The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-03-31

POpULACE FLEEING
in TERROR BEFORE
GREAT LAVA FLOW
Grasping Crucifxes, People
Pray for Rescue, Only to Be
Driven From Homes.

castania, March 29:-The eruption Of
Mount Aetna, which began on Wednes-
day and was still of a threatening char
acter early today, decreased n~oticeably
as the day progressed.
Toward night the rumbling ceased
and the side craters emitted sand, which
Is considered an Indication that the dis
turbancc will not continue much
longer.
The stream of lava moving in the
direction Of Borrello has diminished IN
has threatened Hiooiosi has almost
ceased. The weather in the vicinity is
cloudy, and at Nicoiosi it is showing.
er e)p p irons sic'l she siss cra ss:mre be
Mount Etna continued today and the
fiery river formed at the foot of Mount
tCastellazzo moved slowly toward Bor-
relic and Belpaso, consuming every
thing in it's path.
The lavatic stream, winding in and
out over the uneven surface at the
mountain base, has covered probably
rs miles, though its head is not moro
than ten miles from the sources in an
air line. Throughout the night he
summittee Of Mount Etna appeared to
be ablaze, but today a cloud of black
smoke enveloped the peak. Prolonged
;rumblings from the central crater and
frequent explosions from the side fis-
sures served as effectually as the food
itself to hold in terror the %populace for
miles around.
Grandeur and Terror.
An early morning visit into the
threatening region afforded a spectacle
could be thoroughly enjoyed by the
hundreds Of sightseers flocking there,
but for the other side of the picture.
The terror and real distress of the
peasants in the vicinity is depressing.
A panic has seized them and though
they chung to their little home until
the flood was almost upon them, they
have now abandoned all but their
portable property n driving before
them their donkeys and pigs, the for
mer loaded with household goods, they
are wandering about with the single
aim to preserving what little has been
left to them.
On the hilltops, little groups Of men,
women n children could be seer
looking back sadly to the sites Of their
former homes, now covered with lava
to the height Of perhaps 15 feet.
lmpIore the Saints.
Others. whose homes had not been
overtaken clasped their crucihxes,
images of the Madonna and the saints
and with characteristic cries and pray
ers implored that their little huts be
spared. Meantime the molten mass
crawled irresistibly forward as though
determined that nothing should escape
it.
At times a storm Of cinders obscured
the volcano and then suddenly a shift
of the wind forced back the cloud n
the sun bursting through, smiled down
upon the most fertile country in the
world.
The summit of Mount Etna appears
to be still covered with snow.
The people Of the district have been
wrought up to a high pitch Of ex-
citement and are ready for miracles,
the evil eye is upon them.
EnsuIfs Sanctuary.
Al a little roadside altar erected to
Saint Joseph, at a point above Nicolos1,
the women, priests and children had
gathered to implore mercy. AS they
knelt they saw In the distance the
destructive flood advancing. Al it
Irew nearer the a%gitating among the
group increased until one exclaimed:
"a miracle has occurred. The lava
will not touch the sanctuary"
The cry was taken up by the others
ly Sicilian hymns was renewed. Near
er came the lava, but when its heat
had nearly suffocated the praying ones,
the stream was diverted. With cries
of Joy at what appeared to be q mir
aculous manifestation. the supplicants
sprang to their feet. A moment later
the course Of the food again changed
and, sweeping down upon the worship
pers, permitted them barely time to
flee for their lives while it engulfed and
burned the sanctuary.