The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-04-22

hi AOftu LdIhct MI hOAA ASA Po1
sengers, and sailed yesterday on an excursion
trip to Kan. Ten or fifteen persons provi-
stoned and equipped for sight seeing started
out in the vessel.
MURDER.-Capt. Prince, of the bark Jenny
Prince, which came to anchor in the road
stead on Saturday, en- route from San Juan
to Bakers Island. reported to the American
Consul that murder had been committed
on board during the passage. The criminal,
Heber Outerbridge, cook of the vessel, ne
gro from Bermuda, was brought on shore
and committed to prison to await being sent
to San Francisco for trial. VIM. Robertson,
the murdered man, Swede, and seaman, was
lying asleep on the deck during the night of
Tuesday, March 81, when Heber struck him
on the head with a handspike, killing him
instantly. He confessed that he killed Rob-
erson, and did so in selfdefense, because
Robertson had several times threatened his life
and Heber believed that he was in constant
peril. He is a quiet, inoffensive appearing
man, and peaceable, so that during the re-
mainder of the passage, the captain did not
confne him, but kept him on duty. Two
witnesses will be taken from the vessel to
testify on the trial.
THE ERUPTIoN.-0ur latest reliable news
from the eruption is by the Kona Packet,
which left Kealualu Friday the Sd ult. Rev.
Mr. Pogue and family, and Capt. Browns
family came down. No foreign families are
left in the district. Nearly two thousand
earthquakes, and fiery, terrible stream of
lava, are enough to appal the stoutest nerves.
The fairest and most fertile parts of the
district have been overwhelmed, by the lava
flow on Kahuku and the mud flow on
Keiwa. There are native reports that three
or four distinct streams are flowing, but we
await confirmation of the fact, which mus;
soon come TO hand, if it is correct. Mean
time We know, that one gigantic and awful
flow exists on Kahaku.
On Tuesday the 18th, about 5 P. NJ, the
family of Capt. Brown were startled, by an
explosion and a terrific roar, about two
miles from their house. At once they saw
several jets of lava mounting upward, nearly
e thousand feet while smoke and steam
shot up to the clouds. The glare of the
fire, cast lurid light far and near, while
the lava was seen coming down rapidly
upon their doomed dwelling. The family,
and the natives about the premises, ran for
their lives, first in q wrong direction, haply
soon corrected by Mr.. Swain, whose presence
of mind pointed out, that up the mountain
and across the gulch, was the only chance
of escape. Painting and excited, the people
gained the farther bank, when in a few
minutes the glowing lava poured through
the gulch, filling it with a stream of living
fire. The stream parted at the source, to
join again further down. On the enclosed
space of grassy land, more than two hun
dred head of cattle were feeding; the terri
fed animals made aware of their peril, by
the increasing heat and the gradual closing
in of the lava, which soon covered the land
at first spared, stood quiet and helpless. 1t
was a short respite only. On came the fire,
and in an instant slight puff of smoke was
all that remained of the dumb beasts.
From the Advertiser, we learn that this
lava stream has a course of ten miles from
the crater to the sea. From the Kona side,
where the editor saw it on Friday the 10th,
he says:
AT the left were these four grand foun-
tains playing with terrific fury, throwing
blood-red lava and huge stones, some as
large as a house, to a height varying con-
stantly from 500 to 1000 feet.
"Then there was the rapid, rolling stream,
rushing aud turnbling like swollen river,
down the hill over the precipice and down
tue valley TO the sea, surging and roaring
like a cataract, with fury perfectly indie
scribable This riUer Of fire varied from 500
to 1900 or 1900 feet in width"
OFF the coast the Kond Packet on Tuesday
the 9TH was surprised by the sudden eleva-
ton, about a mile of shore, of mass of
rock and lava; she was so near that mud and
spray were thrown upon the sails. This
occurred just before the crater opened above
Capt. Browns house, and doubtless was an
effort of the imprisoned lava, that lifted the
sea bed, and almost Immediately found vent
higher up the mountain. The flow into the
sea, in a short time connected this advance
post with the mainland, so that peninsula
has been formed, running out at an angle !
with the coast Some appreciation of the |
mass of lava discharged from the new era
ter may be formed from the fact, of this |
peninsula of mile in extent being formed |
in the deep sea in about 60 hours. This new |
eruption will before it ceases, probably add |
thousands of acres TO the area of the island, |
though not Of such land, as will compen-
safe our generation for the fertile land over |
whelmed
The land all through Waiohinu is badly |
fissured and moved. In one place on the |
road to the landing, the action is distinctly |
marked by assure, on the one side of
which the road is displaced several feet 1t
does not match by that much, with the dis |
jointed portion on the other side.
The earthquakes through the island have
abated though not entirely In Kohala,
strong snakes were felt on the 14th and go |
also at Hilo. Further news from the erup-
ton may be expected by the steamer this
week.
FROM LANAI.