The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-09
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tine before nc became fully awars Of its existence
II was only on cur return from the northwest corner,
where IL i deepest, that there presented itself through
the mist in which we were enveloped, a high wall Of
200 feet Of grutesque and fantastic outlines At first
We we're quite bewildered, fancying that we beheld
the great outer wall Of the crater On nearer ap-
preach We son sstisfel ourselves that this singular
wall represented the line Of demarkation OF a great
depression in the door Of the crater-a fact that sur
pri~el " the more, a. \ bIrdseye view from above
had altogether failed To aPPrise u Of its existence
Tie latest advice from kilauea report that the
Eres are returning To the large crater, and ii Is
not improbable that it will soon resume its old
state of varying activity
Incidents OF the Eruption.
Rev. ;. ;. Bishop. principle Of the Lahainaluna
Seminary. says, from an observation taken by
him 1T Ia.ainaluna, that the column of smoke
which rose from Nlauna LOa, ON Wednesday
morning. following the eruption, reached an alti-
tude Of seven and four-fiith miles before tanning
out.
The number of shocks which occurred Il at Wal
ohinu from March 29th to- April 10th. is estimated
bv Mr.. Sillowny 10 have been upwards of frO
thousand : there having been some days between
three and four hundred. The heaviest shock oc-
Cured Thursday, April 2d, being the same that
was felt 80 sensfbly at Honolulu. This destroyed
every church and nearly every dwelling in the
whole district.
From 10 to II O'Clock of that day there had
been service in the large church IN WaiUhinu,
and it was crowded with people. Only four
hours after they left the heavy shock came, tlle
walls tumbled in, and the roof fell tiat-all the
work of ten seconds.
At the same instant, every man, woman and
child was thrown off from their feet. Horses and
cattle dropped down, rs If dead. \ man riding
ON horseback had his hOrse tumble under him 30
suddenly that he found himself and horse lying
Fat on the ground before the thought OF an earth
quake entered his mind.
The earth opened ali through the district, and
in some places caused dangerous assures, while in
Others it clO-ed up again. In one place it closed
twenty feet from where it opened These assures
make II dangerous 10 travel IN the dark. Every
where the ruads are broken up and ii will take
much money and labor To restore them to their
Old condition.
As the RORG PaokeI WIS passing the south point
OF the island, abOut three miles from the shOrc, n
cOnicai island, four hundred feet high, rusc out of
the sen, midway between the vessel and the land,
emitting q column of steam and smoke. The
LAVA river flows into the sea ut this island and has
extended the shore out to il one mile Mt least, 30
that IL Is now Oh tine main land The Jacket was
80 near when this island burst up, that the sand
was SCATTERED ON the masts and sails of the Vessel.
The scene at the eruption was n most melan-
choly one to witness There were hundreds of
fine cattle grazing around tie farm houses, when
the lava strcains surrounded them and heInImcd
them IN. The poor animals seemed aware Of the
danger. but made no effort To escape. The fiery
5000 8ANN $1,000 ss& sMsAs1 Ass N@ AE@A ss.NA
them restless, but they would not run. They
bayely looked the fiery Zoe in the face, stood firm
till il reached them, then dropped in the strcam-a
sudden cloud OF smoke followed and not n sign
remained. Thus one after another fell till over
two hundred were consumed.
\ fine horse Vas fastened with a rope to q stake,
when the lava approached and burnt the rope,
when the animal, with human instinct escaped
between two lava streams, and was saved TO his
owner.
The sufferings and alarm experienced by the
residents Of kau during the two weeks that the
earthquakes and eruption continued prior to their
leaving. appear to have been great. Night after
night, they were compelled To sleep ON the mount
ain ridge back of tl'e village. exposed to the cold
aud damp winds and nin from tile sea, subsisting
ON taro and fishes when they could get these,
or fasting when they could not.
The whole district j. in ruins. a field Of deSoLo-
noH, and probably five hundred thousand dollars
would not restore il to what il was months ago.
IL is no wonder that tie foreigners are leaving
the place, with the intention vi never returning
To IL again.
The number of deaths were over ono hundred.
The exact number may MT be known for sone
time, rs some persons are missing whose absence
may vet be accounted for. The loss of life Is
melancholy indeed, and the sympathy Of the Ila-
waiinn people, should be generously expressed
to the mourning and brcaved families of Kan,
whose tender ties have been 80 suddenly and kecnly
severed by the hand Of God.