The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-03-26
SICILIAN TOWN
PANIC STRICKEN
Lava Flow Continues at Catania
and Consumes Everything
In Its Path.
PEASANTS LOSE THEIR HOMES
PopuIace Driven Before Destructive
Stream and Many Gather in
Groups to lmplore Divine Mer-
cy-Sanctuary Burns.

Catania, Sicily, March 26.-Erup-
tions from the side craters of Mount
Etna continued today and the fiery
river formed at the foot of Mount
Castcllazo moved slowly toward Bor
relic and Belpasso, consuming every
thing in its path. The lavatic stream
winding in and out over the uneven
surface at the mountain base has COW
cred probably twenty-five miles,
though its head is not more than ten
miles from its source in an airline.
Throughout the night the summit of
Mount Etna appeared be be ablaZe,
but today cloud of smoke enveloped
the peak. Prolonged rumbllngs from
the central crater and frequent explo-
sions from the side assures served as
cmectually as the flood itself to hold in
terror the populace for miles around.
Peasants Lose Their Homes.
An early morning visit into the
threatened region afforded a spectacle
magnificent beyond description, which
could be thoroughly enjoyed by hun
dreds of sight-seers focking there but
for the other side of the picture. The
terror and real distress of the peas
ants i'm the vicinity is depressing. Pan
ic has seized them and though they
clurg To their little homes until the
flood was almost upon them they
have now abandoned all but their
portable property, and driving before
them their donkeys and pigs, the for
mer loaded with household goods. they
are wandering about with single aim
of preserving what little has been left
To them. On the hill tops groups OF
men, women and children could be
seen looking sadly TO the sites of their
former homes now covered with lava
to a height of perhaps OF fifteen feet
Others whose homes had not been
overtaken, slasped their cruciflxes
images OF the Madonna and saints and
with characteristic cries and prayers
implored that their little huts be spar
ed.
In the meantime the molten mass
crowIod irresistibly forward as though
determined nothing could escape 1t
At times a storm of cinders obscuret
the volcano and then suddenly a shif
of wind forced back the cloud and th'
sun bursting through smiled upon th'
most fertile country in the world
People lmplore Mercy
The summit of Mount Etna appears
to he still covered with snow. People
of the district have been wrought y
a high pitch of excitement and arr
ready for miracles, though at tn
same time declaring the evil eye is up
on them. At little roadside alta'
erected to Saint Joseph at a poin
above Nicolosi, she women. priests
and children had gathered to impior
mercy. AS they knelt they saw IN th
distance the destructive flood advanc
ing. AS IL drew nearer the agitauo
among the group increased until on
exclaimed, "a miracle ha~ occurred
The lava will not touch tAe sane
tuary."
The cry was taken UP by others an
then chanting of melancholy Stella
hymns was renewed. Nearer came IN
lava but when It's heat had nearly SUI
focated the praying ones the strea'
was diverted. With cries of JOY q
what happened to be miracuiou
manifestation the supplicants spran
to their feet. moment later u
course of the flood again changed an
sweeping down upon the worshippel
permitted them barely time to nee Il
their lives while 1t engulfed and burr
ed the sanctuary.