Evening star., 1923-06-21
Huge Stream, Deviating Into
Side Road, Converts VAL
ley Into Fiery Lake.
100000 STILL IN FLIGHT
DOWN MOUNTAIN SLOPE
Relief Arriving for Stricken Area
American Red Cross Cables
Aid Offer.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CATANIA. June 21.-Unless there
Is a new and strong emission of lava
from Mount Etna, the town of Lin
guaglossa. which has been threatened
for the last three days, is almost
certainly safe from destruction, say
official reports from the devastated
region.
The huge stream of lava which had
been advancing steadily toward the
town has deviated into side road
and is flowing with accelerated ve-
locity into neighboring valley.
= which Is gradually becoming a veri-
table lake of fire.
The few inhabitants remaining in
Linguaglossa. town OF about 10000,
ascribe the diversion of the lava to
the towns patron saint. St. Egidio,
to whom prayers and gifts were fer
rently offered throughout the recent
days Of terror.
Ashes BecIoud Atmosphere.
The atmosphere for miles around
the volcano is still dense with the
ashes hurled skyward from the crater,
which Is completely hidden by a dense
pail of smoke and cinders. Thunder
Gus explosions continue, and from
all quarters are heard distressing
tales of wild stampedes b" the
panic-stricken population. the de-
struction o. homes and heroic efforts
at rescue.
The town now most endangered is
which is menaced by one of the lava
streams. Farther from the crater
than Linguaglossa, Castiglione is also
lower on the mountain slope, down
which the molten rock is advancing.
1t Is picturesque town surrounded
by nut trees, many of which are on
fire.
A correspondent of the Associated
Press today motored through part of
the desolated region. Near Catena
vas small hamlet entirely deserted,
except for a young priest, who wore
en- his breast ribbons denoting deeds
of valor during the war. No other
soul was visible and the village
seemed dead under its coating of
black dust. The priest pointed out
q considerable pool of lava. kissing
and fuming in depression of
ground.
That is Catena's graveyard he
said. Now the dead are buried in
stone"
The congestion caused by the auto
mobiles of tourists. curiosity seekers
and amateur relief workers in the af
fe cted area became so great that
Prefect Pericoli and Gems. Strace and
Isattaglia have issued orders that
no car shall circulate in the district
without permission.
Relief Pouring In.
Funds and offers of help have begun
TO pour in from all over the world.
Pope Plus and King Victor Emmanuel
have each given $4,000 lire, an Italian
newspaper in New York has cabled
100000 lire. and the various munich
palites throughout Italy are sending
contributions.
A slight decrease in the intensity of
the eruption Is reoorted. while the ex-
plosions within the crater were less
frequent
With the arrival of Premier Mus
solini in prospect, the peasants who
have hourly been expecting the de-
struction of their homes by the lava
flow became more cheerful. for such Is
the prestige of the premier that many
of the ignorant and superstitious
peasants literally believe that he will
on'y have to bring his will to bear on
the volcano-Etna is to them almost
living person-for the eruption to
decrease, even to stop.
VIII Go Through Villages.
Not only have officials in charge
of the rescue work made all prepara-
tions to receive Mussolini and ex-
plain to him what has already been
done to help those in distress, but the
Bishop of Acireala plans to conduct
the premier through the villages
which have suffered most
The Sicilians are also eagerly
awaiting the arrival of the United
States cruiser Pittsburgh. believing
that the dispatching of the ship, with
Ambassador Child and Rear Admiral
Philip Andrews aboard. is an eEyres-
sion of the sympathy of the AnsE-
can people.