Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-12
Manua Loa-Its Previous Volcanic
EruptiOnS.

Manua Loa-Its Previous Volcanic
EruPtiOns.
Manua Loa, or Roa, as it is frequent
ly called, has been well known to the
world for many years past as one of the
most active and terrible volcanoes in the
world. Situated in the centre of the Is
land of Hawaii, one of the group of
Sandwich Islands, it gradually ascends
until it reaches an altitude of 13,75S
feet, as was ascertained during an ex-
ploring expedition under Lieutenant
Wilkes, of the United States Navy
This great height appears to have been
attained by accretion, and, indeed, the
entire island of Hawaii is formed of the
lava which has been, from time to time,
thrown from the craters of the volcano.
The lower parts of the mountain are
covered with forests and are compara-
lively fertile, but after reaching GER
tain height everything becomes quite
barren, and nothing but lava mixed with
clay and hardened almost to the con-
sistency of flint forms the summit. This
gives it smooth and, as it is quite
round at the top, domelike appearance.
The mountain is covered with craters.
The principal one, known by the name
of Moku-a-weo-weo, is some $4,000 feet
in length by 5000 in width. Its depth
varies from 470 to $50 feet, and the bot
tom is traversed with ridges from ten to
fifty feet high, alternating with deep
chasms and smooth beds of hardened
lava. These latter are covered with
assures, from which ascend thin clouds
of steam and smoke. Another formi-
dable, though smaller, crater is called
Pohakuohanale. These two craters,
however, do not seem to have taken part
in the eruption reported in the telegraphic
dispatch. The one that was, or is, in
action is the great crater of Kilauea.
This is three and a half miles in length,
two and half in width and 1,044 feet in
depth, and stands at an elevation of over
1000 feet above the level of the see. 1t is
completely surrounded by wall of har-
dened lava, ranging from 600 to 1000
feet in width and 600 feet in depth. At
the bottom of the crater is lake of
liquid fire continually surging and Civ
ing to the clouds above a beautiful sill
very look in the day and a bright red at
night. In January, 1s41, the lake over
flowed, and Lieutenant Wilkes estimated
that during one night fifteen millions Gu
bic feet of lava were discharged, and two
hundred millions cubic feet were dis
charged from the small pit in one day.
In 1866 another terrible eruption occur
red, which lasted thirteen months, and
covered an area of three hundred square
miles with lava. In January, 1859, the
last and (until the present one) greatest
eruption took place, three new craters be-
ing formed by the convulsion. The erup
ton lasted for nearly ten months, and
was of terrible grandeur. Streams of
lava were hurled from the craters to a
height of from 200 to 500 feet, and after
they had fallen traversed distance of
FIVE miles where the liquid fire flowed
into the sea, driving back the waters.
Those who witnessed the meeting of the
two elements describe the scene as one
of awful splendor. Quite number of
shocks of earthquake accompanied This
eruption. By the report of our special
telegram it would appear as if the pres
ent eruption exceeded in magnitude and
terrific grandeur anything that ever pre-
ceded it, and this would make it more
violent in every respect than the recent
eruption of Mount Vesuyius. a. f.,