The Shasta courier., 1867-03-30
The Volcano OF KiIauea.

| a correspondent OF the American Union
ist, published at Salem, Oregon, thus de
scrbes the crater of the volcano of Kilauea
Sandwich Islands:
As soon as we had dispatched our dinner
| preparations were made for our descent int
the crater. to view the wonders therein con
tanned. Preceded by native guide bearing
canteen of water, and each armed with
stout staff, we left the Volcano House, in a
comfortable a state of mind as the circum
stances of the case would warrant. Th
route was along a narrow descending path
way between yawning bottomless chasms
and down a sceep declivity, almost perpen
dcular, upon steps cut in the side of the wall
until we reached the bottom, or bed of the
crater The whole surface for miles appar
! emily, was glistening in the bright rays oi
the sun, is if it had Just been vanished, and
as stepped upon this uncertain footing,
mentally repeated the words Of Milton;
"Farewell, happy fields,
Where joy forever dwells Hail, horrors hail,
Internal world and thou, profoundest hell,
Receive thy new possessor,"
The interior of this crater exhibited some
curious specimens of the freaks of nature
after storm heayed up, corrugated, bis
tered and twisted in every conceivable fan
tastic shape, and the whole surface covered
with an intricate net work of seams, cracks,
assures and chasms, varying from a mere
mark, to six feet in width. From all these
assures and chasms issued volumes of smoke
and steam some of which was only com.
fortably warm, while others refreshingly
Id tbot
was in a region where coroners inquests were
never held. Over these last mentioned
places my steps were remarkable for their
altitude and length. In walking over these
apparently floating cakes it appeared as if
was walking on dry cripsy snow OCCASION
ed by the crushing beneath my feet of the
dross from the over6ows of the lakes light
substance of cellular formation, streaked on
the surface with delicate lines of white, while
the sides and interior were of bright variga-
ted hues. In some places this scoria, or
dross, is of rich golden cast, resembling in
appearance molasses candy, thoroughly work
ed and mixed with crushed almonds, or other
nuts, and twisted into fantastic shapes
Following our intrepid guide in meander-
ing course, hither and thither over a vast
waste diversified with new and attractive
features at every step, we arrived at what is
known as the New Lake, and stood on
the very verge of Pluto dark domain
The sight of these heaving, surging angry
waves of fiery molten lava, would unnerve
the stoutest heart and fill the mind with ter
ror. The lake is about forty feet in diameter,
perfectly circular in form, some five or six
feet to the surface of the liquid fire and to
me, was the personifcation of hell ITSELF
Huge rolling pillows, sent with power unde-
fined, laved and lashed its rock bound walls,
as surf upon the oceans shore. Dense
volumes of noxious vapors rise with fumes
and stencil uncomfortable as if it were the
footed breath of Satan and his minions.
There being others yet to view, we left
this Internal pit and followed our guide to
the I" North Lake" Long before we near
ed its brink, we could hear its means, and
feel its violent throb. With cautious and
measured steps we advanced, feeling our
way with our stafs, until we stood on the
very threshold of this unfathonable pit, filled
with seething, surging, kissing flames of
liquid fire, and here we viewed:
:" Tho dismal situation waste and Wild
dungeon horrible, on all sides round,
As one great furnace, famed yet from those
Flames no light; but rather darkness visible
Served only to discover sights of woe,
Regions Of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell hope never comes
That comes to all but torture without end
Still urges, and fiery deluge fed
With ever burning Sulphur inconsumed."
1t would be great presumption in me to
attempt to portray the beauty, glory, might
and power here displayed. We stood en-
thralied as it were with the terribleness Of
the scene Just imagine for moment q
huge lake a thousand feet in length
three hundred feet in width, with rough
irregular. Jagged sides-unfathomable in
depth-illed to the very brink, with roaring
surging, spouting flames of liquid fire
famed and fed by ten thousand furnaces fal
beneath, fred by unseen hands. 1t was witt
feelings of deep humility and reverentia
awe, that turned from the wonderful scene
here displayed, and sought for others equally
as strange.
All around these lakes, are great quantitie
of vitrifed lava, in some places five or 81,
inches in depth, which presents very beau
tiful appearance lying on the surface, beini
very fine with delicate globulc on the en-,
of each FIBRE This is produced when ex
! plosions occur, and jets Of molten lava ar