The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-04-11
LATEST
FROM THE VOLCANO |!
GREATEST ERTPTION ON RECORD !
One Hundred Lives Lost!
Whole Villages Destroyed
Several Lava Streams Flowing.
Letter from The Editor.
KE.LAKEAKrA BAY, April 8-12 NJ.

we 'lSAAN HWY b2Aio ~ ~ - " W
find a scene as our hitherto favored islands have
not witnessed since the feet of foreigners touched
their soil.
The earthquake of Thursday afternoon, which
destroyed many lives, and even whole villages.
At Honoapo, (Which is midway between Wal
ohinu and Punaluu,) sixteen natives were killed
by the earthquake and tidal wave which followed
it, and swept them off into the sea. Only two
houses in the village were left standing.
At Kealualu, (the port of Waiohinu,) several
lives were lost by the tidal wave.
At Punaluu, three deaths from the same cause.
The village of Waiohinu is all in ruins, and about
twenty lives are reported as lost.
All the churches in the Kau district Except one
or two frame houses) are Frustrated.
Mr.. Pogue estimates the deaths in the Kau dis
trict, as heard from, at over one hundred.
In Paliuka "a few miles beyond Waiohinu,
there were twenty deaths from the earthquake and
Is from the tidal wave-33 in all.
Charles N. Spencer and family, Capt. Haley
and family, Mr.. Vida, Rev Mr.. Paris and family,
Mr.. Logan and family, and probably others go
down to Honolulu in the steamer, considering it
unsafe to remain in this district. Mr.. Pogue and
family have not left Kau, but will probably 60
down in the schooner Kona Packet.
The eruption or lava flows commenced yester-
day, and one stream is flowing into the sea about
half way between Kappa and the South Point.
Another stream is flowing on the Puma side,
that is said to consist of mud and sulphurous
water. only. Mr.. Lyman and family have left for
Hilo.
Our company will start tonight in a sloop now
safer than to go overland, and as more likely to
furnish the best view. We hope to find the lava
stream tomorrow flowing into the sea. We shall
then go on to Waiohinu, SO as to see and report
from actual observation the condition of things.
If a party comes up next week, the steamer
should be engaged to take them ON to Alualu har-
Dor (the port of Kau) from whence they can visit
the lava streams either north or east of that point.
Travellers, however, must be prepared to g rough
it, and sleep anywhere and eat anything, as prob
ably no foreigners Will be found in the district.
At midnight (last night) we could clearly see
the Mua stream from the steamer, flowing down
the mountain side, and the whole mountain illu-
minated as if a large city was burning.
p. S.-A person Just in from Kau, near Ka-
huku, brings the following authentic report of the
killed and drowned at Paliuka, 33 Makaka,
13: Punaluu, 4 ; at Honoapo, 81 Kamilo, s.
total 80. More probably will be found missing.
The greatest CONSERVATION exists through the
entire Kau district, and even here in the Kona
district. But as the shocks have sensibly de-
creased, and the flows have begun, it is probable
that the worst is over.
The tidal wave referred to is stated by the ma
tives to have been some ten or twelve feet above
the usual height. Then it receded at least eighteen
great return wave swept most of the houses from
the beach and drowned many. The sea rose and
fell eight different times.
This whole island is enveloped in smoke, SO that
it is impossible to see over two or three miles in
any direction, and at times hardly half a mile.
We may be compelled to go on around to Hilo,
but shall hope to get back to this point in time
to meet the next weeks steamer
At Waiohinu, on the road to Kiolakaa, IA crack
has opened from one to seven feet, extending to
the beach and mauka as far as the eye can reach.
One remarkable feature of this is, that the end of
the road, at the chasm, are not opposite each 9TH
er, one side having moved the width of the road
mauka or makai.
The southeast side and summit of the hill at
kiolakaa was thrown a distance of a thousand
feet over the tops of the trees, landing in the val
ley below, the turf covering the hill apparently
undisturbed.
1t is estimated that a thousand animals, (horses,
cattle, goats and Sheep were destroyed at Keaiwa,
from the poisonous gasses which issued from the
hill at the time it was thrown down.
On Kahuku, back of the church, is n hole sixty
feet in diameter, the bottom of which cannot be
seen.
The tidal wave swept over the tops of the Co
coanut trees along the whole line of the coast.
At Keaiwa, a land slide occurred which buried
33 natives.
Over fifteen hundred shocks of earthquake have
been experienced within the last ten days.
Letter from, Kan.
WAIoHINU, Kau, Hawaii, April B, 1868
DEAR SIR Kan is in mourning. The glory is
departed. The Lords hand is upon us. Our