The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-05-01
A Lake Of Fire.

A correspondent of the Alta California gives |
the following incidents Of c visit to the VOLCANO
Kilanca, In the Sandwich Islands, thirty-six
miles from Hilo. After saying that the crater
Of this volcano is in vast pit in the midst of 90
immense plain, having only a gradual rise TO the
centre-snd tnat within quarter Of a mile rs
the entrance Of great eayc, which be and ms
gcide explored-he sayss -.
'Suddenly we came to high bank, and look
ing down we beheld the lake Of fire beneath us
about seventy-fiye feet This lake is something
more than mile in circumference There, IN
full view, were real waves Of liquid iire, oil a
bright red color spluttering and splashing like
! ocean wayesi A little island OF hard lava
stands in the middle Of the lake, against the
| black sides Of which the waves Of fire dashed
with tremendous fury, and breaking on its jag
ged cliffs, they would east their red spray high
into the air. The sides Of this lake are solid
walls of red fire, glowing with fearful intensity.
We were standing on the windward bank, with
a strong, cold wind blowing down, yet the heat
was SO Intense that We could only look Tor
moment at time then turn away and catch
the refreshing influence Of the cool breeze.5 In
addition to the roaring and kissing Of the lake,
we heard, at short intervals, sounds much re-
sembling that Of a steamer blowing on steam,
only infinitely louder, an ominous glowing OF
pent up force, struggling in subteranes4 fayerns,
at which the very earth seemed to trembe.
Occasionally large masses Of the cooled lava ON
the edge Of the lake became detached, and faii-
ing into the boiling cauldron, were instantly re-
! duced 70 liquid state. ss-- arl.s
"Aftcr few minutes silence, disturkcd only
by Ar, occasional kissing and muttering, was
, startled by the awe-inspiring sound Of escaping
, steam.n In an instant afaint giimmering OF red
like a sheet Of lightning. shot out from nnde'
the over-hangng brink where |. was standing
and ran across the lake. This was signal tol
: change in the programme. Immediatay On
e whole IKE became Of a bright red color, ant
!, fountains sprang UP In different parts OIL tn'
: : lake. q 81 ~ ..-,,,s ,.s,aa nsg 81. b
= "My eyes followed these with amazement q
one after another they cast up great quantitie
AZ A apure xermillion colored liquid These wer
p followed by two others in rapid SUCCESSION en-
Of which burst up near where | was standing
Running back, coged under the upper ban
ana witnessed the gfxadea pyrctechnie dispIa
Of which il is possible 10 form any conception
These six fountains threw up jets from thirty {
fifty feet high, The. fountain, from the spray
which SO hastily retreatcd made large depo'
J its Of molten lava on the bank where wa
9 standing. and when it ceased Iprocured som
= very good specimens A short perods s q sna ssa
menced 10 roli and Dash against the little islam
= a. We It ilrst sast them Native tradition say
n that this crater has been burning ffm time m
T. The most wonderful and mysterious ph
en- ipo,nsna we witnessed, vas on the second day
n. our vis;s 3, fhe crater. It was noon. and Y
we're. sitting on ahigh bank at lunch b,
on turned up ny .face 70 The wind, to avoid the
'al tense heet of the lake. was startled BY
Of noise Ike the flushing together Of vast bodies
= water. The natives jumped up instantly a.
: raised an unearthly shout scamPeriRe IN an Q
bis Eposste direction- Turing towssd the lake
en- beheld scene which never shall forget
er- too. had to run of some distance 10 escape
at great heat The whole surface Of The lake "
ak- in q state Of the. widest cosnmotiOn Wa
on clashed upon xaye, and ll.was yeoufuson'
| Tremendous bllows OF fire rolled from eve
g side of the lake to the. centre and meeting
70 fierce coufia around the island to the cent
ing broke with fury over its black <iaes Then
ent ter receing again they rushed to the enset on
red more. with increased fopce and meeting togei
or er. shot up into the air, perhaps 100 teet-o
,ai- vast spiral body Of red liquid lava which M
our " combcd over and fell IN gracefui spray oa
into the lake again. -