The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-06-26
A HUNDRED THOUSAND
PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS
SIX CRATERS OF GREAT VOL.
CANO BELCH FORTH DEATH
AND DESTRUCTION.
AN AWE-INSPIRINC SPECTACLE
Incandescent Rocks Weighing Tons
Hurled into Air. Terror Stricken
People Flee to Churches and Pray
Deliverance From Molten Lava.


CATANIA, Sicily.-Hurling thous-
ands OF tons of flaming lava high into
the sky from its main crater, while
five new craters belch molten destruc-
ton with reports like those of a thous-
and cannon, Mount Etna is in erup-
ton and has already destroyed num-
Der of villages, while score of 9th
ers are threatened.
A wall of molten lava, 80 to 40 feet
in height, slid over the spot where the
little town Of Lingnaglossa stood, and
advanced in flaming line, 500 yards
across, upon neighboring hamlets.
The village of Boscoragate disappear
ed
AT $50 in the morning tremen-
dous explosion, followed by rain OF
small stones, volcanic mud and ashes
awakened the population OF nearby
towns.
Rush to Churches.
A thick cloud of black smoke OBJ
scured the summit of the volcano.
Terror stricken people rushed into
the streets, clad in night clothes and
fastened to churches, praying for aid.
About their heads a gust of wind
swept the smoke plume from the
mountain top, disclosing that the vol
canic mouths had opened on the sides
of the cone vomiting torrents of lava
that raced towards the villages OF
Lingnaglossa and Castiglone.
Throughout the morning the vol
cano belched fire, hurting thousands
of tons OF lava into the sky from the
main crater as the five minor cones
continued their flow of molten fam
ing stone.
Thundering like massed guns Of
an artillery barrage, walls of white
hot Stag poured down the mountain
slope like the overflow OF blast fur
mace cauldrons. They lowered 80 to
40 feet into the air, sweeping trees,
walls and houses before them.
In kissing angry floods the lava
poured along the dry beds of rivers,
throwing off jets of smoke and steam.
Heavy Damage Done.
The flow increased. Vineyards, or
ange and lemon groves and farms
were destroyed as the lava streams
gained impetus.
Extending over 1,000-foot front,
and moving 900 feet an hour, a wall
of sulphurous fire and molten stone
overwhelmed the railroad station at
Castiglione, and hattened out the ia
nous pine grove at Glossa as a scythe
mows down wheat. Flaming and roar
ing the torrent swept on across the
irrigation canals of the lemon groves
to the village of Lingnaglossa proper.
fi,a cir 1haI rr1cr
| the fre-charred depot at Castiglione
the populace fled, Gaily painted two
wheeled Sicilian jaunting cars led the
refugee horde that milled through
binding smoke towards the sea. AT
midnight a shattering earthquake
shock swept the foothills as a crater
mouth opened at Monte Nero, from
which new flow spread
Desolation in Valleys.
Sunday afternoon desolation swept
through the valleys In upland fields
peasants refused to leave their crops,
standing aghast with tear-flled eyes
as they watched the lava sweep out
their heritage of fields and pastures.
Women struggled along the roads to
the sea, bending under packs of hasti-
ly gathered household goods. Chill
dren, separated from their parents in
the route OF fight, wept by the road
sides.
At twilight the flaming mountain
presented spectacle of awe inspiring
majesty. The giant crater seethed
with red, blue and white gusts of livid
fame, mingling in pillar of fire like
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