The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-31
VOLCANIC.
The Flow Of MUD as K.p.n.I.. Hawaii.

The Flow of Mud at KapapaIa, Hawaii.
sudden and remarkable outburst of stream
OF mud was one OF the most wonderful among
the phenomena accompanying the recent vol
caulc erupuons at the Sand Wlch Islands. The
iollo wing letter in the Honolulu Advertiser,
gives some further Information concerning I.:-
HILo Friday, May S.-MR. EDIToR:-We left
Hilo on MOnday, the 27tn of April III a cold,
penetrating ram storm, which continued during
nearly the whole of our absence. On Tuesday
we reached Kapapala, where, after resting q few
minutts at MIR. Richardson's, we rode on to the
flow, distance OF about one aud quarter miles.
Continued rams had kept the mud in soft and
IS icky" conOiuon, so that it was not possible TO
cross on horseback, or even on loot. Crossing
two new streams OF water, of considerable
size, running down outside OF the flow, we
followed the mud banks down 10 their trrminI,
and struck the road again on thei farther
side about two and halt miles from Mr.. Lyman's
house, Here we Wore fortunate enough
TO find a native, who, all undismayed,
was busy engaged in the manufacture of
pol and who acled as host, guide and oracle.
Early on Wednesday morning we began the
ascent of the bluff, and after hard pull OF per-
baps an hour reached the summit, where we
enjoy ed BIRDS eye view of the whole scene.
We Judged the whole flow Chat IS the main DO Wy
TO be two al d a bali miles in length, aud half q
mile in breadth at the summit. Two streams of
thick dirty water ran do Rn through the mud to
the foot OF the hill, where they united, aud, tol-
lowing the flow to its terminus continued on
down towards the sea- The natives say the
water actually reaches the ocean Besides this
stream there we're the two previously men,
toned. They all are affected by the rains, aud
will probably cease to run after the rainy season
is over.
The flow is composed as you know already,
of red mud, some what tenacious, and still
quite soft in many places. Huge rocks trees
fences, etc, are IN erniDeled as If the too of
the hill had been blasted off in a great mass.
And this seems 10 be the idea nov generally
received. Undoubtedly the fire beneath came
in contact with some vast body of water, and
the rapid generation OF steam produced
mighty bOiler-lke explosion. Our native, VINO
was present at the time of the eruption, assured
us that the flow ran do Sn like watpr,n and
that IL was not caused as some have Supposed
by the cracking open OF the ground, and the
tbro wing up OF the earth over the whole dis
tai ce instantaneously. There was every appear
ance OF genuine flow, especially along the
edges, where we noticed a smooth, rounded
pahochoe-like curve very frequently. Near the
centre OF the stream little island is lett, upon
which stands house.
The actual depth of the mud it was difficult
to determine. IL ranges p-rhaps from five to
thirty feet. Thirty-one natives we're buried
alive on that eventful Thursday, the I'd of ADrl,
and about one thousar d head of cattle, belong
ing to Messrs. Read & Richardson. The stream
runs by compass E s. +.
AS there was said to be no fire in the crater,
we did not go down. The central portion OF the
pit has sunk to depth of perhaps 800 feet
below its ordinary level and from he banks on
the KaI. eide vast masses OF rock have be gu
disIodged by the severe earthquakes. Yours,
very truly.