Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-10-27
THE CRATER OF KILAUEA.

The Polynesian laughs at the exploits
of Americans at the crater of Vesuvius,
and for the edifcation of the travelled,
and untraveled, relates some incidents of
the ordinary adventures into the crater Of
Kilauea, al Hawaii:
Very few persons, of either sex, who
visit Kilauea, are at all satisfied with
looking into the crater. To stand upon
the brink and look in, but whets the ap-
petite for the enjoyment of the feast
Down they must go-gentlemen, ladies
and childrenl A precipitOus descent of
thousand feet, sulphurous gases. crum"
bling scoria, red.hot lava and gushing
Jets of fire, have few terrors, when the
spirit of the thing has been fully imbib-
ed. Nothing will satisfy them until
they have stood upon the borders of the
burning lake, and in close proximity to
the dashing pillows of the molten sea,
in the very bottom.
1t is but few weeks, since parties of
ladies and gentlemen from Honolulu Wis
tied this unparalleled Crater, and spent
hours in exploring the very depths Of
that wonderful laboratory. Amidst its
heat, smoke and deadly gases, they trav
eled many miles, examining beautiful
specimen here, a sulphur bank there,
and a boiling lake in another place, till
the whole became stamped upon the
mind as food for memory during life
time to come.
To be sure, to do this, we are obliged
to pass through current of deadly gas,
which, if inhaled, would suspend the
breath and arrest the functions of the
system; but we hold our breath and rush
on. We have to cross a fssure, red a
few inches below the surface with intense
heat; but we try its edge with pole,
and make the leap. We stand upon the
bank of the boiling lake, which ever and
anon daskes its livid waves upon its rug
ged shores, and sends its shivered atoms
far and wide, like the dashing of wave
upon the rocks; but we retreat when the
danger approaches and return again to
the enjoyment. We get used to it, after
a time, and the sense of fear seems un-
accountably annihilated in our breasts,
and we enjoy it exceedingly. There is
danger, no doubt, but the excitement OF
the moment overcomes our appreciation
of it.
We shall never forget fact occurring
on one of our vista. We were just on
the point of crossing field of black lava
which appeared old. solid and perfectly
safe; but as we were stepping upon it
as one would cross river on rough ice,
jet of lava burst up directly before us
to the hight of go or 80 feet, as large as
a hogshead, and continued to play with
out Interruption. Of course we retreat
ed little on account of the heat; and
well we did, for in less than half an hour
the field broke up, and where we were
crossing, there was liquid lake of sew
eral acres in extent, glowing with the
most intense heat, and surging like a
mighty river whose winter covering had
been suddenly broken by flood. We
stood as near as the heat would allow,
andlong gazed upon this rare phenomena,
We dipped into its burning waves, and
brought away specimens impressed with
the head of Liberty" from an American
coin. But we did not cross THERE; a
half mile further on, however, we DID
cross, and pursued our way.
But with all the apparent danger,
there is really less than strangers can
imagine. Immediate danger is always
preceded by some premonition. which
allows time for escape; no fatal catastro-
phe has ever occurred there. Some
have been burned. singed scorched, while
others have narrowly escaped being SUBJ
merged in boiling lava; but notwithstand
ing these hair breadth escapes, none who
visit the volcano are deferred from de-
scending on account of danger. Nor
need they be; bright lookout with a
moderate share of caution, will allow
them to enjoy the wonder, without much
risk.