The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-24

L. I
Whom hive known nom his youth, and IN whose IN
eigent observations place entire cnnddence, in
ormsc me that be visited Kianea on the Iosh asy
II September, 1855, thIty-one days after the
.r .ption commenced on the top OF the mounsain.
I-lhese observations of Mr. Hawks, il viii be
are msas ror ss wesss the
chasm for eight miles in circumterence-or what
called the black G s been ., molten anu c s
that slope out like bastons into this vast volcanic pitt aud
il had formed tongues and nles of fresh black scora be-
the old promontces Of debris that had washed
down from the decomposing sides Of the precpice In
many places Mr. Hawks said there were openings where
the red hot rock-not aid-wSs visible In = hne o.
lake as is called towards the house on the bank Tor
northeasterly and southwestery the uid lava WAS OBJ
towards the great AXE. Al spot about one third Of the
distance from the bank TO the great lake, was hole
descent Of Is deg and ran at the rate Of TWEEN
ty miles an hour. At the holes between TINS
and the great lake hSnr rs Ths action Of tine
great lake itself intense and the surface Of the lava
only about 80 feet beSw the edge OF the crater
the surface shout 100 feet below the edge and, IS
have before stated, perfectly aaiet and oongealed)
Biio. and an old resident, informed me that he had
visited the crater thirty times in The course q twenty
IN motion aud with current setting across the crater,
and uniformly from the summit OF Kauna Loa toward the
sea, or in a southeasterly direction
Rev, Samuel C. Damon, Seamecs Chaplain at Homo
luu and editor Of the Friend informed me that when he
had visited the crater in Kanea he had observed the
to be moving bodily from Mauns Loa toward the sea.
Such are few data gathered from nteEigens ana re-
liable rsanve 70 rem sdh as npa no
perfect agreement among the observers on the point OF
uniformity Of direction in the molten current but all
agree the main fact Of having observed sort OF tidal
notion action contrary TO that Of complete status
the putonc fluid and In by far the greater number OF
the sea- in southerly southeastery dreston. And
is remarkable coincidence, as suggested by my friend
Archipelago bear from each other and in which they sp
pear to have been successfully elevated.
the crysne crust OF the planet as the dynamical agent
by which continents and ocean bottoms are uplted Is
the main point to which this paper would invite the fu-
In openpc up this grand subject for future and severe
study Go not wish TO harness to any hypothesis; but
a. observations of my and other persons tend to
confirm opinions which heretofore published rea
tive the Of earthquakes and volcanic eruptons,
Ssnced slthoush less broad Than nv own relative to
the cause Of earthquakes, by NJ Alexis Perry Of Hon,
viii add few data which may lead the scientific
mind still farther onward In the Investigation OF the
Of motion in the plutonc fluid constituting, as
geological evidence goes to Show the bulk or the planet
This eematey be done without invading the real ns
OF speculation for when facts become numerous and
potent TO direct the mind to general cause it is
proper TO investigate for truth in that direction without
adopting foregone conclusions.
NJ Alexis Perry supposes the 10 be the Of
earthquakes through tidal action in the molten uuceus
Of the GLOBE because they occur more frequently at the
Zes and inasmuch their frequency augmen1 10 the
vicinity of the moons pergee and dimnishes toward the
In March, 1858, published the opinion that earth
quakes volcanic eruptions and all greater or lesser
changes Of level in the earths crust are s1pernda;sd
Noon Venus Earth and Mars all having similar nequal
ties OF surface must have some general or central cause
for their uniform physical appearances and 3D. because
the frequency OF earthquakes s greatest during the time
when the earth rolling through the perhec portion Of
its orbit and fewest whom in the aphelic.
