The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-06-20
King Aids
in Volcano
ReliefWork
Great Lava Torrent Continues
Flow to Sea-Linguaglossa
Is DoOmed-Rescue Work
Organized.
Airplanes Give Signals

1dlanla, Italy June l9.-The great
lava torrent from Mount Etna, bear.
ing in its flow great masses of earth
and volcanic stone, has already
reached the houses on the outskirts
of the town of Lingauglossa. Green
fields, orange groves and vineyards
have been swallowed up, and for
miles around the atmosphere is suf.
locating with volcanic smoke an a
rain of black smoke and ashes which
Is covering the countryside like a
pail.
Several of the small houses In
Linguaglossa have been shaken down
bxsthe frequent earthquake. and the
ptown is directly in the line of the
lava and is doubtless doomed to de-
struction.
Lava 80 feet Deep.
The molten stream is travelling
about 40 yards an hour, and unless
some miracle happens, Lingag glossa
will go under during the night. Con-
fronting it is a lava bed 500 yeards
wide and nearly 80 feet deep.
Smaller torrents of lava, diverted
from the central stream, threaten the
villages of Randazzo and Bronte.
from which so many tourists make
the ascent of Etna. Francavilla. Cati-
glione, Giardini and Fiume Freddo.
The work of clearing the threaten
ed towns is being carried out with the
greatest energy and admirable organ
ization. Discipline is necessary to
induce the terrified inhabitants to
abandon their beloved homes, but
their removal is carried out with
sympathy and kindness. Airplanes
watch the progress of eruption and
special signalling stations have been
established at various strategical
points, giving confidence to the peo-
pie in the fact that they are being
protected. Special units of the Red
Cross. with all supplies. have been
dispatched to care for the homeless
wanderers and provide food and shell
ter for them.
New Stream on West.
A new stream of lava on the west
ern side of Etna menaces Giarre
junction on the Etna railway. Ac-
cording to leading volcanologists, six
new craters have opened, only two OF
which, however, are Of the first i'm
portance. 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 Linguag.
lossa, the other moving toward Sciaro
Pass, but threatening no inhabited
points, though causing immense dam.
age to the vineyards. and nut planta-
tions, which constituted the wealth
OF the countryside.
The speed Of the latter stream is
so slow, however, it is hoped 1t will
not advance far, but rather form a
kind Of lake In one of the valleys.
Heart Rending Episodes.
Numberless heart rending episodes
are being enacted in this theater
around Etna. The affection of the
peasants for their homelands renders
evacution a difficult and delicate task.
In one case. a woman refused to
abandon her vineyard declaring that
her whole life had been given over to
its cultivation. that its existence was
her existence and its death her death
They endeavored to carry her away
but she rushed back to the trees and
embraced and kissed them singly, call
ing them her children. When. finally
she was removed, 1t was found she
had lost her reason.
yrI- of tho n a hit anfa he
gan soon after the first eruption and
a steady line has been slowly travel
ing in the direction of safety for the
last two days When they started
IRON their home, the people were
loaded with household treasures, but
gradually along the road these have
s abandoned.
Priests Chant Prayers.
Village priests, bearing crucifixes
or the statue of the patron saint. ac
company the sad procession and en-
courage the parishioners. The SOUND
Of chanted prayers rises above th'
rumbings of the eruption and the
patter Of falling stones and cinders
The stricken people seem in dumb
despair, hardly conscious Of whittier
they are going, invoking the saints
and inquiring tremulously, What
have we done to be visited by this
awful scourge?"
solemn service invoking mere,
was held In the ancient beech for
est at Castigllone. owing to th'
shade of the trees and the darkness
caused by the ashes the light was to-
feeble for the reading of the gospe
and torches were utilized. The near
ness of the stream of lava was suci
that before the end of the service tn
edge of the forest caught fire; tn
air was so hot and yitiated by sui
phurous fumes that breathing wa
difficult and some OF the people Wer
so alarmed at the danger that the!
started TO depart, at which the oil
priest officiating rebuked them AM
heightened the service by addini
prayers for the faint hearted
King to Direct Rescue.
The news that King Victor En-
manuel is starting Immediately 70
the scene Of the disaster TO shar
their perils and direct the work .
rescue has given much cheer to tn
Svvdople. Mindful Of the pope's orders
tTurn to Page Two. Column Four)
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