The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-03-10
The Eruption OF 1852.

This eruption occurred in February. 1852, and
broke out on the north side of Mluna Loa not a
great distance from that of 1855. An account
of it, written by Mr.. J. Fuller, and dated May
II, we find in the Friend for May, 1882 and ex
tract few paragraphs describing the scene
During the first night at the distance of 10
miles, we heard the rumhling of the Volcano like the
roar of the heavy surf breaking upon the shorc-and
saw the sky brilliantly Illuminated above the crater
and the flowing lava. An immense column of vapor
and smoke arose fro.h the crater and formed mag
nicent rejecting the red and purple light of the
fiery masses below Animated by sights aud sounds
50 grand, We quickenef our pace in order to gain
nearer view of the believing that in this case,
distance did not lend enchantment 10 the view.
On the second daytowarls night to hut
built by the party of the previous week-being wet
with the rain, we concludeu 10 spend the night here
we enlarged the house, built fire in pdrt of
IT, put on dry clothes, wrapped ourselves IN our
blankets and passed comfortable night The morn
ing fine, caught sight of the laya jets
they shot above the distant mountain ridges, and
passing the whtened bones of mule lost by the
Kings party while crossing the mounta'n TWO or
three years ago-snatching here and there n bunch
of delicious OheloS which grew by the path, came,
about 10 VI. of the third dly to the last ridge
that separated from the region OF the eruption;
assembled to the top of this the whole scene, Uaid,
terrific. grand, magRifcent bursts upon senses
1t is impossible to give you complete description
OF what and heard or to draw picture which
viii produce the same impression on your rnlnd tnt
the original did npon mine Language, on such an
occasion is powerless, eloquence is dumb and silence
is the expression congenal to the sentiments of
the soul. Yet will try TO give you facts and
hints which will assist your Imagination in It's con-
cepons Of the wildly interesting scenes we witnessed
Imagine yourself then, just ascended to the top of
the above mentioned emnence. Before you, NJ
distance of miles, rises the new formed crater IN
he midst of fields of black smoking lava, while from
it's centre there Jets column of rel hot lava to an
immense height, threatening instant humiliation to
any presumptuous mortal who should come within
the reach of its scathing influence. The crater may
he 1000 feet in diameter and from loD to LOO feet
high The column of liquid lava which is constantly
3 stained in the air. from 300 to 500 feet high, and
perhaps the highest jets may reach as high rs 1oo
feet There is n constant an rapid succession of
lets one within another, the masses falling outside
and cooling as they fall form sort of dark veil,
tn rough which the new Jets darting up with every
degree force and every variety OF form. render this
grand fire fountain one of the most magnificent OBJ
iects that human Imagination can conceive Of From
the top of the lava Jets. the current of heated air car
ries up n large mass of scorin and pomce, which
falls again in showers for some miles around
the crater