The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-30
AETNA ACTIVE
Rivers of Red Hot Lava Rushing Madly
Down the Mountain Side.
ASHES BURIES HOUSES

Of Peasants, Who Congregated at
Nichols to Watch the Scene of
the Eruption.-Thcy Are Terror
Stricken and Implore Mercy
DesolatiOn and Ruin Faces Them.
Mount Aetna, near Catania, Sicily,
whose eruptions In the past have
wrought great destruction, is again
in a violent state of activity. A
pronounced movement within the
crater beginning early Wednesday
evening, increasing in volume, and
Thursday night the gravest fears are
entertained as to the results If the
eruption continues in it's present vio-
lent form.
From Catania correspondents mot"
ored in the direction of the noun
tain. Passing the village of Mas
| ~calucia, twelve miles in a direct line
from the crater, a thick curtain Of
smoke was encountered, which en-
tirely concealed Aetna. At Nicolosi,
ten miles from the crater, the entire
| population had gathered in the
| square to watch the volcano, which
| appeared a as black phantom above.
Now and then it was illuminated
with flashes of light, appearing al
most red. Higher up the rain Of
cinders became thicker and extended
like a veil across the mountain. A
| deep roaring was heard and detona-
| tons like the sound Of artillery fol-
towing one another in quick success
ion, while the earth shook under
foot.
One of the guides cried: IAN
| earthquake" and could hardly be in
duced to continue. The hot cind ers
covered the ground like a thick car
pet, rendering walking difficult. A
| peasant was encountered coming
down. He said. 1.-The fire is rushing
down, burning everything. The lava
Is ike a red hot river"
Proceeding a little further, four
colossal columns of black smoke
could be observed. Occasionally
they were cut by flashes of fire, pre-
senting an awe-inspiring spectacle.
Then the wind opened the clouds for
a moment, and a wide strip of fire
could be seen in the distance, advanc-
ing with monstrous contortions. 1t
fell like a torrent from Mount Cap
riclo, spreading out in the valley
below.
The lava flow had already reached
ed the vineyards above San Leo and
RinaZzo seven miles from the crater,
and had buried a large number of
peasants houses. 1t came in several
streams and united in n great
mass about twenty feet in height and
1900 feet a minute, varying accord
ing to the condition Of the ground.
This mighty wall of lava vas not
more than five miles from Bolosasso
and Nicolosi
The meteorological station, on the
montain side, has been destroyed,
and the village of Borrello is in
serious danger. The populace, ter
ror stricken, are flying from their
homes. The earth shocks have reach
ed about fifty in number, but there
is a continuous vibration and tremb-
ling from many miles around. Every
where the villagers are carrying i'm
ages in procession and imploring
mercy. Twelve new craters have
been opened up.
Help for the people of the devas-
tated region is being organized. A
detachment Of soldiers and a large
number of engineers and doctors
have gone forward. The project of
Catania, returning from the scene
Thursday evening, said
Il have witnessed a spectacle of
desolation and ruin which only those
who saw the eruption Of Vesuvious
in 1906 can imagine. The present
eruption can be compared to no
other"
The authorities have issued or
ders that no one shall be permitted
to go beyond Pelpasso and soldiers
have been stationed at various points
to see that these orders are obeyed,
The village of Bereli is surrounded
by the lava and the inhabitants have
fled to Belpasso.
Prof. Ricco, director of the Mount
Aetna Observatory. said: 1.-The erup-
ton is very grave, and I think II
will become much more serious. The
lava has covered five miles in six
teen hours and if my calculations are
right the eruption OF the volcano will
not be short"