New-York tribune., 1910-03-26
ETNA LESS ACTIVE
LAVA RIVERS UNITE.
Peasants LedUe HOmes-King
May ViSit Sicily.

Catania. March 25.-The lava food from
Mount Etna. after reaching the valley.
widened and diminished in velocity. and
this afternoon the hope that the erupuons
were decreasing was strengthened.
Etna, however. still 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 gush-
Ing and large incandesoent masses are ex-
ploding with loud detonations and ennis
siOns OF black smoke.
From Catania and along the entire rail-
way surrounding Etna thousands OF per-
sons are watching the volcano. following
with telescopes the progress OF the erup-
tion.
The streams Of lava already have sur
passed in volume those OF the eruption OF
1882. but. changing their courses Just as
they reached BelpassO and NieolOsi. they
have invaded the main roads near these
two villages. which seem thereby now 20
have been saved from destruction. The
people are still fearful. but IN both villages
soldiers are camped In the squares 20 avert
panic. while the mayors and parish
priests are heroically ministering 20 the
needy. Cardinal Francica-Niva. who re-
turned to-day 10 the scene Of the eruption.
Nicolosi and Belpasso the veil OF 81. Aga
tina. which they believe has the power TO
stop the advancing lava. Professor RiccO.
the director Of the observatory on the vol
oano, despite a narrow escape from death
to-day has returned 20 the lava fields. To
those who advised prudence he replied:
MY post is now there"
Frank a. Perret's Report.
Frank A. Perret. assistant director on the
observatory az Mount Vesuvius. arrived
al Nicolosi this evening and sent the fol-
lowing telegram 20 Catania:
The great eruption continues with IN
abated violence. The craters constantly are
throwing out liquid fire and rock 20 a
height Of twenty metres. IL is a magnih-
cent though terrifying spectacle.
The lava has flowed ten kilometres
(about seven miles, an two days. The lower
end Of the stream Is two hundred metres
broad and I'VE metres high. The stream
IS advancing sixty metres an hour. destroy
ing vineyards and houses.
Enormous damage 20 property has been
done The Alpine Clubs refuge has been
destroyed.
The lava viii reach and partly destroy
Borrello ana BelpassO within three days II
present conditions continue. Nioolosi is not
IN danger
There IS now little smoke from the erup-
tion. The central crater IS inactive. but
there are prolonged rumblings within H.
The explosions from the side craters are
very terrifying.
II have measured the surface tempera-
ture AT the lower end Of the lava stream
ana Il registers so degrees centigraae The
lava does not form iu a crust around trees
but ignites chem.
Crowds Of visitors are enjoying the won
derful spectacle.
..The present eruption is the sequel 90 the
al,ortive outbreak in April. iSG, and was
expected and even predicted.
Il hope soon 90 visit the mouths which
have not as yet been visited by any one
The entire path OF the ascent OF the volcano
IS covered with burning lava. IN some
places shallow and in others deep il Il
GO metres broad.
The final result of the eruption eanno'
be predicted. ala depending upon the dura-
ton OF the phenomenon. The latest OBJ
servatiOns show a slight reduction IN the
intensity of the eruption"
IL has now been asoeTtained that the Op-
enincs from which the lava Is issuing num-
her fourteen. though ten OF these are small
g,be heat from the currents is 30 intense tha
IL As impossible % approach nearer than
80 feet 90 them The progress down ths
mountain side OF the lava now averages hf-
teen feet every seven minutes.
/ To-dayss official report on the volcanic
/ a,s,urbances an the Mount Etna district
holss out the hope that the worst is over
r. craters which may be properly de-
/ sc,,boS as new appear % be four. These
l 80 opened at the foot OF Mount csstel-
- four miles in an air line from ths
summit OF Etna-
-. ~ the craters Is az Tasca Alhanelli
.r,.,s - not throwing out much lave. but Is
-. ,,oisiest Of the four. aud lts loud deiO-
4 ra,,ons are chiefly responsible for the ter
seoond crater Is six hundred feet
.,.o,o. An a place called Volta sangiFo
80 This crater Is seven thousand feet
a,.,,,,e -, the sea and Is emitting tho greatest
49, sDoS ~ ,ncandesoent matter. AZ Tascs
.,a-a ts a third break. which Is also very
AI.,, l.,..a and near "a is the fourth. showing
- serious eruption
-. sour streams emitted trom thes'
,s nc Says united ~ the fo0t Of Mount