Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-04-29
VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN THE SAND
WITCH ISLANDS.

Honolulu papers to the 18th Of February
briug intelligence OF another eruption Of Manaa
Loa, and the destruction Of village on the
sea shore, some forty miles distant, by being
oyerrun with tbs burning lara. Weccpy some
Of the details:
Correspoai<nce Of IL: Honolulu Commercial
.7drertissr.
WAIMEA, Hawai-, Feb 4--Had the abi-
iiy | should ike TO give a description of the
present volcanic eruption; but ] am fearful of
failure should the attempt be made. When
one has seen the real thing itself there il no
room for the play of imagination or poetry
You r4ay exhaast langusge of its most impress
sire and descriptive terms, aud get fail to reach
The reality | shall attempt no mole than 10
give few facts.
On Sabbath, January 25l, volcanic smoke
vas seea gathering on Mauna Loa In the
evening the mountains presented grand yet
fearful spectacle. Two streams of FIRE were
issuing from two different aouroes, ard flowing
apparently in igo different airectI9us The
waole region; earth aDd heaven, were Lighted
up, and even the interior of our houses re-
ceiFed the iurid volcanic light direct from It's
source.
uhfhB nsrniag "a iils cobs 5ny tsa could
discern where tie eruptipns we're One ap-
reared 10 be very near the top Of the nlorn-
tain, bat iis stream and smoke sooa after dis
appeared, tho other was Oh the north side, fur
ther below Tie tap, aud was ssnaing out It's
fires in 4 uor;hwesteriy diIectioR.
Gu the second and third nights the dense
smoke and clouds prevented Us frora having
fair view Of PeIe's doings bli, tbs feur foIlow-
ing tights We bad view, and such scene -
1t seemed as though the eya could never weary
in gazing az it. The burning crater seemed to
be constantly enlargng and throwing I'D its
volumes of liquid fire above the mouth Of the
! crater-l will not venture to say bow high
aud the fiery strcan-r rolled onward aud oD ward,
still adding terror and grandeur as il proceed
ed, till The morning of the 3lst, about sunrise,
the stream was compelled, though reluctantly,
to stop By meeting the waters of the ocean. -
Even then ITS resis,less and opposing energy
carried it on some distance into tha sea.
The poor inhabitants of WainanaIii. the
village where the FIRE reached the ocean. we're
aroused at the midnight hour by the Kissing
and roaring OF the approaching fires, and bad
but just time 10 save themselves. Some of
the houses Of the inland portion of TIE village
were partly surrounded before ihc inmates
knew of their danger. Wainanalii is near the
northern boundary of North Kona, and about
twelve or fourteen miles from kawaihee 1t ia
of coarse all destroyed, and its pleasant lits!o
harbor all filed with lava. The volcanic
stream was one mile wide or more, in sono
places, and much less in others. Ii crossed
the kona road, and interrupted The mail CON-
municatou The whole distance of the aow
from the crater TO the sea is some forty miles
Last night (the Sd February the volcano.
was in full blast, and the burning stream seeing
30 have taken another direction. Parties have
gone out to-day to see and explore Perhaps
on their return | shall have something addi-
tioDal to communicate.
Yours, L. Lyons.