The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-24
VER|TABLE H [ | | bRAVELy ENTERED BY w \ I | \ M \ N Fights Way Through Scorch-
 ing Heat To Mouth
 Of Etna THOUSANDS FLEE WHILE HE MARCHES INTO FIRE Gives Graphic Description Or Heat, Poison Gas And
 Showers Of Ashes

CATINIA, Italy, June 23.-Lado Barbagalio, watchman of Mt. Etna observatory, will live among the heroes of Sicily as the man who sealed the burning mountain side and returned to tell what he saw.
 Fifteen gaping mouths spoutin { glowing streams of molten rock. . huge crack emitting geysers of fire more than 150 feet high. springs vom- iting rivers of hot lava, wero Ot- served by this Dante of real life.
 Though the observatory was aban- bagallo braved the scorching heat, poison gases and showers Of hot ashes to climb to te central crater and report back hope to the fleeing, homeless natives.
 While thousands of refugees were Hooking away from the sinister mountain and while lava was engulf- ing whole towns. farms and vine- yards, Barbagallo went into the thick of a veritable hell of fire and brim- stone, and made observations.
 Tells His Experience.
 "On the morning of June 21," he said, T succeeded in climbing to the central crater.
 T noticed that ono of tho cones, which had been inactive since 1918, Is now in a state of violent eruption.
 One section of the conc has crashed in, and has been transformed into a large crack which necessarily enits tongues of flame more than 15o feet high"
 Peering over the lip of the crater, despite the fact that portions of 1t frequently broke off and tumb1ed into tho fiery cauldron yawning beneath. Barbagallo watched this blazing en- trance to the burning interior of the aa;1 l.x masses of grayish smoke and thick clolds of ashes were spurted from the Assure. The main crater has been enlarged until its lip Is only a few yards from the cone and threatens to engulf 1t.
 The mouth which opened in 1911 is inactive" Parbagallo reported. "On observed a Assure 500 yards long. It's central section contains 15 craters, which are emitting white smoke only.
 At the western end of the Assure a vast mouth emits thick column of black smoke. This phenomenon is accompanied by very heavy rum bling.
 Fifteen EruptfnE Mouths.
 Between Mont Erero and Mont Eipizillo I saw an eruptive apparatus consisting of 15 mouths, from which lncdHueScenl SlTeafnS were issuing.
 Near these mouths were two lava springs, giving forth continuous stream of molten rock. The smaller stream Is advancing slowly north ward, but the larger, which Is more fluid, and. therefore, moves with more speed, is rolling southward in the direction of the town of Lingua- glossas It is this stream which is causing the most damage"
 With the lava streams now travel ing at a snail's pace, danger of fur ther devastation has almost passed. according to scientists.
 Some of the rivulets are station ary During the past ten hours the Advance has totaled only 15 meters. At this rate of progress 1t will re- quire two weeks for the lava to reach Linguaglossa. Two days ago it was feared Linguaglossa would meet the fate that overlook Q half dozen smaller towns.
 Relief work is on in full blast in the devastated area. American Am bassador Child has made a thorough survey of the region and Is expected to make a report and recommends tions to Washington. High Italian officials are on the ground directing the work.