NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 3 July 1879, Page 2

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

SPECIAL TO THE POST. TERRIFIC ERUPTION OF MOUNT ETNA. TREMENDOUS FLOODS OF LAVA. THIRTY NEW CRATERS BROKEN OUT. HUGE VOLUMES OF ASHES. VAST DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. The volcano Mount Etna is in full eruption. Three new craters have appeared near the town of Randazzo, at the north-west foot of the mountain. Streams of lava are flowing down the western slope of the mountain. Several villages are threatened with destruction, and there is great alarm among the inhabitants. Messina has suffered somewhat from the showers of cinders. The three new craters are disposed in the form of a triangle, and are a mile apart from each other. The stream of lava is 80 yards broad, and has already run a distance oi four miles. Catania, 30th May. A fresh cra'er has opened, endangering Bianca, Villa Randazzo, and Castiglione. Clouds of ashes overhang the whole of Piedmont, which is in almost total darkness. Rome, Ist June. Thirty new craters have opened at Mount Etna. They cover several square miles, and all pour forth lava. The flood of lava is now very extensive, and streaming towards the River Alcantra, devastating the village of Abio. A long continuance of the eruption appears probable. Messina, 2nd Juno. The eruption of Mount Etna continues. A considerable portion of the bed of the Alcantra river is now covered by the lava. The damage to agriculture is already very serious. The inhabitants have been forced to abandon tillage at Mejo. The detonations are frequent and very loud. Rome, 2nd June. Mount Etna is now ejecting enormous volumes of ashes. The destruction of property is immense. The Commune of Mejo has been completely obliterated, and Cassello is seriously threatened. Many large and valuable estates have been utterly destroyed. The four main craters continue to pour forth streams of lava, while many of the smaller ones have become inactive. The stream of lava which has interrupted the road at Pas^a Piekaro is half a mile wide and 100 feet deep. Mbssiha, 7th June. The eruption of Mount Etna is diminishing. The spreading of the lava flood has almost ceased, althuugh one stream continues to flow towards the river Alacantra at an average rate of about fourteen yard 3 per hour. Loud rumbling and intense smoke continue, and it is feared that the lull is only temporary.