Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-04-15
THE GREAT VOLCANO OF 1850.

clal Advertiser OF February 18th, contain
ing the details Of the great eruption at
Mauna Loa, Hawaii Volcanic oruptions
have long been Of frequent occurrence on
the island of Hawaii, but one Of the mag
nitudc, beauty, and sublimity of the pres
ent volcano has rarely been recorded. None
Of the last half century has combined such
an extensive flow Of lava with the high
and beautiful election of the molten mass
above the mouth of the crater.
The new crater is at an elevation Of some
$500 feet above the level Of the sea, and
an equal distance from the summit Of
Mnuna Loa. The mouth is from 500 to
800 feet across, and circular. To tho brief
account published a few days ago, we add
very interesting description Of this wonder
ful and majestic display of nature, from the
Advertisers notes taken on the spot:
"The rim of the crater is surrounded or
made up Of cones from the stones aud SEQ
ria thrown out, these cones constantly vary
ing in extent, now growing in size and again
all tumbling down. The lava does not sim
ply run out from the side Of the crater like
water from the side Of a bowl, but is thrown
up in continuous columns very much like
the Geyser springs, as represented in school
Biographies. At timcs this spoutng ap-
peared to be feeble, rising but littlo above
the rim of the crater, but generally, as if
eager to escape from the pent-up bowels of
tho earth, it rose to height nearly equal
to the base Of the crater. But the columns
and masses of lava thrown out were ever
varying in form and height. Sometimes,
when very active, n spire or cone of lava
would shoot up like rocket or in the form
of huge pyramid to height nearly double
the base Of the crater. If tho mouth oi
the crater is five hundred feet across, the
perpendicular column must be eight hund
red feet to one thousand feet in height
Then, by watching it with spy-glass, th,
columns could be seen to diverge and fal
in all manner Of shapes, like beautiful
fountain.
This part of the scene is one of tru
,, grandeur-no words can convey full ide'
of it to our readers. The molten fiery-red
ness of the lava, ever varying, ever chang
ing its form, from the simple gurgling Of
, spring to the hugest fountain conceivable,
scene that to be viewed will be painted, il
all its splendor and magnifcence, on tn
memory of the observer till DEATH Larg
boulders of red-hot lava stone, weighing
hundreds, if not thousands of tons, thrown
up with inconceivable power high above tn
liquid mass, could be seen occasionally fall
ing outside or on the rim of the crater
: tumbling down the cones and rolling owe
/ the precipice, remaining brilliant for fev
), moments, then becoming cold and hlacl
, were lost among the mass Of surrounding
r lava. So awfuly grand, so beautiful wa
q this ever varying scene, that the observe
| who sees it from a good position cannc
help watching it with intense delight an
!. increasing excitement for hours together
the only drawback being the severe col
which is found in the night, against whic
travellers should be provided.
It A dense, heavy column Of smoke eontil
n ually rose out from the crater, but alway
l. in the north side, and took q northeastern
IS direction, rising in one continuous colum
n far above the mountain, to height of pc
n haps 10000 feet from the crater. Thi
,t smoke hovors over that island, and indee
is all the islands, and must at times, whe
e the trade winds lull, obstruct the view.-
10 During our stay, however, it passed off frol
Y. the mountain leaving the lower atmosphe
quite clear. We watched closely to obser,
whether any steam could be seen issun
!, either from the crater or any of the streau
: OF lava, but could not see anything TIL
could be called steam or vapor, unless O
J. casionally very small indications along son
Of of the lava streams. Mono rose from Il
C. crater itself-only dense, heavy smok
II which came up out of the mouth ITSELF
m Considerable vapor rose along the strea
t. as the molten lava came in contact vii
le trees, and other vegetable masses, but Il
D. mass of smoke came from tho crater itsc
" Steam was noticed in various places on Il
id plain, issuing from tho rocks, and near OF
g. of the camps it was so extensive that te
g kettle could be boiled over it. But til
IN steam was undoubtedly caused by the he
ID of tho lava stream, which was about a mi
g. distant, coming in contact with somo poe
10 Of water in caves or pits.
le On leaving the crater, the lava strea
If does not appear for some distance, say
lg eighth ofa mile, as it has cutits way throul
r. a deep ravine or gulch, which hides it fro
lg the eye. How deep this gulch may be
p all conjecture, as it is impossible to get ne
ID enough to look into il, but it probat
ut is several hundred feet deep. The first IL
an we sec of the lava after being thrown up
to the crater is its branching out into vario
up streams some distance below the fouuta
n head. Instead Of running in one laa
IN stream, it pats and divides into a gre
nd number, spreading out over tract of five
nd six miles from the crater, tho descent is We
tic rapid, and the flow of the lava varies fro
ID. four to ten miles an hour, according TO I
of descent. But after it reaches the pIs
.er where it is level, the stream moves slow,
af- Here the streams are not so numerous
he higher up, there being a principal O
Is. which varies and is very irregular, from
ks eigth TO half mile in width, though tn,
are frequent branches running off froiA
This principal stream reached the sea n,
he Wainanalii, or about fifteen miles from
'e- waiha, on the 9Ist after flow Of eia
ns' days from tho time that tho eruption co
menced on the Esd Of January. This strea
at on reaching the sea, spread out to abe
lor half milo in width. The sight Of it as
n0 ,~.,..l s..A. a. r.. i