Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-31
THE sUBMARTNE YOLCANO.

From the number of the Gazette
of February 28th we have an ae-
count of the other extraordinary
eruption, as follows
"The steamer Kilauea, which
left this port on Tuesday Of last
week for the scene of the eruption
at Hawaii, returned on Monday
morning, having proceeded as far
as Kau, which point she left on
Friday evening, nothing being yis-
ible of the summit eruption which
occurred on the l4th, and which
lasted only six hours. Returning
from Kau we reached Kealakeakua
Bay on Saturday morning, Febru-
AIRY oath, where a most singular
outbreak was found to have taken
place, being nothing less than a
submarine volcano, near the en-
trance of the harbor. On approach
ing the scene of eruption, three
canoes were observed cruising
around the crater, in which were
Judge Hoapili, Hon. Limon Kaau
and Others, who were attracted
thither by the reports which had
spread rapidly over the country.
AS the steamer approached nearer,
columns Of smoke we're seen rising
from the surface of the sea, resemb-
ling the spouting of a school of
whales, and numerous pieces Of lava
were floating about. A boat was
dispatched to the scene, and re-
turned with specimens of the float
ing lava, which have been brought
to Honolulu, and can be seen at our
Office. The natives report that the
eruption was first observed in the
sea at 3 o'clock on the morning of
the gath, about a mile from the
shore, and it appeared like innu-
merable red, blue and green lights.
Some thought they were the steam
er's lights, only they were so nume-
rous as to excite some consterna-
ton. Morning disclosed the fact
that a new volcano had broken out,
and that it was the cause Of the
strange illumination seen during
the night.
"Those who are acquainted with
Keaiakeakua Bay will recollect that
Keel Point forms its southern
shore. The volcano appears to con-
sist Of a submarine rupture, run
ming in a starlight line out to sea,
steam and lava rising as far out as
one mile from the point. The depth
of water here has been from 20
to co fathoms, and the new volcano
lies directly across the track of YES
sells bound south from the bay. The
course of this land and submarine
ground-rent is about west, north
west by east, southeast.
" In the afternoon of the Gath
three boats from the steamer visited
the scene of the eruption, cruised
directly over the most active part,
where the water was in a state Of
peculiar activity, beiling and ap-
pearing as if passing over rapids,
or very much like the water at
He'll Gate, New York. While the
boats we're in this position blocks
of lava, two feet square came up
from below, frequently striking and
jarring the boats. In one minute
we counted no less than six of these
stones striking the boat; yet, as the
lava was quite soft, no harm was
done. Nearlyall the pieces on reach
ing the surface were red hot, emit
ting steam and gas strongly sulphu-
rous. A fine block of this has
been secured for the museum. AT
one time the surface of the sea was
covered with several hundred pieces
of this lava, but we observed that
as soon as they became cold they
sank as rapidly as they had risen.
Several were taken into the boats,
perfectly incandescent and 80
molten in the interior that the
lava could be stirred with a stick
like pudding, the water having
penetrated not more than an inch
from the surface. A rumbling
noise was heard like that of rocks
in a freshet, caused no doubt by the
eruption of lava from the subma-
lnne crater, which is supposed to
be a crack or line Of rupture ex-
tending at least a mile from the
shore. Another rupture, doubtless
a continuation of the submarine
assure, was traced inland from the
shore nearly three miles, varying
in width from a few inches to three
feet. In some places the water was
seen pouring down tho opening
into the abyss below, food for the
fiery element. A severe earthquake
shock was felt by those living at
Kaawaloa and Keel during the
night of the eruption, which must
have preceded the outbreak. 1t
was quite severe, but no damage is
reported.
''The lava thrown up from the
new volcano is quite porous, brittle
and light, similar to what is fire.
louentlv emitted at the oommAnce.