Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-07

Interesting reports appear Of the progress of the
grand eruption on the Island of Hawaii. The la
test accounts from the scene of the fiery visitation
are dated March 6. The spectacle is said to have
been sublime beyond anything of the kind ever
witnessed. The eruption exceeds in grandeur
any OF the volcanic commissions of Mauna Loa
ever before seen by white on the Islands,
We subjoin accounts ofits action from the POLY
nesidn:
"We have received verbal information in re-
gard to the state of the eruption as late as to the
9th instant, from the leeward side of Hawaii
At that date the light from the flowing current
was as bright as it had been at any former period
sufficient to enable person to pick up needle
from the ground at midnight, from which fact the
inference is drawn that the current is still flowing
on toward the sea.
"lhe eruption seems to have broken out
through an old assure, about one-third down the
side of Manua Loa, on the northwest side, and
not from the old crater on the summit called Mo-
kuoweoweo The altitude of the present erup-
ton is about 10000 feet above the level of the sea-
and, from the bay of Hilo, (Byron's bay,) must
be fifty Or sixty miles. If it succeed in
reaching the ocean at the point supposed, after
having filled up all the ravines, gulches, and ine-
qualities OF very broken country, it will undoubt-
eddy be one of the most extensive eruptions of
modern times
cit would seem, from the last note from Mr..
Coan, that the stream had divided-one part ia
king an easterly course towards Puma, while the
other took northerly towards Hilo. This
may so divide the volume of lava that neither
branch will reach the sea; but, fromthe latest ac-
counts, the northerly branch was still burning its
way through dense forest, and if the supply
holds out long enough, it will naturally fall into
the course of the Waikiki river, and follow it
to where it disembogues into the bay at Hilo.-
We anxiously wait further intelligence"
An abstract from a correspondents letter, in
the PoLynesian, is of so much interest that we
copy it entire. A jet of lava playing five hundred
feet in air must indeed be magnificent and sub
lime sight.
"By an accurate measurement of the enormous
jet OF glowing lava, where it first broke forth on
the side of the Manua Loa, twas ascertained to
be five hundred feet high This was upon the
superstition that it was thirty miles distant. We
are of the opinion that it was greater distance,
say from forty to sixty miles. With glass; the
play of this jet at mig distinctly Observed and
more sublime sight can scarcely be imagined
A column OF molten lava, glowing with the most
intense heat, and projecting into the air to dis
lance Five hundred feet, was sight so rare, and
at the same time SO awfully grand, as to excite
the most lively feelings of awe and admiration,
even when viewed at distance of forty or fifty
miles. How much more awe-inspiring would it
have been at a distance of one or two miles,
where the sounds accompanying such an eruption
could have been heard. The fall of such a COL
umn would doubtless cause the earth to trembe
and the roar ofthe rushing mass would have been
like the mighty waves of the ocean beating upon
a rock bound coast.
'The diameter of this jet is supposed to be
over one hundred feet; and this we can easily be-
lieve when we reflect that from it proceeded the
river of lava that flowed off from it toward the sea-
In some places this river is mile wide, and in
others more contracted. At some points it has
filled up ravines one hundred, two hundred, and
three hundred feet in depth, and still it flowed on
1t entered heavy forest and the giant growth of
centuries is cut down before it like grass before the
mowers scythe No obstacle can arrest it in its
descent to the sea. Mounds are covered over, IA
vines are filled up, forests destroyed, and tho
habltatlons OF man are consumed like flax in the |
furnace. Truly He toucheth the Mills, and
they smoke
1--WE have not yet heard of any destruction of
life from the eruption now in progress. rumor
has reached us that small native village has been
destroyed, but of this we have no authentic in
telligence. Should it reach the sea without de
stroying life or property, it will be matter of
thanktulness and almost unhoped for exemption |
large number of the residents of Honolulu la
had gone Hawaii to witness the upheavings of
Manua Loa.