The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-01-23
Earthquake, Storm and Volcano.

5Our attentive correspondents on the island of
Hawaii furnish interesting particulars of the lively
times !" experienced there of late, made up of an
Earthquake, a cyclone, and two eruptions. One of
the latter, that on the summit Of Mauna Loa, near
ly $4,000 feet above the sea level, must present a
grand spectacle. well worthy of the attention of
those who have the leisure to make a trip to Ha-
wall. The Ktauea will make the circuit of that
island next week.
HHo, Jan. Sd, 1875.
There was a great deal of activity in the crater
of Kilauea from Dec. 26th to the 29th. On the
evening of the 10Th, the lava commenced to flow
on the side of the hill of the South Lake, and in the
morning it had covered two superficial miles, when
it ceased. Those at the Volcano House say it was
a grand sight during the night, and in the morning
some beautiful specimens were obtained from the
flow. Mr.. Reed arrived at the Volcano House
from his ranch in the evening of the 29th, and OBJ
served a great deal of activity in the crater, but
being so accustomed to Kilauea he took no partic-
ular notice, until about midnight he was awakened
from sleep by a terrific roar, accompanied by occa-
sional explosions more deafening than all the
artillery of a grand army fred at once. The whole
heavens were lit up with the glare of the volcano.
Upon looking at the crater, the South Lake was
seen to be overlooking its banks on all sides.
Mr.. Reed passes Kilauea four or five times a
month, and has for the past fourteen years, but
never saw it in such a state of activity. He left
for Hilo after 6 O'Clock in the morning. but knew
nothing of the earthquake until he arrived here.
Old residents say that with two exceptions--in
1855 and in 1868, and on the last occasion the
whole island was shaken fearfully--there has been
nothing like the recent one. A continuous shake
of two or three minutes, like the earthquake of
Dec. %, must have torn everything to pieces.
HMo, Jan. 8. .
We are having a lively time first an earthquake
and in a few days a tornado can call it by no
other name. Jan. 4th, at 10 A. NJ, the weather was
clear and 6ne, when it came on to blow a gala
from the n. W, and by II grass houses and every
thing loose was flying in all directions. The sea
was all a white foam. At 3 P. N. it was all over,
and almost a calm.
A great deal of damage was done to the cane in
Geld, but the natives were the greatest sufferers by
having their houses blown down, or more or less
damaged. A frame bridge at the Onomea planta-
ton was blown down. 1t was seventy feet high
and nearly three hundred feet in length. 1t had
been built but two or three months.
There has been no rain in this district for nearly
a month, and a few days more of such weather,
some of the plantations will be compelled to cease
grinding for the want of water.
n HILo, January 18th, 8 A. NJ.
While 1 write, the top of Mauna Loa is one blaze
Of fire. The flames are shooting hundreds of feet
above the top of the mountain. Kilauea is an insig=
nifcant affair compared with this display. Sheet
lightning is playing mad pranks all around the
mountain.
Tsend this by the schooner which sails from Ono
mea this P. N. shall watch further developments
and inform you by first opportunity.
KAILUA, HAWAII, January 12th, 1875.
The summit crater of MokuaWeoweo, on Mauna
Loa, having been comparatively quiet for some
months, broke out active again on last Sunday
morning, the 10th instant. Just before sunrise q
heavy mass of dark smoke, illuminated by the rays
of the still hidden sun, arose in the direction of the
crater, which, in a straight line, lies about sixty
miles southeast from here, and. although the sum-
nit of the mountain is hid from direct view b. an
intervening ridge, the bright glare of the subter.
ranean fires on the smoke and clouds every night
shows that Pele is again actively at work. At Kau
q sharp shock of earthquake Immediately preceded
the outbreak.
On Monday last the natives observed the Princes
birthday with IrGus and Aulas throughout the dis
trict. F.B.
IMPROVED PRosPEcr IN THE WHALE FIsHERT.-