The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-03-30
AETNA ACTIVE
Rivers of Red HA Lava Rushing Aadl,
Down the Mounlain Side.
ASHES BURIES HOUSES
OF Peasants, Who Congrega,ed at

OF Peasants, Who Congregated a
Nichols to Watch the Scene q
the Eruption.-They Are Terro
Stricken and Inplore Mercy
Desola,ion and Ruin Faces Then,
Mount Aetna. near Catania, Sicily
whose eruptions in the past hav,
wrought great destruction. Is agaiI
in q violent state OF activity. A
pronounced movement. within the
crater beginning early "Wednesday
evening. increasing in volume. alc
Thursday night the gravest fears are
entertained aa to the results if the
eruptio ion continues in its present rio-
lent form.
From Catania correspondents mot.
cred In the direction of the noun
tain. Passing the village Of Mas.
calucia. twelve miles in direct line
from the crater. a thick curtain OF
smoke was encountered. which en-
sirely concealed Aetna. At Nicolosi.
ten miles from the crater, the entire
population had gathered in the
square to watch the volcano. which
appeared a as black phantom above.
Now and then It was illuminated
with flashes OF light. appearing al
most red. Higher up the rain Of
cinders became thicker and extended
like veil across the mountain. A
deep roaring was heard and detona-
tons like the sound OF artillery fol-
towing one another in quick success
ion, while the earth shook under
foot
One OF the guides cried: IAN
earthquake" and could hardly be In
duced 70 continue. The hot cind:rs
covered the ground like thick car
pet, rendering walking difficult. A
peasant was encountered coming
down He said. The fre is rushing
down. burning everything. The lava
is ike red hot river"
Proceeding a little further. four
colossal columns OF black smoke
could be observed. Occasionally
they were cut by flashes OF FIRE. pre-
senting an awe-inspiring spectacle.
Then the wind opened the clouds for
a moment, and wide strip of FIRE
could be seen :n the distance. advanc-
ing with monstrous contor;ions. l:
fell like a torrent from Mount Cap
riolo. spreading out in the valley
below.
The lava Aow had already reached
ed the vineyards above San Leo aad
Rinazzo seven miles from the crater.
and had buried large number Of
peasants houses. Il came in several
streams and united ir one great
uEass about twenty feet in height and
1 soc feet minute. varying accord
ing TO the condition Of the ground.
This mighty wal! OF lava was not
more than FIVE miles from Bolosasso
and Nicolosi
The meteorological station. on the
moniain side. has been destroyed.
and the village OF Borre!lo IS in
serious danger. TIE populace. ter
Tor stricken. ars flying from their
homes. The earth shocks have reach
ed about fifty in number. but there
is a continuous vibration and tremb-
ling from many miles around. Every
where the villagers are carrying i'm
ages in procession and tmploring
mercy. Twelve new craters have
been opened up.
Help for the people Of the devas-
tated region is being organized. A
detachment OF soldiers and large
OF engineers and doctors
have gone forward. The prefect OF
Ca;ania. returning from the scene
Thursday evening. said
II have witnessed 4 spectacle OF
and ruin which only those
who saw the eruption oE Vesuvious
in 1906 can imagine. The present
eruption can be compared TO no
other"
The authorities have issued or
ders that no one shall be permitted
to so beyond Peipasso and soldiers
have been stationed al various points
TO see that these orders are obeyed.
The village OF Bereli is surrounded
by the lava and the inhabitants have
fled 10 Beipasso.
Prof Ricco. director Of the Mount
Aetna Observatory. said: The erup-
ton is very grave. and I think Il
will become much more serious. The
lava has covered FIVE miles in six
teen hours and If my calculations are
right the eruption of the volcano will
not be short