
people have been driven from their cot
tages.
Mount Etna is on the eastern seaboard of
Sicily 1t has been the theme of poets and
historians, and is often referred to by classi-
cal writers. Its height is 10, S74 feet From
its summit the sea and country around can
be seen for distance of $50 miles, affording
one of the most magnificent of prospects.
The gently flowing 1avas which reared the
mighty mountain covered large area, and
the road which runs around the lower slopes
is 81 miles long. Two cities, Catania and
Aci Reale, and 63 towns or villages are
built around the base or on the slopes
The picture of Etna shows quite number
of little elevations on the mountain side.
They are among the most characteristic
features of the volcano. These minor cones,
once the outlets of lava, are scattered all
over the mountain and number about 600,
many of them being only insignificant
monticules.
First of the Serious Eruptions.
The first eruption within historic times is
believed to have occurred seven centuries
before Christ. Twelve eruptions of import
ance, some of which created great destruc-
tion, are recorded as occurring before the
Christian era One of the most disastrous
outbursts occurred in 1859 A. D., when
Catania was DESTROYED in a few minutes and
$1,000 people were buried beneath the
ruins. 1t was the day of the feast of ST.
Agatha, and the Cathedral of Catania was
crowded with people, all of whom were
buried by the overwhelming stream of lava
The victims included several Bishops and
A Benedictine monks
A fairly complete record of the eruptions
since the Christian era is accessible One
of the most terrible of them occurred in
March, 1869, when fssure nearly IL miles
in length opened In the side of the mountain
q mile from its summit. A crater opened
at the lower terminus of the fssure eiecting
red hot stones and sending out vast quanti-
ties of sand and ashes that covered the
country for distance of 60 miles. Then
the new crater began to pour out a torrent of
lava which soon presented front two miles
wide and slowly rolled down the mountain.
1t speedily destroyed Belpasso, a town of
5000 Inhabitants. The torrent continued to
flow, and few days later destroyed the
town of Mascalucia- Then the lava divided
into three streams, destroying II villages as
it made its way toward Catania
Stream of Lava Through the City.
When the lava reached the wall of Ca
liall l,l L
60 feet to protect the city from lava flows.
it accumulated against the obstruction until
it rose to the top of the wall Then the
fiery cascade poured over the wall, destroy
ing part of the city. Another portion Of
the stream overthrew 120 feet of the wall
and poured through the city until it reached
the sea, which it entered in q stream 500
yards broad and 40 feet deep At first the
stream had moved at the rate of 13 miles in
20 days, but its progress was less rapid as 1t
lost part of its heat, and in the last % days
it moved only two miles. As the lava
river entered the sea the waters began to
boil violently and millions of fish were
killed. The volume of lava emitted during
this eruption amounted to many millions of |
cubic feet. Ferrara estimated that the |
length of the stream was at least Is miles. |
while its average width was between two |
and three miles. 1t covered nearly 40 \
square miles of surface.
A still more destructive outburst, though |
it was not marked by so great discharge of |
lava, occurred in 1888, when violent earth |
quake shook Catania to the ground, burying |
5000 inhabitants. Fifty towns in Sicily |
were destroyed, and it is said that at least |
SO, 900 people perished.
During the eighteenth century quite a
number of eruptions occurred, some of |
great violence, though most of them did |
little damage. During an eruption in 1882
4 number OF people were watching the
progress of the lava, when the front of the
stream was suddenly blown out as BY an ex-
olosion of gunpowder. The red-hot mass
was hurled in every direction, and cloud |
of vapor enveloped eve rything. Thirty-six
people were killed on the spot and 20 sur
rived but a few hours
Surprised bv Violent Eruption.
In 1852 party of six English tourists
we're surprised by very violent eruption
Is they were ascending the mountain. This
,utburst continued for nine months. The
ourists were ascending from Nicolosi to
witness the sunrise from the summit. As
hey approached the upper hut, known as
Jasa Inglese, the crater commenced to give
orth ashes and flames Of fire. Suddenly an
shook the mountain, and the
mules fed in terror. The tourists hastened
lown the mountain and reached Nicolosi in
afety.
Out of the "a eruptions on record, COM
'aratively small number have been of ex-
RENE violence, while many have been of
light and harmless character Eruptions
ccurred in 1865. 1868, 1869, 1874, 1879, 1883,
nd 1886, the most violent of which were
hose Of 1866 and 1886. The outburst of
$50 destroyed vineyards and farm lands
alued at $3.50, 900.