MOUNT ETNA IN FULL SWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8986, 17 September 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOUNT ETNA IN FULL SWING.

IS THE WORLD BURNING OUT ! The eruption of Etna continues with unabated violence, and the lava streams that continue to flow down the sides of the mountain have wrought enormous damage among the vine and fruit groves around the base. The first manifestations of violent activity that have been observed since 1886 were apparent at 10.30 p.m. on the Bth July, when the central crater burst into flame and ejected a quantity of fine sand, cinders, and bombs. This continued with unabated vigour until the following day at 2.33 in., when a strong earthquake having an undulatory movement from north to south was folt, after which all action in the main vent subsided. About midday volumes of steam and smoke were seen to issue from the vicinity of Monte Nero on the southern slopes, in close proximity to the spot where the eruption of 1886 had its origin ; and a few hours afterwards a stream of lava slowly made its way down the sides, in some parts striking oub an entirely new course, and in others keeping to the old beds and completely enveloping the lava of the 1886 eruption. During the last three clays three lava streams have burst out in tho same part of the mountain, and have ontirely surrounded the cones of Monte Grosse, Monte Albano, Monte Gemollaro, and Monte Montnnaro. On the 15th inst., the crater which first gave rise to the eruption ceased its action altogether, but at the moment of writing the other five craters that have been formed lower down are all in violent activity. From three of these the lava is being ejected in a copious and continuous stream, but the other two are intermittent in their action, alternately ejecting lava, and belching forth dense volumes of steam, scoria), and bombs. The rate of the descent of the lava varies from 56 to 80 metres per hour, anil great anxiety is therefore being felt in the villages around the base of the mountain, especially at Borello, Belpasso, and Nicolosi, at the last of which towns preparations are being made in case a rapid exit of tho inhabitants should be rendered necessary. The lava has already overwhelmed many farms, orchards, and vineyards, and has irreparably ruined many valuable properties in its vicinity. As evening approaches the outline of the mountain gradually disappears from the view, and the burning craters and the seething lava streams make their presence known by the lurid reflections which they cast against tho night sky, and against the steam clouds that surround them. Tho various excrescencosinthotmmediate vicinity of the main vents then appear as so many black, fantastically-shaped monsters standing invulnerable amid the seething masses of flame, while the courses of tho lava streams themselves can be traced by the sinuous linos of living fire that radiate in all directions from the seat of tho eruption. Every now and again long tongues of flame dart upwards into the darkness of night and illuminate the country for miles around, alternating with occasional showers of white-hot ashes and live bombs, the heat, the glare, and noise of explosion of which seem to represent the very embodiment of what one's idea of a colossal pandemonium would be. For thousands upon thousands of years has this huge chimney of the earth, two miles in circumference, poured forth its volumes of smoke, slowly burning away tho interior of our world, thereby reducing its density and gravity and belching forth what it cannot consume. Will tho fire become extinguished, and the inherent heat in the planet disappear, and with it all vitality, as in the case of the moon, or will the flames find fuel to the end when, with a crash, population, civilisation, and all creation will collapse into the cauldron ?—Times.