Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/79

 But besides this mischief from poisonous Exhalations, Stagnation of the Air, or Water impregnated with minerall spirits, they sometimes perish by other ways. For there being in these Mines an incredible mass of wood to support the Pitts and the Horizontal passages, (the Putei and Cuniculi in all places but where 'tis Rocky, men are sometimes destroy'd by the wood set on fire. And in the Gold-mine at Chremnitz, the wood was once set on fire by the carelesness of a boy, and 50. Miners smothered thereby; who were all taken out but one, that was alterwards round to be dissolv'd by the Vitrioll water, nothing escaping either of flesh or bones but only some of his cloaths. I am &c.


 * Vienna April. 20 1669.

He present Fire of Ætna, (whereof there was lately a Relation printed here in the Savoy) will make it appear not unseasonable to reflect back upon former Ages, and to collect from History the severall Eruptions hapned there, together with the times of them, and some observations recorded by Authors concerning the same.

To pass by what is related by Berosus, Orpheus and other less credible Authors, about the Eruptions oi this Mountain, both at the time of the ingress of the Ionian Colonies into Sicily, and that of the Argonautes (which latter was in the 12th Age before the Christian account;) we shall first take notice of that, which happen'd at the time of the Expedition of Æneas, who being terrified by the fire of this then burning Mountain, left that Island; whereof Virgil l. 3. Æneid. gives this notable description; Portus ab acceßu ventorum immotus et ingens, Ipse sed horrificis juxta tonat Ætna ruinis, Interdumque etiam prorumpit ad æthera nubem Turbine fumantem picco et candente favillá. Attolitque globos flammarum, et sidera lambit.''
 * ''Ignarique via, Cyclopum allabimur oris,

Rh