The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-26
LAVA THREATENS TOURISTS
NiNi BRITISH AND lMERI-
CiNS ~ NICOIOSI.
slghtseers Gathered TO watch E1na -
Erup'iOa May Ne In Danger Later
Much Damage Done b, FIERY stream
village aS TBoreaIi 81, ed n, ODD, Turn

Special cGbis Ds'pHcAss 10 THE sun
CAIANIA. March 2S.-Nicolosi is packed
with tourists. mainly British and Ameri-
cans. who have hOcked To watch the
eruption Of Etna. Lines OF soldiers are
employed Ia keep the tourists hack
from places ~ danger The attitude Of
the visitors contrasts strangely with that
Of the inhabitants. who are in abject
terror and anguish. Their prayers for
protection are interpreted with curses
against the lava. while the sightseers are
filed with admiration Of the mi ghty dis
play Of the forces OF nature.
The lava stream advancing toward
Borelh had reached within two miles Of
the town when il suddenly changed its
direction and flowed around Mount San
Leo. IL IL now descending in the direc-
ton Of Nicolosi. the inhabitants Of which
thought themselves safe. They held
thanksgiving servics this morning. but
now are terror stricken.
Their only hope is that the progress OF
the fiery stream will he impeded by Monti
Rossi. hut the lava at present IL heading
straight for Nicolosi. Il 10 causing i'm
mense damage. Il has obliteratsd every
trace of five large farms
The inhabitants Of BOrelli ascrihe their
deliveTanca tn the miraculous interview
ton % the images Of the towns patron
saint. which were freely scattered over
the fields and placed in the lava's path
A sudden change in the direction Of the
stream occurred in the same locality
where the eruption Of Is:: stopped near
a rustic shrine. consisting OF three affairs.
on which images Of the Madonna and
saints are painted The coincidence il
considered miraculous.
The crater at Volta San GiroIamo is
still the most active OF the openings
Besides the continual emission Of lava
u IL dischanng so-called bombs. which
arr hurled high into the air. exploding
with loud reports resembling heavy bonn
barCiment
Prof Ricco Of the Mount Ftna Observa-
tory came near meeting with a personal
disaster to-day. Ne was examining erup-
tive vents and becam 80 absorbed in his
that he got too close to one
Of the openings and was caught in a sort
~ whirlpool " apilh and ashes He
escaped with difficulty.
Cardinal Francica -Nava. Archbishop ~
Catania. ~ taking from Catania the mirac.
uIous veil ~ Saint Agatha 20 Nicolosi and
Relpasso. The inhabitants believe that
IL will stop the fow 81 lava. Their faith
u ~ 80 strengthened IL the prediction 1T
SiGnor NleTcalh. the Neapolitan voloanist.
- verified lie believes that the outbreak
- a normal recurrence q the eruption of
Ieos. and that IL will he 81 short duration
Prof Riccp. on the other hand. thinkS u
will he more serious
Cardinal Francioa- Nava has sent to the
Pope "A report Of the distress aud suffering
81 the p~ople who. he saws. are finding
great comfort in their strong faith.
RoNE. March IS Telephonio commu-
nicauon with CatAnia ~ now completely
The telegraph wires are
greatly congested and messages are de-
layed Details in regard to the eruption
OF Mount EtnA are therefore lack ing
The latest news received at the Italian
Home Off'ce ~ more TeaAsnIring IL - "a
the effect that the progress ~ the great
stream u lava In slower.