one of Monte Rossi and destroyed a large part of the city
of Catania. It happened in the year 1669, and was preceded by an
earthquake, which overthrew the town of Nicolosi, situated ten miles
inland from Catania, and about twenty miles from the top of Etna. The
eruption began with the sudden opening of an enormous fissure, extending
from a little way above Nicolosi to within about a mile of the top of
the principal cone, its length being twelve miles, its average breadth
six feet, its depth unknown.

We have a more detailed account of this eruption than of any preceding
one, as it was observed by men of science from various countries. The
account from which we select is that of Alfonso Borelli, Professor of
Mathematics in Catania.

From the fissure above mentioned, he says, there came a bright light.
Six mouths opened in a line with it and emitted vast columns of smoke,
accompanied by loud bellowings which could be heard forty miles off.
Towards the close of the day a crater opened about a mile below the
others, which ejected red-hot stones to a considerable distance, and
afterward sand and ashes which covered the country for a distance of
sixty miles. The new crater soon vomited forth a torrent of lava which
presented a front of two miles; it encircled Monpilieri, and afterward
flowed towards Belpasso, a town of 8,000 inhabitants, which was speedily
destroyed. Seven mouths of fire opened around the new crater, and
in three days united with it, forming one large crater 800 feet in
diameter. All this time the torrent of lava continued to descend, it
destroying the town of Mascalucia on the 23d of March. On the same day
the crater cast up great quantities of sand, ashes and scoriae, and
formed above itself the great double-coned hill now called Monte Rossi,
from the red color of the ashes of which it is mainly composed.

VILLAGES AND CITIES BURIED

On the 25th very violent earthquakes occurred, and the cone above the
great central crater was shaken down into the crater for the fifth time
since the first century A. D. The original current of lava divided
into three streams, one of which destroyed San Pietro, the second
Camporotondo, and the third the lands about Mascalucia and afterward the
village of Misterbianco. Fourteen villages were altogether destroyed,
and the lava flowed toward Catania. At Albanelli, two miles from the
city, it undermined a hill covered with cornfields and carried it
forward a considerable