The Placer herald., 1868-05-16


man riding on horseback had bis horse
tumbled under him 30 suddenly that hs
found himself and horse lying fiat on the
ground before the thought OF an earthquake
entered his mind.
The earth opened all through the district,
and in some places caused dangerous 6ssures,
whis in others it closed up again. En- one
place it closed twenty feet from where il
opened. These fssures make it dangerous
TO travel 10 the dark. Everywhere the roads
are broken up, and it will take much money
and labor 10 restore them to their old con.
dition.
As the Kona packet was passing the soHth
point Of the island, about three miles from
the shore. conica island, 400 feet high,
rose out Of the sea midway between the YES.
sci and the land, emitting column of steam
and smoke The lava river flows into the
sea at this island, and has extended the shore
out to one mile at least, so that it is now on
the main land The packet was so near
when this island burst up that the mud was
spattered on the masls and sails OF the vessel.
The scene at the eruption was a most
melancholy one to witness. There was
hundreds of fine cattle grazing around the
farm. houses, when the lava stream surround.
ed them and hemmed them 10. The poor
animals seemed aware Of their danger. but
saw no way to escape. The fiery lava drew
nearer and nearer till the beat made them
restless, hut they would not run. They
bravely looked the bloody foe 10 the face,
stood firm till it reached them, then fell in
the s,ream-a sudden cloud of smoke fol-
lowed and not sign remained. Thus one
after another fell ill over 200 were con,
sumed.
A fine horse was fastened with rope TO
stake, when the lava approached, burnt
the rope, and the animal, with almost human
instinct. escaped between the two lava
streams, and was saved to his owner.
An incident which ought not to he omit'
ted is the shower of ashes which preceded
the eruption. During Monday night prior
to the eruption the ground throughout the
district vas covered with a coating Of fine
sand and a light pumee stone Of yellow
ish color. Where this shower of sand and
but probably from some vent hole near the
crater.
The sutferings and alarm experienced by
the residents Of Kau, during the two weeks
that the earthquakes and erup,ions continued
prior to their leaving. appear TO have been
great Night alter night they were compel.
led to sleep on the mountain ridge back of
the village, exposed to the cold and damp
| winds and rain from tbe sea, subsisting on
ratio and fishes when they could get these,
and fasting when they could not.
The whole disric: is in ruins a field Of
desolation, aud probably five hundred thou.
sand dollars would not restore it to what it
was month ago. 1t is no wonder that the
foreigners are leaving the place, with the in'
tenton Of never returning to it again.
The number of deaths will be between
eighty and one hundred, rs stated in my last
letter. The exact number may not be known,
for some time, as some persons are missing
whose absence may yet be accounted for.
The loss of life is melancholy indeed, and
the sympathy of the Hawaiian people,
trust, will be deeply expressed in some way
to The mourning and bereaved families of
and keenly severed by the hand of God.
The tidal wave referred to in my last was
much greater than stated. 1t rolled in over
the tops Of the cocoanut trees, probably sixty
feet high at least, and drove the floating
rubbish, timber etc, inland distance of
quarter of a mile in some places, taking with
it, when it returned to the sea, houses, men,
women, and almost everything movable.
But close this letter in order 10 get it
on board the Koua packet, now ready to
start. Adieu, II. M. w.