The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-10-07
THE CRATER OF ETNA.


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Etna once more in eruption awakens q
temporary interest in this volcano, which
subsidies only when the mighty mountain
itself returns to its normal state of smoke
and harmless grumbling. An account of
journey to the edge of the crater will
doubtless be of interest to many whose
eyea are to-day turned toward Sicily. The
journey up the mountain is usually made
at night and accomplished in thres stages
driving, riding and walking -the en-
tire climb occupying in time about ten
hours. Starting from Catania carriage
can be obtained to convey the mount
aineer through the belts of vine and pine
to Nicolosi, where the vehicle is ex-
changed for mules-a less comfortable
method of progress as they wind slowly
up broken path of lava fields, through
groves of chestnut and oak, until a
barren waste called " Deserta - is reached,
and an occasional glimpse is caught of
the Casa Inglese, resting place and OBJ
servatory at the foot of the crater. ns
few minutes before sunrise the party
stood on the summit of Etna. Twelve
thousand feet below lay Catania slumber-
ing in the dawn, and to the westward a
mighty map of some 600 square miles,
embracing one of the most varied and
beautiful landscapes in Europe
Away to the north are the Lipari ISL
ands, Stromboli standing out conspicu-
ously among the group. Long black
streaks winding from the mountain top
to the valleys denote the lines taken by
the lava in different eruptions at various
periods in the worlds history, destroying
in its course villages and towns, which
are rebuilt again and again ON the ashes
of past generations, only to await their
own inevitable destruction, and to ado q
fresh layer to the mortuaries which
abound on the sides of the mountains.
A long crimson line on tie horizon of
the Mediterranean tells that the sun is
aboEt to rise, and with feeling of pride
we salute, as the first to greet, the golden
orb of day as he shot out of his watery
bed. simultaneously with the rising of
the san was thrown on the morning mist
in the valley beneath a mirage of the
mountain, our individual forms being
clearly distinguishablea at the summit; but
still grander and more wonderful sight
awaited US, for within feet few yawned
the mouth of the mighty crater OF Etna,
boiling and bubbling below, now roaring
and laundering, now lulled in its fury,
Kissing like torrents OF driving rain.
Unearthly shrieks, as from countless
human threats, well up from its depths
and are borne away on the wind. The
mountain sides tremble with continuous
vibration as we lie gazing into the awful
abyss, and a feeling comes over us that we
are prying into the mysteries Of nature,
and have no right to be there; the mouth
of the crater looks black as night, but tins
darkness is fitfully lighted up by tongues
of flame and sparks shooting from the
depths below.
For thousands upon thousands of years
has this huge chimney of the earth, two
miles in circumference, poured forth its
volumes OF smoke, slowly burning away
the interior of our world, thereby reduc-
ing its density and gravity, and belching
forth what it cannot consume. Will the
fire become extinguished, and the in
herent heat in the planet disappear, and
with it all vitality, as in the case of the
moon, or will the flames find fuel to the
end, when, with a crash, populatian,
civilization, and all creation will collapse
in the cauldron?-London Globe.