Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-25
WORST NOW PAST
Believed That Eruption of
Mount Aetna Has About
Spent It's Force.
MUCH DAMAGE RESULTED
Streams of Lava Have Driven Out
Many People and Destroyed
Their Homes.

Catania, March 25.-There are signs
strengthening the hope the force of
the eruptions of Mount Etna is de-
cFeasing. After reaching the valley
the lava food widened and diminished
in velocity.
Grave Fears Entertained.
Catania, Sicily, March 25.-Mount
/ Etna, whose eruptions In the past
have wrought great destruction. is
again in a violent state of activity.
The pronounced movement within
the crater which began Wednesday
evening, is steadily increasing in vol
ume and the gravest fears are enter
tanned as the the results of the erup-
ton continues in its present violent
form.
Story of Correspondent.
From Catania the correspondent mo-
tored in the direction Of the mountains.
Passing the village of Mascalucia, II
miles In a direct line from the crater,
a thick curtain of smoke was encoun-
tered which entirely concealed Etna.
! At Nicolosi, 10 miles from the crater,
the entire population was gathered IN
the square to watch the volcano,
which appeared as a black phantom
above. Now and then it was illumin-
ated with flashes of light appearing
almost red. Higher up the rain of Gin
ders became thicker and extended like
q veil across the mountain. A deep
roaring was heard
Lava Buries Peasants Homes.
The lava flow has already reached
the vineyards above San Leo and Rim
ago, seven miles from the crater, and
has buried a large number of peasant
houses. 1t came in several streams
and united in one great mass about 20
feet high and 1900 feet wide. It's
velocity is estimated at three to four
feet minute.
This mighty wall of lava yesterday
was not more than five miles from Boil
passo and Nicolosi. The meteorologi-
cal station on the mountainside has
been destroyed, and the village of Dor
relic is IN serious danger.
PopuIace Terror Stricken.
The populace is terror stricken and
flying from their homes. Earth shocks
have reached so in number, but there
is a continuous vibration and tremb
ling for many miles around. Every
where the villagers are carrying i'm
ages in professions and imploring
mercy Twelve new craters have
opened up.
Help for the people in the devastated
region is being organized here. A de
tachment of soldiers and large num-
Der of engineers and doctors have
Gcne forward.
Relief is Being Organized.
Help for, the people in the devastated
region is being organized here. A de-
tachment of soldiers and a large num-
Der of engineers and doctors have
gone forward. The project of Catania,
returning from the scene last evening,
said: Il witnessed spectacle of des-
oiation and ruin which only those
who saw the eruption of Vesuvius in
1906 can imagine. The present erup-
ton can be compared to no other"
Authorities issued orders that no one
lie permitted to go beyond Bellpasso.
and soldiers are stationed at various
points to see that these orders are
obeyed. The village of Borello is sur
rounded by lava, and the inhabitants
have fed.
Professor Ricco's Opinion.
Professor Ricco, director of the
Mount Etna observatory, said last
night: THE eruption is very grave
/ think it will become much more SER
ious. Lava covered five miles in 16
hours, and, If my calculations are
right, the eruption of the volcano will
not be short"
Many tourists, among whom Amer
leans are conspicuous, are pouring
into Catania to view the spectacle.
CLOTHES TAKE FIRE.