Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-18
OFFICE-FIRsT NATIONAL BANK.

transformed into a vast pit, more thar
Eve hundred feet deep, the solid eastern
wall projecting far over the hollow be
low, while the remaining sides are falling
, off with sharp inclination, and con-
sists of confused mass OF lava More
than two thirds of the old floor of Kilauea
has caved in, aud sunk from one hun.
dred to two hundred feet below the level
of the remaining floor. The depression
embraces the whole western half and
infringes ia a semi-circular line on q
considerable portion of the other half.
| II is greatest in the northern, and gradual
and gentle in its southern portion. En-
tering upon the depressed floor from the
southern lake, it was some time before
we became fully aware of its existence.
1t was only on our return from the
northwest corner, where it is deepest,
that there presented itself through the
mist in which we were enveloped, q high
wall of three hundred feet of grotesque
and fantastic outlines At first we were
quite bewildered, fancying that we be-
held the great outer wall of the crater.
On nearer approach we soon satisfied
ourselves that this singular wall repre-
sented the line of dem ark alton of great
depression in the floor Of the crater-a
fact that surprised US the more, as q
bird s.eye view from above had altogether
failed to apprise us Of its existence.
In Kapapala we we're told that fire had
been seen several nights in southwest
direction, and that natives had reported
flowing lava there. We rode over in the
morning of April 20 At distance Of
five miles from Reeds dwelling. where
the Puma road turns off from the Kilauea
road, heavy clouds of white vapor were
seen to issue from the bush, which
sparsely covered the pahoehoe maksi of
the road. Hall an hours ride brought
us up to the place, but we were obliged
to leave our horses some distapre before
reaching the spot on account OF the fi5-
sures. After having crossed a number
of them, heading for the heaviest cloud
of vapor, we at last came to a deep
crevasse in the paboehoe, at least twenty
four feet in width, no bottom visible. 1t
narrowed aud widened out in places. but
nowhere was less than eight feet wide.
Its length we estimate at four hun&ed
feet Parallel with the great crevasse,
constituting q belt about six hundred
feet in width, were a number of smaller
ones each side, diminishing in size with
distance from it, from six feet to few
inches. From the larger openings in the
former heavy white columns of hot steam
issued, which had decidedly alkaline
smell Smaller jets Of vapor, to the
number of thirty, rose from the smaller
assures. We could not discover hire In
any place, but it is very probable that
during dark nights the reflex Of the I'M
derlying lava should be thrown mp, for as
the steam did not seem to contain com
bustible material, il is unlikely that the
lights seen should have been produ ced
by it, The mean direction of all the
fissures was N. Z. 3 degrees N, w. 3 de-
grees s., or nearly the direction of line
connecting Kilauea with Waiohinu and
Kahuku.
As in this district, the earthquake OF
April I'd eliminated to its greatest in
tensity, so as even to rend in twain the
framework of a mountain side, and hurl
down on the plain portion OF its Hank,
it is necessary to give a short description
of the country in order to insure a proper
understanding Of the disturbance. The
locality in question is that comprised be-
tween the ranch stations of Reed d Rich
ardsou on the east, and F. Lyman on
the west. a distance Of Ave miles. The
Government road connecting these two
places, ruus through fine grassy plain,
which has q very gentle fall toward the
sea. its elevation being about 1000 feet
Into this plain project from the slope OF
Mauna Loa three parallel hills or squire;
each about one mile in length, aud from
800 to 1000 feet in hight They include
two broad valleys between them. Ihe
upper portion Of these valleys rise With a
steep incline toward a ridge which runs
at right angles with tue spurs, and ls
covered with dense pull forest, which
extends far up the gentle slopes Of the
dome Of Mauna Loa In the second one
of these valleys-that next to Lyman's-
the so-called mud how took place, but
very extensive land slides, confined
simply to the loose earth aud conglome-
rate, also occurred in the other valleys
The mud fow is found three miles
from Reeds Il projects itself from the
spurs Of the bills two miles down on the
plain; begins at once with a thickness OF
six feet, which, toward the middle. where
il forms q small hill, rises to thirty feet
averages about three fourths Of mile IN
width. and contracts toward its end.
From this eod q long qaeue Of boulders
bears witness to the violent action Of
torrent which shot out Of the mud after
il =as deposited, and which has since
perpetuaied itself in . stream Of some
size, quite muddy, and emitting the
shove mentioned pottery odor when ve
saw il 6ss on April 20, but perfectly