Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-03-04
BATH MAINE THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH A. Bll

which attracted the attention, was great assure
five or six hundred feet from the crater. 1t was
about thirty feet wide, five six hundred feet
long, and from all parts of it constantly issued
immense bodies of steam, so hot that the guides
cooked potatoes over it i'll few minutes. The
steam, meeting the cold air, is condensed, and
not far from the fissure on the north, is heant-
full pond formed from it, that furnishes very good
water and is the only place where 1t occurs ior
many miles The pond is surrounded with
luxuriant trees, and sporting on its surface were
seen large focks of Wild fowl.
1t was now 10 o'clock, and the whole party,
since passing the lake of sulphur, had been
walking over a rugged bed Of lava, and standing
by the side of vast chasms, of iathomless depth.
They had now arrived at the great crater OF
Kirauea eight miles in circumference, and stood
upon the very brink of preciplce, from which
they looked down more than thousand feet into
a horrid gulf where the elements Of nature
seemed warning against each other. Huge
masses of fire were seen rolling and tossing like
I the billowy From its volcanic cones, con-
tinually burst lava, glowing with the most intense
heat. Kissing, rumb)ing, agonizing sounds came
from the very depths of the dread abyss, and
dense clouds of smoke and steam rolled from the
| crater.
! Such awful, thrilling sights and sounds were
almost enough to make the stoutest heart recoil
with horror and shrink from the purpose of de-
scending to the great seat of action. But men
who had been constantly engaged in the most
dar inr mi -u,lo whole liyec had
spent on the stormy deep, were not easily de-
TERED from the undertaking.
Each one of the party with staff to test the
safety of the footing, commenced perilous
journey down deep and rugged precipice, some
times almost perpendicular, and frequently inter-
sected with frightfu chasms. In about forty five
minutes they stood upon the floor Of the great
volcano.
Twenty six separate volcanic cones were seen,
rising from twenty to sixty feet; only eight of
them however, were in operation. Up several
of those that were throwing out ashes, cnders,
red hot lava, and steam, they assembled, and so
near did they approach to the crater of one, that
with their canes they dipped out the liquid fire
Into another they threw large masses of scorie,
put "tlS Instantly toSoCu III ihLo tAt dill
A striking spectacle in the crater at this time,
was its lakes of melted lava There was six;
but one, the southwest, occupied more space than
all the others Standing by the side of this, they
looked down more than three hundred feet upon
its surface, glowing with heat, and saw huge bill
lows of fire dash themselves on its rocky shore
whilst columns Of molten lava, sixty or seventy
| . 7
so hot that they were obliged Immediately to
| treat After few minutes the violent struggle
ceased, and the whole surface Of the lake was
changing to black mass of scorie; but the
pause was only to renew its exertions, for while
they were gazing at the change, suddenly the
entire crust which had been formed commenced
cracking, and the burning lava soon rolled across
the lake, heaving the coating its surface, like
cakes of ice upon the oceansurge. Not far from
the centre Of the lake there was an island which
| the lava never TO overflow; but il
rocked like ship upon a stormy sea. The whole
| of these phenomena witnessed by the party
several times but their repetition was always
accompanied with the same effects.
| They now crossed the black and rugged floor
of the crater which was frequently divided by
huge assures, and came to a ridge of lava, down
which they descended about forty feet, and stood
upon a very level plain, occupying one fourth of
the great floor of the crater. This position how
ever was found very uncomfortable to the feet,
| for the fire seen in the numerous cracks that
intersected the plain only one inch from the sur
face. Capt. Chase lighted his cigar in one of
them, and with their walhing-sticks they could
in almost any place pierce the crust, and pene-
trate the liquid FIRE.
Sulphur abounds every where in and around
the volcano; but here the whole side of the
precipice, rising more than thousand feet was
one entire mass of sulphur. They assembled
several feet and were detachng some beautiful
crystallized specimens, when accidentally large
| body of it was thrown down and that rolled into
broad crack of fire and obliged them imme-
diately to retreat for the fumes that rose nearly
suffocated them.
They had now been in the crater more than
five hours, snd would gladly have fingered, but
the last rays of the setting sun were gliding the
cliffs above, and they commenced their journey
upward, which occupied them about one hour
and quarter.
They repaired to their rude hut, and while the
shades of evening were gathering, despatched
their frugal meal Curiosity, however, would moi
allow them to sleep without revisiting the grea
crater. Cropping along, they reached the edge
of the nrecinic nd auair loot cd doyp int, .,,r