The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-01-24
MAUNA LOA,
The Great Volcano of the Sandwich Is
lands-A Descent into the Crater of Kill
auea.
THE CRATER OF KTTAUFA

]
THE CRATER OF KILAUEA.
This is one of the principal craters of
Mauna Loa, which have been in active
operation for the last hundred, and
probably for many hundred, years. 1t
varies almost constantly, certainly
every few months, in size, appearance,
and degree of activity. At the time of
our visit, it was from three to four
miles In diameter, being the longest
/ from northeast to southwest, about ten
miles IN circumference, and varying in
depth from 500 to 1900 feet, according
to the formation of the country around
| it. 1t is surrounded on every side by
perpendicular walls, and the bottom,
which is very irregular in its surface,
| IS, when not in commotion, filled with
/ lava of a dark and sometimes black col
or. Some of il is of very recent forma-
ton, and all is entirely destitute of vege-
! tation.
At the Volcano House we found good
accommodations, and in the morning,
with an additional guide,
DESCENDED INTO THE GREAT CRATER
By a stairway which had been con-
structed at place where the walls were
somewhat less than perpendicular. Our
course now lay over new lava for some
two or three miles. The first two-thirds
of the way the footing seemed to be safe
enough. Then it was sounded with
sticks carried for the purpose, to test
its strength, as we proceeded. The ap-
pearance of the surface of this crater,
for the whole distance, was irregular
and wild beyond description. Now there
would be, for a number of rods, a
smooth surface, resembling ice; then a
huge cakes and powders, piled together
IN every conceivable manner; then
great wall of rocks, running in a contin-
uOus chain more than half mile; then
huge chasm would yawn before us,
across which a way had been tempOrari-
ly bridged with rocks. To the south
ward arose an immense hill of lava,
down which it has recently been flow
ing, and which exhibited large cakes or
layers Just as it had cooled and stopped
running, resembling mOlasses candy
when first taken from the fire and
poured into platter.
Having crossed a large depression,
or basin, passing few smoking vents
on the way, we came to the foot of the
hill or mountain of lava above referred
to. Here the flow was more recent, and
the way more dangerous. La many
places the lower crust
WAS HOT AND SMOKING.
These had to be avoided, and the way
carefully picked out between them.
Still we toiled onward and upward, anx-
ious, if possible, to get near view of
the crater, and thinking it now possible
to do so, as there had not been, for two
C1. e
from it. We were obliged to pass by
the fire vents, from which flames were
burning forth, and the lava crust was
everywhere hot beneath our feet. One
of the guides declared we could go no
further. We had been told at Homo
lulu that it would be impossible to go
to the crater, and we knew of parties
who had not attempted it. The fact,
with the assertion of the guide, caused
us to hesitate. The guide, knowing our
anxiety to proceed if possible, expert
mented somewhat further. He finally
found a ridge of lava, somewhat finer
and cooler than the rest, and, getting
upon it, walked rapidly forward. We
followed close behind him, and, in less
than a minute, stood upon the edge of
what, as it has assumed its present
L
have called
THE CRATER OF 1872.
1t is about half mile in circumfer-
ence. 1t was formerly q lake of liquid
lava, sunk below the surrounding sur
face, but, by constant overflow and cool
ing, a small mountain has been formed
arOung it, and it has now assumed the
form of a complete crater
We had finally come where we could
look down into its awful depths, and
there was a sight the impression of
which can never fade from the memory.
-Four or five hundred feet below was
liquid mass of fire, of nearly ten acres
in extent, boiling, foaming, surging,
lashing itself against the sides of the
crater, with roaring sound like the
surf of heavy sea breaking upon the
shore. At times a spout of fiery liquid
would shoot up hundred feet or more,
suggesting the unpleasant possibility of
its being sent up to the place where we
were standing. Then again it would be
comparatively quiet, presenting the ap-
pearance of rising around the inclosure.
It was manifest that the immense mass
of lava there confined was struggling to
get out: and lest it should succeed in
doing so We turned our steps down. the
hillside. Mother Pele, the goddess to
whom the natives ascribe the control of
this wonderful phenomenon, was boiling
her porridge-pot fiercely, and, as we did
not care to be cooked in it, we made our
way, as best we could, back to the Vol
cauo House.