The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-31

least forty square miles. The latest erup-
ton prior to the present one was in 1856
This lasted about three weeks, and was
preceded by earthquakes. CinderS fell as
far distant as Messina, about eighty miles
from Mount Etna. Nicolosi was for many
DAYS threatened with destruction, the
stream of lava finally stopping within a
short distance of it.
Many of the classical writer's mention
Mount Etna, including Pindar. Aristotle
and Cicero. 1t is reported that Plato
visited the summit of the mountain in his
day, and that in 1888 Mr.. Gladstone made
the ascent. Then the volcano was far
from being quiet. Mount Etna is one of
the most noted and marvellous volcanoes
in The world. 1t is located on the Eastern
coast of Sicily, is 10S6S feet, or more than
two miles, high, and it's base has a circum-
ference of about ninety miles. Some of
the lava from it's eruptions form head
lands several hundred feet high along the
classic Ionian sea.
The area of the noun tain is about 4S0
square miles, and includes two cities, Ca
tania and Aci Reale, and sixty-three
towns and villages. 1t is estimated that
as many as 800, 900 people live on the sides
Oh Ine UlouItdlU. 1le IuOulliiI Has u
regular conical form, broken by the Val
del Bue, an oval-shaped valley, on the
eastern side. The cultivated region of
the mountain is very fertile, and extends
to a height of about 1900 feet above the
sea. Above the cultivated region comes
a wooded area, extending to a height of
about $500 feet. Here are found trees of
oak, beech, pine, poplar, cork, lick and
chestnut. Above the wooded area Is a
desert region, covered with lava, ashes
and sand, which. during large part of
the year, are hid by snow.
The mountain may be assembled, pre-
ferably between June and December. A
party which assembled in August found it
so cold near the top that extra coats were
necessary. The abyss of the crater was
found in 1877 to be about 600 feet deep
and some two or three miles around.
More celebrated than Etna is the vol
cano of Nesuvius, although it Is only 900
feet in height against the nearly II 900
feet of Etna. Probably Vesuvius has been
nearly or quite twice ITS present height.
The weii-knoYn eruption of NesuyIuS
which occurred in the year 70 and buried
Pompeii and Herculaneum was the first
that has occurrsd within the limits of his
tory or tradition, though others had taken
ton warnings OF which were given for
fifteen years by earthquakes and rumb-
Hngs, Nesuvius has never been quiet, fire.
ouently emitting lava, but more often
only dust, scorie and steam. From 1866
to 1892 the volcano was especially active.
Iceland, as is well known, has a geologic
formation, and its hot volcanic eruptions
form strong contrast to its climate. Most
of the mountains of the islands have been
volcanoes Hecla. the most famous, is be-
tween 4 600 and ), 900 feet in height. 1t has
eighteen recorded eruptions, the latest be-
ing 1Si5-6. The earliest known eruption
was in ll0i, which gave the name sand
rain winter" 10 the season in which it oc-
Cured. Vast quantities of dust are dis
charged from the Icelandic volcanoes, a
column of ashes said 10 he 5000 ieet high
having arisen from Hecla in lee
Popocatapetl. or, in the language of the
Aztecs, smoking mountain" Is the most
noted volcano IN the western hemisphere
and one of the highest mountains in either
America, its snow covered cone towering
up II s,l3 feet above the sea. At its sum
INIT there lies an immense crater about a
mile across and more than a third of q
mile in precipitous depth. Sulphur from
the crater is or has been quarried at an
elevation of 1900 feet. During the last
800 years there have been but two or three
eruptions and those have been mild
Smoke constantly issues from the noun
tain, and at times cinders and stones are
sent up in showers.
Mount ST. Elias, in Alaska, is classed as
an active volcano. and exceeds Popocata-
petl in height. the latest estimates placing
its height at Is. 100 feet.
Interesting volcanic remains are to be
found in the western part of the United
States, and especially in Utah. The most
interesting volcanic district in Utah is
near Fillmore where volcanic buttes and
tables rest upon the plain at distances OF