Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-26
Fissures Open in Side of
Mountain and Stream
Increases.
HOMES SWALLOWED
Spectacle of Eruption Would be
Enjoyable but for Misery
of the Peasants.

CanCan1a, Sicily, Marcn zo.-Efup-
tions from side craters OF Mount Etna
continued today and a fiery river
formed at the foot of Mount Castella-
20 and moved slowly toward Borrello
and Belpasso, consuming everything
in its path. The lavatic stream, wind
ing in and out over the uneven surface
at the mountain base, has covered
probably % miles, though its head is
not more than 10 miles from sources
in an airline.
Fire at Night, Smoke I'm Day.
Throughout the night the summit of
Mount Etna appeared to be ablaze,
but today a cloud of black smoke en-
veloped the peak. Prolonged rumb-
lings from the central crater and fire.
qunt explosions from side assures
served as effectually as the flood itself
to hold in terror the populace for
miles around
Spectacle is Magnificent.
An early morning visit into the
threatened region afforded a spectacle
magnificent beyond description, which
could be thoroughly enjoyed by Kan
dreds of sightseers flocking there but
for the other side of the picture the
terror and real distress Of the peasants
in the vicinity is depressing. A panic
has seized them and though they
clung to their little homes until the
flood 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
Look Back at Sites.
On the hill tops sroups of men,
women and children could be seen
looking back to the sites of their for
mer homes now covered with lava to
a height of perhaps Is feet. Others,
whose homes had not been overtaken,
clasped their crucif1xes and images of
the Madonna and saints and with
characteristic cries and prayers i'm
plored that their little huts be spared.
Lawn Creeps Forward.
Meanwhile the molten mass crawled
irresistibly forward as though deter
mined nothing could escape it. At
times storm of cinders obscured the
volcano and then suddenly a shift of
the wind forced back the cloud and
the sun bursting through smiled down
upon the most fertile country in the
world. The summit of Mount Etna ap-
pears to be still covered with snow.
Ready for Miracles.
People Of the district have been
wrought to high pitch of excitement
and are ready for miracles, though |
at the same time declaring the evil
eye is on them. At little roadside |
altar erected to Saint 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 destructive |
flood advancing
Believe 1t Realized.
AS it drew nearer the agitation |
among the group increased until one
exclaimed. "a miracle has occurred. |
The lava will not touch the sanctu-
ary." The cry was taken up by 9TH
srs and then the chanting of melan-
choly Sicilian hymns was renewed.
Nearer came the lava, but when its
heat had nearly suffocated the praying
ones the stream was diverted. With
cries of joy at what appeared to be a
miraculous manifestation the suppli-
cants sprang to their feet. A moment
later the course of the flood again
changed and sweeping down upon the
worshippers permitted them barely
time to- fee for their lives while it en-
quilted and burned the sanctuary.
T.
The eruption of Mount Etna de-
creased as the day progressed and
this evening the worst appeared to
have been passed. The stream of
lava moving in the direction of Bor-
relic has diminished in volume and
velocity, while the flow that threat