The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-04-02
Rivers OF Lava POUR
Down AETNA'S Side
Streams of Fire Travel Three
to Four Feet a Minute
CRATERS YELLED IN Dense SMOKE
Molten Lava Like Red Hot River is
Destroying Many Homes-Many
New Fissures Open. Country
side is Terrified.

Catania, Sicily.-Mount Aetna,
whose eruptions in the past have
wrought great destruction Is again
in a violent state of activity. A pro-
nounced movement within the crater
began last week, steadily increasing
in. volume, and the gravest fears are
entertained as to the results il the
eruption continues in its present y1o-
lent form.
From Catania, correspondents mo-
tored in the direction of the noun
tain. Passing the village of Masca-
lucia, twelve miles in 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 as black phantom above.
Now and then it was Illuminated
with flashes of light, appearing al
most red. Higher up the rain of Gin
ders became thicker and extended
like a veil across the mountain. A
deep roaring was heard and detona-
tions like the sound of artillery fol-
lowed one another in quick success
sion, while the earth shook under
foot.
One of the guides cried: can
earthquake" and could hardly be In
duced to continue. The hot cinders
covered the ground like thick car
pet, rendering walking difficult. A
peasant was encountered coming
down. He said:
''The fire is rushing down, burning
everything. The lava is like a red hot
river"
Proceeding a little further along,
four colossal columns of black smoke
could be observed. Occasionally they
were cut by flashes Of fire, present
ing an .awe-inspiring spectacle. Then
the wind opened the clouds for mo-
ment, and wide strip Of fire could
be seen in the distance, advancing
with monstrous contortions. 1t fell
like a torrent from Mount Capriolo,
spreading out in the valley below.
The lava flow had already reach
ed the vineyards above San Leo and
Rinazzo, seven miles from the crater,
and had buried large number OF
peasants houses. 1t came In several
streams and united in great mass
about twenty feet in height and 1900
feet wide. It's velocity was estimated
at three to four feet minute vary
ing according to the condition of the
ground. This mighty wall of lava was
not more than five miles from Bolo-
sasso and Nicolosi.
The meteorological station on the
mountain side has been destroyed,
and the village of Borrello is in Sc
rious danger. There is continuous
vibration and trembling for many
miles around. Everywhere the viii
layers are carrying images in process
sion and imploring mercy.
The streams of the lava have al
ready surpassed in volume those OF
the eruption of 1892 but changing
their courses just as they reached
Rellpaso and Nicolosi, they have in
vaded the main roads near the two
villages which seem thereby to have
escaped destruction.
It has been ascertained that the
openings from which the lava is is
suing number fourteen. The heat
from the current is so intense that
it is impossible to approach nearer
than $50 feet to them. The progress
down the mountain side of the lava
now averages fifteen feet every seven
minutes.