The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-09-12

down the mountain, when coming to weak
point, or meeting with some obstruc tion. Il
burst up virtically, sending column Of
lincandescent fusia 1000 feet high into the
| air. This fire jet was about 100 feet in
diamter, and il was sustained for twenty
days and nights, varying in height from 500
to 1000 feet. The disagreement from the
mountain side was often with terrific
explosions, which shook the hills. and with
decorations that were heard for forty miles.
This column of liquid fire was an object Of
surprising brilliancy, Of intense and awful
grandeur. AS the jet issued from the awful
orfce il was at white heat. As il ascend.
ed higher and higher il reddened like fresh
blood, deepening its color, till, in its de.
scent, much Of It assumed the color OF clot.
ted gore.
In few days il had raised cone some
500 feet high around the burning oriice,
and, as the showers OF burning minerals fell
IN liyid torrents upon The cone, il became
one vast heap 81 glowing coal, flashing and
quiyering with restless action, and sending
out the heat OF 10, 900 furnaces in full blast,
The struggles in dIsgorsing the fiery masses,
the upward rush OF the column. The furce
which raised il 1000 vertical feet and the
continuous falling back Of thousands OF tons
OF mineral fusia into the throat OF the crater,
and over cone Of glowing GOALS one mile
IN circumference, was q sight to inspire awe
and terror, II wasattenced with explosive
shocks which seemed 10 rend the mural
ribes of the mOontiin, and sounds TO waken
the dead aud startle the spirits in Hades.
From this fountain river OF fire went
rushing aud lcsping down the mountain
VIII, amazing velocity. filling up basins and
rasines. dashing over preciplces. aud explo-
ding rocks. till il reached the forests al the
base Of the mountain. where IL burned is
6ery way, consuming the jangle. esapora.
TIM the water Of the streams and pools. AMI
sending up clouds Of smoke in marky
columns or tleccy wreaihs 10 heaven.
All Eastern HAWAII was sheen Of light
aud our night was turned into day. Su
great sas the illumination at night that une
could read without lamp. aud labar. trav.
cling, aad recreation might 90 on a. IA the
daytime. Mariners 1T sea saw the light At
200 miles distance. TWAS pyroieehnical
display. more magnificent aud mar,c!lOo,
than was ever maize by an earthly monarch.
In the daytime the atmosphere. Tor lhva
sand, 81 square miles. woull be filled witt
marky haze. through whish the suabcams
.hed pale aud sIckly light. Smoke. steam.
gases. ashes. cind,rs. capillary or iilanenia
~ sIirlhcatiuns called Pele's hair. 6saled
~ The air, sometimes spreading Oh, ike
Ian, sometimes rarevrlns N swift currents
upon the wind. or grating in e.errhanging
colDrs IN the flful Dr-rzes. The psInt IRON
Which the FIRE fountain issued Is $4,000
feet above the level Of the sea, thus making
the igaeous pillar distinct object Of OBJ
sersatinn along the whole eastern coas: VI
Hawaii.
During the eruption tie writer made ali
exc irsi0n TO The s1lfer. After three day,
~ hard struggle 10 the jungle. aud over
fields, ridges, aud hills q brIs,ling scoria.
he arrived near sunset at the scene OF ac-
ton. All night lung he stood as near IL
the glowing pillar a. the vehement heat
sulld allow, listening 10 the startling eI
passions and the awful roar Of thr molten
column. a. trushed upward 900 feet. and
tell bick in a fiery ayslanchcs which made
the mountain tremblc. llwas such sceue
as lew moria;s ever witnessed. There was
no sleep for the spectator. The fierce. red
glare. tile subterraneaus muiterings and
strngglings. the rapid explosions Of gases.
the rush and roar, the sudden and startling
bursts. as .: ctashlhg thunder. all were awe.
inspiring. and all combined to render the
scene one 81 Undesirable brlli4ncy and
terrible sublinity. The rivers of ire from
the lunntain flowed about IS miles. an
stopped within ten miles of lllo. Had ths
fountain played ten days longer. il would
probably have reached the shore.
---..-....a---~->--..-.--.--.---