Word: lavas
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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Streams. The lava formed three main streams. One slid north-east over Nunziata, one east over Mascali to Carrabba, one southwards to Giarre and toward Catania...
...lava advanced inch by inch. As it slid forward it cooled and made a wall which checked the lava behind it. Sometimes this wall slowly mounted to a height of 50 feet...
...gray crinkled hide of an elephant. At night it was an arabesque pattern of vermilion, magenta, citron. Then the top of the wall would curl like a malevolent phosphorus wave. With a crash as of metallic surf it would topple, advance, cool, form another wall. For some reason the lava moved more swiftly at night. Even from Messina, at the northern tip of Sicily, it could be seen slipping down Etna, like a tiny blazing snake...
...beasts screeched. Cats, fascinated, stood fast facing Etna's black jelly until it caught their fore paws. Then the cats could not drag themselves free, could not bound away. Birds swooped inquisitively towards the moving earth, were paralyzed by the heat and vapors, tumbled down into the mess. Lava buried...
...Nunziata or south to Carrabba and Giarre. But many refused to leave their homes so swiftly. Here and there a bedfast invalid screamed foolishly. Many were crazed, stupefied by the fumes. Three, a grandfather, a father and a son. suddenly broke away, rushed into their house. Streams of lava trickled on all sides barring exit. Agonized onlookers saw them climb to the roof, stare stupidly at the Wall. The Wall broke. The three peasants, dead, were held fast and straight by the lava which coiled and recoiled about their knees. The lava slid up to their shoulders, and above their...