The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-02-24

In I'm III 0bDO
From the Tolcano On HAWAII
During the paet week, two ye4els have arrived
from Hawaii, both bringing later news from the
Volcano. BY the Kaznna from Kawaihae, We
ham that the lava was still flowing into the -
at Wainanalii, though only through = duct nm
derneath the cold lava The water in the neigh
borhood was hot, and clouds Of steam continued
to rise from the shore.
The account of the KinooL Expedition Is,
however, the most interesting, and we have pro
cured from Prof. Alexander q detailed narrative,
which will be found below. 1t seems that the
barge crater which was in action when the Kamoi's
party were visiting it, ceased about the 9Th OF
Feb, and three new craters were forming an
eighth of q mile below it. The lofty jets, OF
which the Kinoos's party only obtained a distant
view as they approached from Kealakeakua,
formed perhaps the finest part of the display.
1t would appear from all accounts that the erup
ton is losing its force, though the amount of
lava flowing out at the latest date 1.-THE 1lth) was
as great as ever. The following is the m
cation Of Prof. A:
Mr.. EDITOR At a time when all information
relating to the eruption is eagerly received, a
brief sketch of what the company to which l be-
longed, saw and did, may be interesting to your
readers, particularly as we reached the source by
a route different from that taken by any other
party, excepting perhaps Mr.. yaudry. Our par
ty sailed from Honolulu on the Kinoole, on Tues
day, Feb. LIST, and landed at Kealakekua, Thurs
day noon. During the preceding night we hada
distant view of the eruption, like a star, two
third up the mountain with streaks of light
branching out below. Friday was spent in pre-
p~arations for the jaunt, and ON Saturday morn
ing we set out for the crater, from Kuapehu, in
a direction nearly east.
The first twelve miles of our route lay through
a dense forest, which changed its appearance as
we assembled, being characterized in the lower
part by its tall ferns, then by the abundance of
wild raspberry bushes. and opening finally into
koa pastures.
As We began to emerge from the woods we had
a fine view of the jet, playing at a distance of
perhaps twenty-five miles. to the height, as we
afterwards estimated, of 800 feet. 1t was of a
deep red color, in form and movement exactly
like a fountain, and was accompanied by immense
columns of steam. 1t was soon concealed from
our view, however, by the TANKS of Mauna Loa.
About twelve miles from the coast road we reach
ed a watering place called Waiio, which We
found nearly dry.
Here we were obliged to send back our horses
and pack oxen, and proceed on foot. Our guide
then led us in a direction about E. S. E. across
a rugged tract of clinkers to a cave, eight miles
from Waiio, where We encamped for the night.
This cave had formed part of the channel of a
subterranean stream, which left a series of deep
caverns, assures and pits to mark its course.
The pit into which Alexander Smith fell was not
two rods from our camp, being completely conceal
ed by underbrush, and from % to 80 feet deep. 1t
was quite dark at the time, and few if any of us
suspected the existence of such o black chasm
only a few steps from our fire.
Fortunately his fall was heard a lantern was
Immediately brought, a boy lowered into the
cavern with a rope, and the poor fellow was soon
drawn up, insensible, but undisfgured and still
breathing. He was soon revived by the use of
brandy, and seemed perfectly rational, though
unable TO move. He was carried down the next
day in q litter constructed of a bullock's hide, to
DIR. Herrick's, where he received every possible
attention. His case, however, was a hopeless one,
for his spine had been injured just below the
licChs aud Att<A - a. hO SAHAO0 III
the morning of the 18th. His ge~ntlemanly man
ners and generous disposition had already endear-
ed him to our party, and the sad accident which
befell him threw a gloom over the remainder of
our journey.
During the afternoon, the party, being in want
of water, pushed on six or eight miles S. S. E. to
a well known watering place called Puapuawai,
where they e~ncamped. At this point the cold
was 50 intense at night, that a crust of ice half
an inch thick was formed in our calabashes, and
the berries around our camp were frozen hard.
As far as we could judge by the horizon, we were
about a thousand feet lower than the summit of
Hualalai, and accordingly, 5000 feet above the sea.
On account of the failure of this spring as well
as for other reasons, it was thought expedient to
divide the party. Half of them, headed by Pres.
Beckwith, returned to Kaawaloa, and went out to
the lava flow by Gov. Adams road.
The advance party started again directly for
the crater on Wednesday morning, consisting of
twelve white men and thirty kanakas, with a
weeks provisions. During this days march the
rarity of the atmosphere affected us all more or
less, but especially our natives, who seemed una
BILE to carry their usual loads. We were slowly
ascending nearly all day. The vegetation grad
ually became more and more scanty. till it almost
entirely disappeared.
About noon we crossed a recent flow, perhaps
that of lS47, and at 4, P. NJ, (Feb. 81 after a
march of about twenty miles n. E., we suddenly
found the two active c~raters, and the lava stream
in its whole extent. Immediately below us. We
encamped a mile and a half S. W. of the larger
cone, on an eminence commanding a fine view of
the whole eruption Large banks of snow and
ice were found within a quarter of a mile from
our camp, SO that all anxiety on the score of
water was soon disipated.
The sight which we enjoyed that night will not
cz~-o$Soo - ~ fho ~ Tho .S