Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-08-11
A Great Volcano.

A Great Volcano.
| The Missionary Herald FOR the present mont,
contains a letter from Mr. Coan, Mss;onarv
stationed at the Sandwich Islands, giving an in
leresiing description of the great crater a, Kill
auea The scene which he thus vividlv de-
scribes, must have presented one of the most
grand, sublime and terrific objects in nature:
"On the 3Oth of May the people of Puma OBJ
served the appearance of smoke and fire in the
INTERIOR mountainous and deSolate region of
that district. Thinking that the fire might be
the burning of some jungle, they took little no.
tice of It, until the next day, Sabbath, when the
meetings In the different villages were thrown
into confusion by sudden and grand exhibitions
of fire, on scale so large and fearful, as to
leave them no room TO doubt the cause of the
phenomenon. The fire augmented during the
day and night; but it did not seem to flow
off rapidly in any direction. All were in con-
siernation, as it was expected that the motion
flood would pour itself down from its height of
! four thousand feet to the coast, and no one
knew to what point it would 1ow or what de-
vastation would attend its fiery course On
| Monday, June lst, the stream began to flow off
in northeastery direction, and on the follow
ing Wednesday, June Sd, at evening, the burn
ing river reached the sea, having averaged about
half mile an hour in its progress. Tie
pidity of the flow was very unequal, having
been modified by the inequalities of the surface,
over which the stream passed. Sometimes it
is supposed to have moved miles an hour and
at other times, owing 10 distractions, making
no apparent progress, except in 1ling up deep
vallies, and in swelling over or breaking away
hills and precipices.>
But will return to the source Of The erup-
ton. This is in forest, and in the bottom of
an ancient wooded crater, about four hundred
feet deep, and probably eight miles east from
Kilauea. The region being uninhabited and
covered with a thicket, it was some time before
the place was discovered, and up to this time,
though several foreigners have attempted ii, no
one except myself, has reached the spot. From
Kilauea to this place the lava flows in a subter-
ranean channel, probably at the depth of thou
sand feet but its course can be distinctly traced
all the way, by the rending Of the crust Of the
earth into innumerable fssures, and by the
emission of smoke, steam and gases. The erup-
tion in this old crater is small and from this
place the stream disappears again for the dis
tance of mile or two, when the lava again
gushed up and spread over an area of about fit-
ty acres. Again it passes under ground foriwo
or three miles, when it re-appears IN another
old wooded crater, consuming the forest and
partly filling up the basin. Once more it dis
appears, and flowing in a subterranean channel,
cracks and breaks the earth, opening assures
from six inches to ten or twelve feet IN width,
and sometimes splitting the trunk of tree so
exactly that its legs stand astride at the assure
At some places il is impossible TO trace the sub
terranean stream on account of the impeneira-
BILE thicket under which 1t passes. After flow
ing under ground several miles, perhaps SIX or
!, eight, it again broke out like an overwhellng
flood, and sweeping forest, hamlet, plantation,
and every thing before it, rolled down with re-
sistless energy TO the sea, where leaping pre-
cipice of forty or fifty feet, it poured itself IN
one vast cataract of fire into the deep below,
with loud detonations, fearful hssings, and
thousand unearthly and indescribable sounds.
Imagine to yourself river OF fused minerals,
of the breadth and depth of Niagara, and OF a
deep CORY red, falling, in one emblazoned sheet,
one raging torrent, into the ocean! The scene,
as described by eye-wiinesses was truly SUBJ
lime. Two mighty agencies in collision! Two
antagonist, and gigantic forces in contact, and
producing effects on scale inconcelyablr
grand! The atmosphere in all directions, was
filed with ashes, spray, gases, ETC., while thB
burning lava. as it fell ino the water, was Ssir-
cred into millions of minute particles, and baHtt
thrown back into the air, fell IN showers Of saat
on all the surrounding country. The coast was
extended into the sea for quarter OF mile,
and pretty sand beach and a new cape was
, formed Three hills of scoria and sand were
) also formed in the sea, and the lowest about
a 200 and the highest about 800 feet.
. For three weeks this terrific river disgorged
n itself into the sea with little abatement. Mu-
q litudes of fishes were killed. and the waters o.!
a the ocean were heated for twenty miles alqp.s
Q the coast The breadth of the stream, where y
fell into the sea, is about half mile, bpl IN a"'