Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-13
The Eruption Of Mauna Loa.

Interesting reports appear Of the progress
of the grand eruption on the Island Of Hawaii
The latest accounts from the scene of the fer,
visitation are dated March 6. The spectaci,
Is said to have been sublime beyond any thins
OF the kind ever witnessed The eruption ex
ceeds IN grande1r any Of the volcanic convu
sions OF Nauna Loa ever before seen by white
men on the Islands. We subjoin accounts oil
Its action from the Polynesian:
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 Ha.
wal. AT that date the light from the flowing
current was r. 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
I'll he eruption seems to have broken out
through an old fssure, about one third down
the side of Mauna Loa, on the northwest side.
and not from the old crater on the summit.
called Moknoweo-weo The altitude of the
present eruption is about 10, 900 feet above the
ievel OF the sea, and, from the bay of Hilo,
tByron's bay.) must be some fifty or sixty miles.
II 1t succeed in reaching the ocean at the poin,
supposed after having filed up all tho ravines
gulches' and inequalities ola very broken coun-
try, 1t will undoubtedly be one ofthe most ex
tensive eruptions of modern times.
1t would seem, from the last note from Mr.
Coan, that the stream had divided-one mar,
taking an easterly course towards Puma, while
the other took notherly one TOW ards Hilo.-
This may SO divide the volume of lava that
neither branch will reach the sea; but, from the
latest accounts the northernly branch was still
burning ITS way through dense forest. and if
the supply holds out long enough, it will natu-
rally fall into the course of the Wailuku river,
and follow it to where it dsembogues into the
bay at Hlo. We anxiously wait further intel
ligence."
An abstract from correspondents letter in
the PolyoestaR, is Of ID much n;ares. that We
copy i entire. A JET oflava playing FIVE hun
dred feet IN air must be indeed ] magnificent
and sublime sight:
ny al accurate measurement If tie enor-
nous jel Of glowing lava " here il first broke
forth on the side OF Mauna Loa It was ascer-
tanned 70 be FIVE hundred feet high! This was
upon Tie suPpositlon that it was thirty miles
distant. We are Of the o ini0n that il was a
greater distance, say from forty TO sixty miles.
y lth glass, the play ot this jet at night was
disilucty observed, and more sublime sight
can scarcely be imagined A column Of mol
ten lava, glowing with the most intense heat.
and projecting into the air 70 a distance Or five
hu'dred feet, was ight 70 rare, and at the
same time 50 awfully grand. az to excite the
most lively feelings Of aw ana admiration,
even when viewed at distance Of forty or 6f.
ty miles How MUCH more awe-inspiring
" ould it have been at distance Of one or two
miles, where the sounds accom- panping such al
eruption could have been heard. TIE fall o.
such column would Doubtless cause he earth
to tretnbie; end the roar Of the rushing mas.
would have been like the mighty waves Of the
ocean beating upon rock bound coast/
" ne diameter Of this JET IS supposed to he
oyer one hundred feet and this we can easily
believe when we reflect thatfr il paoceeded
the ris er of lsva that flowed OIL from ttowards
the sea. Ia places this river is mile
wide, and in Others more contracted AT some
points it has Il led up ravilies one hundred, two
hundred. snd three hundred feet IN depth. and
still 1t flows on. Ii entered heavy forest, and
the giant growth Of centuries is cut down BE-
fore !; like grass before the movers scy,he.--