Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-26
FLAMES BE[CH
FROM ETNAS
CRATER
STREAMS OF LAVA POUR
DOWN MOUNTAINSlDE
Villages Menaced by the Fiery
Flood, Priests and Soldiers
Work HeroicaIly to Prevent
Panic Among Peasants.

49,
Catania, Sicily. March 25.-Etna
STALL is angry. From the top of the
old crater volumes Of white smoke are
issuing tonight. while from the new
craters that have formed, lava is is
suing and large incandcsccnt masses
are eNnloding with loud detonatiohs
ana emissions or black smoke.
From Catania and along the rail-.
way surrounding Etna thousands Of
persons are Watching the Volcano fol-
lowing with telescopes the progress of
the eruption.
The of lava have already
surpassed in volume of the eruption of
1892. but changing their courses Just
as they cached Belpasso and Nicolisi,
they have invaded the main roads
near those two villages which seem
thereby to have escaped destruction.
The people are still fearful. but in
both villages soldiers are encamped
in the squares to avert q panic while
the mayors and parish priests are
heroically ministering to the needy.
Cardinal Francisco Nava, who re-
turned today to the scene of the
eruption. promised to bring back to
the people of Nicolosi ana Belpasso
the veil OF St. Agatha. which they be-
lieve has the power to stop the ad-
vancing lava. Professor Ricco, direc-
tor Of the observatory on the volcano,
despite a narrow escape from death
today. has returned To the lava fields.
To those who advised prudence ne
replied:
My post is now there
Frank A. perrett of Brooklyn, NY,
who is attached to the Royal obsery-
atory on Mount Vcsuvius, arrived
here today and went Immediately to
the scene of the eruption.
1t has now been ascertained that the
openings from which lava is issuing
number fourteen. The heat from the
currents is so intense that it is irl'
possible TO approach nearer than laO
fctt Of them. The flow of the h%Vt
down the mountainside now averages
fifteen feet every 1even minutes
Late tonight it VAS considered most
probable that the streems would pass
b, tween Borrello ard Nicolosi wItnput
touching them.
The people IRE pleading for asset
ance, especially FOR carts in when 10
remove their household effects IRON
the volcano region. The government
has turned over to the project $2,Voo
with which to give assistance to the
needy peasants.
Mr.. Perrett arrived at Nicolosi this
evening and Immediately sent the
following telegram to Catalina:
THE great eruption continues win
undated violence. The craters are
constantly throwing out liquid IRE
and rock to a height of twenty meters
1t is a magnificent though terrifying
spectacle.
'.Th lava has flowed ten kilomet-
ers (about seven miles) in two lays
Tho lower end of the stream is 2ou
meters broad and five meters hish'
The stream is advancing sixty meters
per hour, destroying the vineyards
and houses.
Enormous damage to property ma
bcen done. The Alpine clubs refuge
has been destroyed.
The lava will reach and partly oe'
strov Borrello and Belpasso in three
DAYS. ir present conditions continue
Nicolosi is not in danger.
There is little smoke from TN
eruption. The central crater is mac
tive. but there are prolonged runlp
llngs within it.. The explosions IRON
the side craters are very terrific
Il have measured the surface tenn
perature at the lower end OF the laN'
stream and it registers 500 degree
contrigrade. The lava does not iori
a crust around trees but ignites then
Crowds Of visitors are ENJOYING TN
wonderful spectacle.
The present eruption IS the sepuv
to the abortive outbreaks M Aprli
1908, and was expected and ever pre-
dicted.
Il hope soon to visit the mouth
that have not as yet been visited =!
anyone. The entire path OF the "sceil