The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-06
Correspondence ofthe n. Y. Tribune.
ERUPTION OF MAUNA LOA.


On my return to this place from Honolulu
a few weeks since, found an immense volca-
mic eruption in progress, on tue base Of Mauna
Loa. arrived on Friday, Feb. rs, and on
the Monday following started with Rev. Mr..
Kinney to visit the new volcano. We took
tour natives with us, TO carry our provisions
and clothes for since the region through
whicb.w we passed is an uninhabited wilderness,
We had to provide against hunger and cold,
sleeping in eaQoes and ,wigwams Of our own
construction. We were two days and hall
reaehlng tAe crater, a distance Of seventy
Z 50 - lss from Mr.. kinney station, vi
walked most Of the way.
Weheard the roaring Of the volcano at th
distance OF forty or fifty miles, and saw it
smoke as 1t arose in an immense column a
the base, and spread out into a magnificent
arch above, presenting a grand appearance
| especially at night, when lighted ab by the
masses or red hot lava below. But no language
can describe the scene which opened upon us
when; on approaching within about two miles
OF the new crater, we ascended an eminence
which overlooked both the crater and the
river of fire that flowed from it down the
mountain side. Our emotions were those OF
mingled admiration, surprise and terror -
There played af0ERtaiH 0fEiQHtdf fire Of such
dimensions and such a constant and deafening
roar, that no picture OF the classic realms OF
Pluto, drawn by GrGcian or Roman hand can
give you any adequate conception OF Its gran
deur A few figures may assist your imagin-
alton in its attempts to paint the scene.
made the following calculations after careful
observations during nearly twenty four hours
from different points within a mile OF the
crater, and after deliberate discussion with
Mr.. Kinney and companion, with different
objects around us. Some of these calculations
have been confirmed by somewhat accurate
measurement by Mr.. Lyman, OF Hilo.
The diameter Of the crater, which has been
entirely formed by this eruption, is about
900 feet, its hight from 100 to $50 feet
One part of the crater was raised SO feet dur
the column Of red-hot liquid lava, constantly
sustained above the crater, varies from 200 to
| 700 feet, seldom falling below 300. Its
diameter is from 100 to 800 feet, and rarely
perhaps reaching 400 feet. The motions Of
this immense jet of fire were beautiful in the
extreme, far surprising all the possible beauties
OF any water fountain which can be canCeived
constantly varying in from, in dimensions, il
color and intensity; sometimes shooting up ant
tapering of like a symetrlCal Gothic spirC
7UO feet high; then rising in one grand mass
800 feet in diameter, and varied on the to
and sides by points and Jets, like the orna
ments Of Gothic architecture. The Ne'
Yorker who, as he gazes on the beautiful spin
OF Trinity Church, can imagine its dimension
increased thFee-fold, and Its substance con
verted into red hot lava, in constant agitation
/ may obtain tolerable idea Of one aspect
this terrific fire fountain. But he shOul
stand at the foot OF Niagara Falls, or on Il
/ rocky shore of the Atlantic, when the sea
lashed by tempest, in order to get the mo
terrific element in this sublime composite
OF the Great Artist. For you may easily col
/ lecture that the dynamieal force necessary
raise 2OO 900 to 800 900 tuns of lava at on
into the air would not be silent in its oper
tipns.
But Unjust desist. A volume would not col
tam all the thoughts | could write you upC
, this topic.
/ The eruption Of which have written brol
outon the morning Of the 18th Of March,
about o'clOck, and continued twenty day
| The crater is situated on the base of Maui
Loa, about 50 miles from tlilo, and % fro
the old crater Of Kilanea. Its hight, abo
the sea- is about 1000 feet. It has formed
, stream, winding down the mountain sid
with several branches 80 or 40 miles Ion
, IRON one-f0urth to two miles broad, having
depth, IN some places, Of 200 or 800 feet.
was e the crater when the action was the mo
intense, and judged the amount Of la'
! thrown out Of the crater and the several foul
talas below was not less than one tun secon
during the day and night was there, and +
several do. . before and after it. The people!
tilio were much alarmed, at one time, as Il
ave streams was flowing toward them. b
could they have seen the configuration Of u
country above them, as | did, they would ha'
1opnd their fears of danger from the la1
stream to begroundless as it could not reac
taem without running over quite. an elevate
spur Of Mauna Loa, or, otherwise, rdnnln
Of Puma, In the first place, il must .violat
the laws Of fluids ana run up hill; and in th
second place, it would seek the sea IN PUN
rather than turn back toward Hilo., But u
danger is now past; the grand exhibition
! 'closed. Where the next will open we kno