New Crater Belching Now

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 13

New Crater Belching Now

ETNA ERUPTION GOES ON

Terrible Trail of Desolation

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Monday. A GRAPHIC picture of Etna’s desolation has been specially cabled to the “Evening Standard” from Sicily. The disaster has rendered 5,000 families homeless, has wiped out three towns, 760 houses and 2,700 acres of seven years’ wine crop. It lias withered one of the world’s richest lemon-tree valleys, has buried bridges, railways and roads.

The eruption continues unabated. Great clouds of smoke and fire are issuing from a new crater far from the summit. The correspondent followed a lava stream for six miles to its starting place a few hundred yards from the crater, where the intense heat brought him to a standstill. , “A smoke pall a mile high overhangs the crater. Now and again a gigantic wall of fire sweeps skywards. The a'« is thick with small pellets and holrocks. A red wave spills over .the edge and forces its way downward. Each gust adds 1,000 tons to the stream, which means that it progresses at least five yards further. After a five hours’ walk I reached Maseali. Here a solid wall 100 feet high stands vertically across the onetime town square. Only seven houses are left. . “Meanwhile the stream is flowing on eastward. The roar and’smoke is unceasing, as trees and isolated houses are devoured.

“Carraba 5s as yet untouched, although its doom is sealed. The lava to-day reached its outskirts. It is difficult to induce the peasants to leave. The evacuation is a more pathetic sight than the desolation. “It is impossible to forecast a cessation. Last night was more quiet; to-day the volcano was most active. ‘The township of Giarre must be saved at all costs. Happily the danger is not immediate. The stream will probably reach the sea and form g new headland, just as a neighbouring headland was formed 4,000 years ago.” WORST SINCE 1669 GLOOMY FORECAST MADE PEOPLE’S RELIGIOUS FERVOUR

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. noon. ROME, Monday. Professor Ponte estimates that Etna has yet to disgorge twice as much lava as has hitherto swept the country. He regards the disaster as the worst since 1669, when an eruption lasted nearly a year. Nunziata has now been blotted out. A feature of the eruption is its electrical nature. On Saturday terrific explosions occurred among the clouds of cinders, followed by whirlwinds. The religious fervour of the people in the devastated regions has redoubled. The votive offerings at the altars include precious stones and workmen’s tools. Pious processions of people carrying images and relics take place amid awe-inspiring scenes. These are lit at night by torches and by the glow of the molten lava. In such an atmosphere a statue of the Madonna of Annunciation was brought out at midnight and placed facing the advancing lava. The people in the procession knelt on the ground and implored the Madonna to intercede with the Almighty. They pleaded for a miracle to stop the incessant eruption. These efforts were unavailing and finally the statue was hurriedly loaded on a lorry and driven off to avoid its destruction. Reports from Catonia state that, notwithstanding the eruption of Mount Etna, the people of Sicily loyally celebrated King Victor Emmanuel’s birthday. This .coincides with the armistice on the Italian front.