The New York herald., 1868-05-09


The lava pushed onwards 10 the sea, ana drove the
water back With such ytoisnoe thsi It oeeame sgt
tated and conyused, and huge waves rolled towards
the ocean - n lashed 10 fury BY storm. The
ground thus occupied Is now q mass of lava, form
ing point for at least one mile In length; and a
the stream continues to descend the probability is
that it win remain stationary and form portion of
the island. 81
The most terrible shock Of earthquake, which took
place on April 2 burst open the earth at the village
OF waischina and tidal wave rushed inwards with
fearful effect. 1t over fty feet in height, and
swept over the tops Of the high cocoanut trees car
ryng death and destruction to persons and property
Throughout the island this shock was felt with fear
ful effect. Buildings Of all kinds were torn from
their foundations and hurled great distances, and
many persons and animals lost their lives.
The scene at the craters was appalling. Huge
rocks were hurled from their mouths, accompanied
by streams Of lava hot and red, which attained an
rushed down the mountain towards the sea at the
rate Of nearly ten miles per hour. The new crater
which was formed on the 9th Of March is over
two miles in circumference. 1t vomted rocks and
broad streams Of liquid fire which illuminated the
night for an area Of over nifty miles.
In addition to the one mile of land formed by
the lava driving back the sea another stream ex-
tending for distance Of three miles poured
down the mountain, striking the water with tre-
mendous shock. At this time another earthquake
shock occurred, and Immediately after an island,
nearly four hundred feet in height, rose above the
water and was soon after joined to the island OF
Hawaii by the stream Of lava. ~, r4 rm
The eruption of moist red clay took place during
the great earthquake shock and went rushing
the plain below for distance Of three miles, From
the midst Of the crater from whence this came an
immense stream Of water is now pouring down.
The entire section Of country around Mauna
Loa has been desolated. A stream Of lava
is flowing under the ground six miles from
the sea and has broken out In four places,
each throwing up brilliant jets Of fire. The base Of
the volcano is about thirty miles in circumference
and now presents most barren and desolate aspect
the gases arising from the rent earth having COM
pletely destroyed all vegetation. aH' 'luog
The earthquake shocks were felt in all OF the Sand
wich islands, but only around Mauna Loa was the
effect disastrous. fnupf .p
The eruption still continues with unabated VIC.
lence and the scene is one Of the most terribly grand
that has ever been witnessed in modern times From
the crater Of Mauna Loa the huge column Of smoke
continues to ascend hiding from view the skies and
clouds and enveloping the entire country in partial
darkness Every now and then thick streams OF lava
shoot upwards from the midst Of the smoke ilumin-
ating everything for Q few minutes. Hundreds Of
jets Of flames burst from the lava and are thrown for
a distance OF thousand feet, the whole forming a
pyrotechnic display Of SURPRISING magnincence.
Shock after shock Of earthquakes c0nvulses the island
and ever and anon the low rumbling sound which
breaks out from amid the din and noise Of the erup
ton indicates where the earth been violently
mountains have been hurled from their places ant
sent rolling downwards to their base.
Up to the present time the damage inflicted has
been confined to the island of Hawaii, but II tn,
eruption continues it is feared that the adjacent
islands win feel the effect. The loss Of property
far is estimated at five hundred thousand dollars.
The greatest terror and suffering imaginable exist
on the island. His Majesty the King has issued q
proclamation calling for relief for the unfortunate
sufferers of the eruption. sloop has been des
patched already with provisions and other neces
saries and large number Of persons have started
from this town to witness the grand spectacle.
The opinion prevails that the eruption has passed
through its most violent and dangerous period. The
discharge Of lava and rocks continues however, and
the spectacle is q wildly and terribly grand one.
Manua L0a-Its Previous Volcanic Eruptiens
Manua Loa, or Roa, as II Is frequently called, ha.
been well known to the world for many years pas
Of the most active and terrible volcanoes IL
the world. Situated In the centre Of the island o
Hawaii, one Of the group Of Sandwich Islands,
gradually ascends until II reaches an altitude o
1a 1853 feet was ascertained during the exploring
expedition under Lieutenant Wilkes, of the Unitet
states Navy. This great height appears to hav'
been attained by accretion, and, indeed, the entir
island OF Hawaii is formed Of the lava which ha
been, from time to time, thrown from the craters
the volcano. The lower parts Of the mountain ar
covered with forests and are comparatively fertile
but after reaching certain height everything be
comes quite barren, and nothing but lava mixet
with clay and hardened almost to the consistency
flint forms the summit. This gives 1t Q smooth and
as 1t ia quite round at the top domelike appearance
The mountain is covered with craters. The prin
cipal one, known by the name Of Moku-aweo-weo
Is some 5000 feet tn length by 5000 In width. It
depth varies from 40 to $50 feet. and the bottom
traverscd with ridges from ten to nifty feet high
alternating with deep chasms and smooth beds O
hardened lava. These latter are covered witt
assures, from which ascend thin clouds Of steam AM
smoke. Another formidable, though smaller, crate
is called Pohakuohanalei These two craters, how
ever DO not to have taken part in the eruption
reported In the teleeraphic despatch. The one tina
was Is, In action Ii the great crater of Kiaues
rHG a. cra Acv< xnt1os tn l~u u-xA