Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-26
SIGHT ONE OF GRANDEUR
Summit Ablaze by Night, Shrouded
in Smoke by Day.
PEASANTS ARE IN FRENZY
Ready for Happening of Miracles,
Though Declaring the Evil Eye
Is Upon Them.


tons from the side craters of Mount
Etna continued today. and the fiery river
Termed al the foot of Mount Casteilazzo,
moved slowly toward Borrelo and Bel
passo, consuming everything in It's path.
The lavatic stream. winding in and out
over the uneven surface at the mountain
base, has covered probably twenty-five
miles, though its head is not more than
ten miles from the sources in an air line.
Throughout the night the summit of
Mount Etna appeared to be ablaze, but
today a cloud of black smoke enve,oped
the peak Prolonged rumblings from the
central crater and frequent explosions
from the side assures served as effectu-
ally as the flood itself to hold in terror
the populace for miles around.
An early morning visit into the threat
,eaed region afforded spectacle magnifi-
cent beyond description, which could be
thoroughly enjoyed by the hundreds of
sightseers focking there but for the other
side of the picture. The terror and real
distress of the peasants in the vicinity
are depressing.
Cling to Homes to Last.
A panic has seized them, and though
they chung to their little homes until the
food was almost upon them they have
now abandoned all but their portable
property, and driving before them their
donkeys and pigs, the former loaded with
household goods. they are wandering
about with the single aim of preserving
what little has been left to them. On the
htops little groups of men, women and
children could be seen looking back sadly
to the sites o. their former homes. now
covered with lava to height or perhaps
fifteen feet. Others whose homes had not
been overtakeu clasped their crucitiXes,
images of the Madonna and the saints
With characteristic cries and prayers
At times cloud of cinders obscured
the volcano and then suddenly shift or
the wind forced back the--rfeud. and 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.
Worshipers Forced to Flee.
The people of the district have been
wrought up to high pitch of excitement
and are ready for miracles, though at
the same time declaring that the evil eye
is upon them. At little roadside altar
erected to st. Joseph. at a point above
Nicolosi. the women, priests and children
had gathered to implore mercy. AS they
knelt they saw in the distance the de-
structive flood advancing. AS it drew
near the agitation among the group In
creased. Some one exclaimed: "A mir
acle has occurred. The lava will not
touch the sanctuary.
The cry was taken. up by the others, and
lAe chanting and singing OF Slcliian
hymns was renewed. Nearer came the
lava. but when its heat had nearly suf-
tod = .,,-i, 4
diverted. With cries of joy at what ap-
peared 10 be a miraculous manifestation,
the suppiicants sprang to their feet.
moment later the course of the food
again changed. and. sweeping down upon
Inc worshipers, permitted them barely
time TO fee for their lives. while it en-
gulfed and burned the sanctuary.
The inha btants of Borelli, one of the
towns the lava circled, ascribe their de-
hVerance TO the miraculous influence of
lne Images of the town patron saint,
which were freely scattered over the fields
ana placed in the lava's path. A sudden
caange in the direction OF the stream oc-
CURED in the same locality where the
SHRINE. consisting of three altars, on
which images of the Madonna and saints
are painted The coincidence is consid-
cred miraculous
Faith in Sacred Veil
cardinal Francisco Nava, Archbishop of
'.atania, is taking from Catania the mir
scuious veil OF 81. Agatha to Nicolosi and
ehelpasSo. The inha bitants believe that it
VIII stop the flow cf lava. Their faith
WIN be strengthened If the prediction of
signor Marcalli, the Neapolitan volcanist,
is verihed. He believes that the outbreak
II normal recurrence of the eruption of
Iss, and that ii will be of short duration.
Ffoi Rico on the other hand, thinks it
Nli be more serious.
cardinal Francesca Nava has sent to the
pope report of the distress of the peo-
PIE. who, he says, are finding great CON-
1ort In their strong and fervid faith.
frof. Ricco of the Mt. Etna observatory
same near meeting with personal disas-
yer today He was examining eruptive
vents, and became so absorbed in his in
Vesugation that he got too close to one
ol the openings ard was caught in sort
ol whirlpool Of stones and ashes. He es-
capped with difficulty.
Roosevelt Possible Visitor.
report that Mr. Roosevelt would visit
eatania In order TO witness the eruptions
vas Circulated among the American
tourists today, but ii did not gain wide
eredsnce
p.lCoI.OSI. March 2S.-Paolo Vinassa de
nF