The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
more VILLAGES co
5UNDER LAVA SEA
FROM MOUNT ETNA
King Victor Emmanuel Goes
To Scene Of Great
Disaster
CONTINUED From Page One.)

spared Is directly in the line of the
lava, and is doubtless doomed to de-
rstruction.
The molten stream is travelling
about 40 yards an hour, and, there
fore, unless some miracle happens,
Linguaglossa will go under during
the night. Confronting it is lava
bed SEQ yards wide and nearly 80 feet
deep. Smaller torrents of lava, di-
rected from the central stream,
threaten the village of RandaZzo and
Bronte, from which so many tourists
make the ascent of .Etna, Franca-
villa Castiglione, Giardini and Fiume
Freddo.
The work of clearing the threat
ened town is being carried out with
the greatest energy and admirable or
ganization. Discipline is necessary to
induce the terrified inhabitants to
abandon their beloved homes. but
u their removal is carried out with
sympathy and kindness.
Special units of the Red Cross have
been dispatched to care for the home
less wanderers and provide food.
A new stream of lava on the west
ern side of Etna menaces the Giarre
junction on the Etna railway. Accord
ing to leading volcanologists six new
craters have been opened, only two
of which, however, are of the first
Importance. In these can clearly be
seen the lava in frightful turmoil be-
ing elected in irregular spurts amid
vast clouds of fumes and ashes, form
ing two streams of liquid death, one
of which is rolling down on Lin
guaglossa, the other moving toward
Sciaro Pass, but threatening no in
habited points. though causing I'M
mense damage to the vineyard and
nut plantations which constituted the
wealth of the countryside. The speed
of the latter stream is so slow, how
over. it is hoped it will not advance
far, but rather form a kind of lake
In one of the valleys.
- Numberless heartrending episodes
- are being enacted in this theatre
around Etna. The affection of the
peasants for their homelands renders
their evacuation a difficult and deli
cate task. In one case woman re-
claring that her whole life had been
given over to its cultivation,
that its existence was her ex-
istence and its death her death.
They endeavored to carry her away.
but she rushed back to the trees and
embraced and kissed them singly.
calling them her children. When
finally she was removed it was found
she had lost her reason.
Inhabitants Flee Early.
The exodus of the inha bitants be-
oil SoOH AFTER the 1lTSL eTupllHB
and a steady line has been slowly
travelling in the direction of safety
for the past two days. When they
started from their homes. the people
were loaded with household treas
ures, but gradually along the road
these have been abandoned. Many
mothers carrying their children or
crowded upon little handcarts, are
among the fugitives, and in numer-
Gus cases stalwart peasants carry
on their shoulders aged relatives, I'M
able to walk, who otherwise would
have been obliged to remain await
ing death in their abandoned homes.
Village priests bearing crucifixes
or the statue of the patron saint ac-
company the sad procession and en-
courage the parishioners. The sound
of ehanted prayers rises above the
rumblings of the eruptions and the
patter of falling stones and cinders;
the stricken people seem in dumb de-
spair, hardly conscious of whittier
they are going, invoking the saints
and inquiring TREMENDOUSLY, What
have we done to be visited by this
awful scourge?"
Solemn Service BY Torches.
A solemn service invoking mercy
was held in the ancient beech forest
at Gastiglione. Owing to the shade
of trees and the darkness caused by
the ashes, the light was too feeble for
the reading of the gospel and torches
We're utilized. The nearness of the
stream of lava was such that before
the end of the service the edge of
the forest caught fire. The air was
so hot and vitiated by sulphurous
fumes that breathing was difficult
and some of the people were so
alarmed at the danger that they
started to depart, at which the old
priest officiating rebuked them and
To-, erth At, Cd
prayers for the fainthearted.
The news that King Victor EN-
manuel is starting Immediately for
the scene of the disaster to share
their perils and direct the work of
rescue has given much cheer to the
people Mindful of the Pope's orders
all converts and other ecclestiasti-
cal buildings have been turned into
huge shelters for the refugees, who
crowd them. The monks throughout
abe area are helping in the salvage
and giving spiritual and material
help to the stricken.
Fury OF Etna Unabated.
The fury of Etna has not abated.
The country has been laid waste and
presents desolate spectacle. The
lava has spread almost to the sea
at one point. between Messina and
Taormina, and intervening villages
have been obliterated.
After a short cessation last night
the flow of lava started again in
full strength this morning from sew
eral new Tissues. one of which is
nearing two miles around. At one
point on the eastern slopes of the
mountain the stream is a mile and a
half wide.
Most of the population of Giarre
have moved down to the seaside town
of Riposto and the remainder are
ready to leave at a signal from the
watchers outside the town. The glow
of the eruption is visible from
Naples, 200 miles away. while from
Palermo. so miles distant, the flames
can be seen shooting into the air.
A most amazing spectacle was
WA0erved between Mount Rosso and
Mount Roselle. two small promon-
tories near Etna. From miniature
plateau between the two mounts the
lava dropped a sheer 600 feet into
the wooded country below. Trees
were quickly ablaze and fiery lake
formed in the timber.
The Pope has sent million lire to
the relief mission.