The　progressive　rupture　in　brittle　rocks　is　usually　observed　on　both　laboratory　and　field　scales.　However,　there　is　limited　knowledge　on　the　prediction　of　the　progressive　rupture　due　to　its　multi-path　failure　mode.　This　paper　applies　the　statistics　to　the　multi-path　failure　analysis　to　explore　the　predictive　acoustical　behaviors　against　the　energetic　failure　in　brittle　rocks.　To　this　end,　a　uniaxial　compression　test　with　concurrent　monitoring　of　acoustic　emission　(AE)　is　conducted　on　a　large　population　of　flawed　sandstone　specimens.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　damage　progression　in　brittle　rocks　can　be　reflected　faithfully　by　the　AE　event　rate　characteristics.　When　the　macro-fracturing　event　occurs,　the　AE　event　rate　rapidly　increases　to　a　quite　high　level.　More　importantly,　typical　AE　parameters　such　as　AE　energy　are　found　to　be　strong　descriptors　that　can　be　used　in　predicting　the　energetic　failure.　Three　simple　quantitative　AE-based　criteria　are　finally　established　based　on　the　strong　discrimination　in　averaged　AE　parameters　between　the　micro-cracking-dominated　damage　stage　and　the　macro-fracturing-dominated　damage　stage.