MIRACLE WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 269, 13 November 1928, Page 7

MIRACLE WANTED.

ETNA ERUPTION

Twice As Much Lava Yet To Be Disgorged. FERVENT SUFFERERS. (Australian and N.Z. Prrss Association.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) ROME, November 12. 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 it lasted nearly a year.

Nunziata is now blotted out. A feature of the eruption is its electrical nature. On Saturday terrific explosions occurred among clouds of cinders, followed by whirlwinds.

The religious fervour of the people in the regions, devastated by the eruption of Mount Etna 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 torch'es 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.