The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-07-24
The Eruption ON Hawaii. '


The Eruption on Hawaii. V
On the evening of the 18th of August, 1856, about
10 O'Clock, a small light, apparently of burning
brushwood or grass, was seen near the top Of Mauna
Loa, which rapidly increased until the whole heaven
reflected its.brightness, and turned the night int
day. So bright was it towards morning, that fine
newspaper print could easily be read by the light
1t was certain that some unusual eruption had begun
This light continued, varying in brightness fol-
weeks; sometimes a dense smoky atmosphere obscur-
ed it wholly, but when clear, the sight as seen by
vessels at sea, is represented to have been grand be.
yond description
The seat of this eruption, which is in the old ira
ditional crater of Mokuaweoweo, is on the north OF
northwesterly side of Mauna Loa, some l., 1000 feet
above the sea, and 1000 feet below tie summit, and
In a region rarely visited by man. Kilauea, the old.
open crater is on the opposite side of the mountain.
and some 1900 feet lower. 1t is not a little singular
that the old crater should remain in just about the
same state, without overfowing, while here is a new
vent some $500 feet higher, and only about 80
miles from it. Does not this show that the mountain,
instead of being one huge boiling cauldron of molten
matter, is divided into vast chambers or ducts, into
some of which the water from the sea finds access,
causing steam whose powerful agency forces out the
molten lava, while to other chambers the water finds
no access. Otherwise, how ia it possible that this
immense overflow of lava can have any connection
with the old crater. But it is i impossible to look with
in this vast mountain and see its internal structure,
and we are only left to conjecture.
From the new crater the descent being very rapid,
the lava stream rolled down very quick and seems to
have reached the plains lying between Mauna Loa
and Mauna Kea in a few hours. Here its progress
was slower but still fast until it reached the forests.
These forests form a belt around the mountains and
generally begin from two to four miles from the sea,
and extend up the sides Of the mountains from 20 to
80 miles. They are like all tropical forests, almost
impenetrable to man or beast, and form a temporary
check to the stream of lava from the ~craters.
The molten stream, as it first burst from the new
opening, and rolled down the precipice and over
huge rocks, must have been q magnificent sight.
When it first appeared it was seen thus flowing like a
river, but after some days the crust cooled and the
lava flowed beneath.
During the first three months there did not appear
to be any change in the force of the eruption, or
amount of lava discharged. The stream in all it's
windings must be about 65 miles long, the lower part
coming within five or six miles of Hilo. It varies
from three to ten miles in width, sometimes branch
ing off and then running together, forming Islands.
The depth of the stream of course varies. AS the lava
runs along, it fills up the Irregularities in the sur
face, and must be in different localities from 20 to
800 feet in depth.
To illustrate better the track Of the lava, and show
our readers at home and abroad how large a surface
fthe island has been covered, we have procured a
map of Hawaii, engraved by our townsman Mr.. Bur-
CESS, which will show it at q glance, the dark portion
being the course of the stream. The track over
which the lava has flowed must remain for ever a
barren waste, on which neither blade of grass nor
shrub will ever be found. The area overiowed must
be at least 200, 900 acres.
We cannot give a better description of the beauty
and novelty of this grand sight than by quoting from
the ": Y. Tribune Mr.. Coan's account of his trip
to the crater in October, 1856.
Taking the channel of a stream which enters Hilo
Bay as our path, we advanced with much toll through
the dense jungle along its banks, and rested at night
at the roots of an ancient tree-Eaving made about
twelve miles. The next day We made about twelve
miles more, for the most part in the rocky bed of the
stream, the water being low. Volcanic smoke filled
the forest, and charred leaves came floating on the
breeze, and falling into the wild channel we were
threading. At night, when the shades gathsRed over
these deep solitudes, unbroken save by the Believing
of the mountain bull, the barking of the wild dog, the
grunt of the forest boar, the wing and the note ofthe
restless bird, the chirping of the insect, the falling OF
a tlme-worn tree, the gurgling OF the rill, and the
wild roar of the cataract, we made our little bed of
ferns under the trunk of a PROSTATE tree, and here,
for e first time, we found that the molten stream
had passed us in the jungle on our left, and was now
many miles below US on its way to Hio. But we
would not retreat, and as the jungle was nearly i'm
penetrable In the direction of the stream, we pursued
our upward way in the bed of the river till Il 2. NJ.
on the third day, when we found ourselves out of the
forest, and on the high plateau at the base of the
mountain. cannot stop to describe the beautiful,