The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-02-17
fsriff From our Extra Of Feb. 12.I
THE G. GRE2AT
ERUPTION ON MAUNA LOA ~!
ARRIVAL OF THE "KAMOI,"
FIRST AUTHENTIC ADylCEs -!

Since the receipt, some ten days ago, of
the report of new eruption Mauna Loa,
announcing an extensive outburst of the volcano
on Hawaii, there has been a great anxiety to
learn something authentic in regard to it. The
return of the schooner Kamoi on Thursday, after
an absence of only seven and a half days. with the
party who visited the flow. places in possession
of full advices in relation to it.
1T would appear from all accounts to be the
most beautiful eruption which has occurred on
that island during the memory of the oldest in
habitants, and probably for fifty years at least
Volcanic eruptions are of frequent occurrence on
Hawaii, as our readers we'll know but it is rare
that one has been found to combine an extensive
flow with lofty, fountain-like election of lava
above the mouth of the crater, which the present
one has. Probably the quantity of lava emitted
from the crater of Mokuaweoweo in 1855 was
greater, but, if we remember rightly, it was not
thrown up in columns above the mouth of the
crater, but simply ran out the side of it through
deep gulch,-the lava being first perceived some
miles below the crater. Mr.. Coan in an account
of his visit to that crater published by in July,
1856, says:
.sThe grandeur, the sublimity. the terror of the
scene we're unutterable vast chasm had opened
horizontally the top of the mountain, and along
this yawnng fssure stood series of elongated, jag
ged and burning cones about one hundred feet high,
rent through this larger diameter, and throwing up
dense columns of blue and white smoke which cover
ing the mountains summit, rolled in heecy masses
down its sides and spread out like the wings OF chaos
over unmeasured regions Still no re could De seen
in This crater We could feelit everywhere,
and we could and hear its escaping gases Out tne
throats of the clogged with hot masses OF
cinders pumice and ashes, with cracks, crevices,
10 I'txa frlf n
since found vent in a lateral. subterranean duct,
several hundred feet below the rim OF the crater anu
in this covered way it flows of until 1t makes its aP
pearance described, some two miles down tue sue
Of the mountain.
Immediately on the arrival of the first news Oh
the eruption, we despatched one OF our corps 10
visit the scene of the eruption, and procure iae's
for publication. The locality visited was ABOUT
.en miles from the crater and along side the
aow;,o stream. and is probably the best that Is
.eforded for observation, though there are other
,ood ,,oints yariously located from ten to fifteen
niles from the crater. The great difhcuity OF
aacb;no the crater ITSELF owing to the thick Jun
,,,s brnshwood and lava cinkers, will prevent
most from visiting it, though some VIII a'.e,"P'
it and will probably succeed in getting wi'uin .
,,,.rter of a mile from the mouth. hr. sauorey' ,
ar, Enoy;sh traveller, is the only one tna' VIC "''
- has vet undertaken to reach the crater
lVben the Kanaoi's party left Hawali, ne had no'
got been heard from, though absent week lac
,vas expected back on the Sth. we commune
..nount NV extracting from notes taken Oh
the spot. .,e elevated
Our camping-g ground is located on 'ne -
..b,e land living between the three great n1.
.,;,,s of Hualalai, Mauna Kea and Mauna '
go, miles from Kailua, and some ten m''e. =.
L.. fro,n the crater, which lies over against
a. ,3e s;de of Mauna Loa, distinctly IN view
-, .;, IA some 1900 feet above the sea, anu rs
s,ps n'' p ,.,;,h small shrubs and trees, growing
60, ten to twenty feet high In some Plaoes
:. !. verv level, being covered with ooA
IL s,nd. similar to that found on .ne s'us .ss
p.nch Bowl. only much coarser' WINE 'a'
=, 90 sparse as to allow a morse :"
sn1u .e-osu Il on a full gallop. In other pia'ss
:. .o,s;st. of a dense jungle Win "'..s.
- - caves. concealed by overgro"ins
R,';. T's : rart of the plain is almost ,mpe,e
~. - localities it is covered win 0',..
In SUN - :. cl;okers,'' over which tra'e''ns
.As. - ,,ossible. The nights are
y ,s "a f,ost covering the ground every no aad
M, ,,.v. however, are warm ana Pie"s ;,r,;,-
- bott, night and day, IS cooi anu
Grating. ,rs..es.,,e LIGHT of the crater
during ~ creams is hardly percePtiols. ,s -
-. ~, 80 !. she time for observation. o0o !. chow
- - IA ct. the molten streams 0ss