This opinion would by means exclude the possible
correctness Of NJ Alexis Perrys views but tend TO con
ever on my own that dynamical force-a force
wholly independent Of centrifugal and tidal acton-not
ys; clearly and acting raday r ana
Of the globe and all the planetary bodies super
induced the great central orb around which all revove
ard well demonstrated. While Influences emanaiiag
from the act the whole Of the globe, produc
ing the grandest OF all physical results,ha of its
lasting motion ia determnate orbit-and at the
time its atoms producing the most delicate molecular
phenomena would be unreasonable to suppose that all
inter mediate physical phenomena should depend on some
other cause or power independent Of and not superb
dpced by solar action.
povtant point the physics Of the globe, will present
lew interesting facts to show that earthquakes and voca
mic phenomena are nfepayaby connected with the earhs
motion around the SUM- and that change OF tension
annually induced in the molten nucleus Of the globe
elevated rent shaken, opened for the eruption OF
the plu,orc fluid which rolls and presses underneath
lows through conduts that form, as | will show in
another paper, a sort OF net work throughout II.
Before presenting these data in detail however, will
introduce two or three facts OF an astronomical charactf
for the plrpose OF awakening attention to the extensive
relations 81 geological phenomena, aud showing their pro
bable eonnexion with celestial dynamcs. The triumphs
OF astronomical and mathematical genius have clearly
Illustrated that the earths orbit pcal that the sun,
the 81 eat physical awgyer and ruler occupies one OF
the oci of that epsc and that the earth passes the Dc
rhec point OF It's orbit the last OF December being then
brought 100000 miles 10 the central body
than when passing he apheon the last Of Jpne. For
six months then from the let or October 10 the last OF
March, this planet Is much the than during
the other six months OF the year.
The important geegnosc facts TO follow are highly
worthy OF the attention OF physicists, and the Ia
yesis alton OF the whole subject will be pursued by
sons and Institutions having systematic mean, o. re
law brought TO light which underlcs the basis of this
category OF phenomena
Mr.. Robert Nalei, in a report on earthquake phenome
ma which he made TO the British Association II Ipswca
in 1851 stated that by examination Of his statistic
he mott led that earthquakes occurred frequently in
the winter months han at other timer OF the year
have never seen his statistics and do not know the
rate results Of his computations but the statement drew
my attention TO the subject In 1852 fro is connection
wish other cosmoRfaphcal phenomena, which were then
o matter OF amateur study with me.
Dr. Tschudi from bis researches 10 Peru has stated
that earthquake in that country frequently in
the latter half OF October in November December and
January, and IN Nay and June January s the wort
rafses without convus.on Of thia kind.
During residence or two weeks in Acapulco, 10
1858. ] bad ample opPortunitics TO make inquiries
on this subject and my researches there exhibit
the following actshat during every month in the year
more or Ices earthquake shocks arc felt or
sounds upaecom panied by shocks are beard. But the
heaviest and most frequent shocks experienced from
ootober TO January and The slightest and fewcsi in The
summer months.
Rev Ttu, Coan, Of hawaii has politely communicated
TO me- By letter. the record q earthquakes noted oy Mrs
yman, most reliable missionary LADY, during her resl
dence at nlo from June 1888, TO January, 1856, pc
rod Of 225f years. Hilo s about 80 miles from kauea
the celebrated active volcano The whole number So
There four years during which noted but
FAR recorded the table which have reduced 70 mouth
ly results stands thusFor January 9; February, o:
March, 10 April B.; May, A. June, 8; July q August 6;
September, 4; October, November, 10. December 8;
making for the quarter from October to December 81
29 sut from January 10 March 81 2iin the aggregate
So; for the quarter from April to June so, IL and
from July 10 Sept co. 10 IN the aggregate S5-exhiht
ing difference Of IL favor Of the months during whish
the earth is moving through the perhec portion OF its
orbit
For several years have kept memorandum OF the
occurer - Of earthquakes and volcanic upons and
the whole number amounts TO 295, not including the flo
lst already given Reducing these TO tabular form,
find the monthly results follows For January 81;
February, II March, II April. q May, 20. June ~.