The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-07-03
STILL LIKE SETTLING,
BURNING HE'LL At ETNA
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TURN
ED INTO CHASTITY LAND OF
DREADFUL NIGHT.
DREADFUL EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE
Crimson of Flowing Lava Fire CLOVIS
Through Thick Darkness. For Miles
Around Atmosphere Dense With
Ashes Hurled Sllyward.

Around Atmosphere Dense with
Ashes Hurled Skyward.
CATANIA-Th smiling, fruitful
and thickly populated slopes OF Mount
Etna, and the surrounding country,
as the correspondent OF the Assoclat-
ed Press saw them in the past have
now become with CHASTITY suddenness
"the land of dreadful night"
Through the thick darkness, which
can almost be felt, glows the GRIM
son OF the lava fire flowing from the
broken lips OF the craters, extending
for miles and gradually growing dark
er. as the molten mass cools and
hardens until cracks and crev1ces ap-
pear on the surface through which
can be seen bubbling up the boiling
lava from beneath.
The atmosphere for miles around
the volcano is still dense with the
ashes hurled skyward from the era
ter, which is completely hidden by
dense pail OF smoke and cinders:
Thunderous explosions continue and
from all quarters are heard distressing
tales OF wild stampedes by the panic
stricken people with the destruction
of homes and heroic efforts at rescue.
The fields of Fiume, Freedom, Dl-
ana and Calatabiano, once green and
beautiful, now covered with heavy de
posts OF dust and cinders, tremble
and heave beneath the feet, while the
roaring sounds accompanying the
eruption mingle with the rumblings OF
lorries through the darkness carrying
away the refugees and their posses
sions from the doomed villages
AS one approaches the volcano
masses Of fiery material thrown up
from the smaller craters can be seen.
They roll slowly down the mountain
side. and above them are dense clouds
of smoke and vapor One by one the
splendid homes and villages, where
the families in the neighborhood were
accustomed to spend the summer
months, are over-borne and destroy
ed. Orchards and gardens have been
consumed in the intense heat long
before the lava reaches them, throw
ing off myriads of sparks and finally
shoulder down into grim blackness.
Chanting and Prayers Thrill.
Mount Etna, it is calculated. has
emitted 100000 cubic meters OF
burning material.
The thickness OF the largest lava
river, which has now reached IS kilo-
meters. into the fertile valley between
the towns OF Linguaglossa and Cas-
tiglione has been increased to seven
meters.
The presence OF King Victor Eman-
uel at Linguaglossa had splendid
effect on the town, the morale of the
people being raised. The people OF the
town, numbering about $4,000, nearly
all are peasants with poetic faith in
prayer. The archbishop OF Catania IS
here leading the people in prayer
The natives implored help from the
king. When he assured them that aid
would be forthcoming, following a
benediction from the archbishop, both
he and the prelate were greeted with
hosannas.
The townspeople, however, put
their greatest hope for salvation in
Saint Egidius, their patron saint. They
brought out a statue of the saint and
placed it at one end Of the town, fac
ing the approaching wave OF fire.
Their chanting and prayers were Civ
en- with such fervor and intensity as
would thrill even the most confirmed
unbelievers. The saint was covered
with the commonest ornaments worn
by the simple peasants. There were
earrings, watch chains and many
cheap watches-among which were
recognized three American dollar
watches.
Now the anthem Visit il Santo
Melenaveas" is heard in a loud voice.
Three hundred in heart-rending and
imprisoned appeals answered. oh,
good and beautiful saint yes thou
will save us"
The Red Cross army with tents to
accommodate 5000 has arrived here.
There are thousands OF army trucks
and requisitioned automobiles ready
in the vicinity ready to transport the
inhabitants.