The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-02-28
From the Volcano !
A NEW AN D REMARKABLE
VOLCANIC OUTBREAK f!
IN KEALAKEAKUA BAY!
IN KEALAKEAKUA BAY!

WHICH occurred on the lftn, ana winch lasted
only six hours. Returning from Kau, we
reached Kealakeakua Bay, on Saturday morn
ing, Feb. 81, where most singular outbreak
was found to have taken place, being nothing
less than a
SUBMARINE VOLCANO,
near the entrance of the harbor. On approach
ing the scene of action, three canoes were OBJ
served cruising around the crater, in which
were Judge Hoapili, Hon. Simon Kaai, and
others, who were attracted thither by the re-
ports which had spread rapidly over the coun-
try.
As the steamer approached nearer, columns
of smoke or steam were seen rising from the
surface of the sea, resembling the spouting of
a school of whales, and numerous pieces of lava
were floating about A boat was Immediately
despatched to the scene, which returned with
specimens of the floating 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 three o'clock on
the morning of the oath, about mile from
shore, and it appeared like innumerable red,
blue and green lights. Some thought these
were the steamers lights-only they were so
numerous as to excite some CONSERVATION.
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 Kealakea-
l-,,, po,v that Dnin
its southern shore. The volcano appears to
consist of a submarine rupture, running in
straight 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 twenty to
sixty fathoms, and the new volcano lies directly
across the track of vessels bound south from
the bay. The course of this land and sub
marine ground rent is about w. n. W. by E.
Sc.
In the afternoon of the oath, three boats
from the steamer visited the scene of the
eruption, cruised directly over the most active
part, where the water was in state of pecu-
liar activity, boiling and appearing as if pass
ing over rapids, or very much like the water
at Hellgate, New York While the boats We're
in this position, blocks of lava, two feet
square, came up from below, frequently strik-
ing and Earring the boats. In one minute, we
counted no less than six of these stones hit
ting the boat. Yet as the lava was quite soft,
no harm was done. Nearly all the pieces, on
reaching the surface were, red hot emitting
steam and gas, strongly sulphurous. A fine
Il, r IL. NJ
AT one time the surface of the sea was cover
ed 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 werc taken into the boats, perfectly
incandescent and so molten in the interior,
that the lava could be stirred with 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 freshet, caused no doubt by the
eruption of lava from the submarine crater,
which is supposed to be crack or line of
rupture extending at least a mile from the
shore. Another rupture, doubtless con-
tinuation of the submarine fssure, was traced
inland from the shore nearly three miles, vary
ing in width from few inches to three feet
In some places the water was seen pouring
down the 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 prece-
ded 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 frequently emitted at the commence
ment of these eruptions, called by Hawaiians
"a. When hot and burning. it floats
readily, sustained on the surface partly by
the gases, which give a strong sui
phurous smell to the vicinity. When cold and
saturated with water, it sinks to the bottom.
1t is probable that only the very lightest lava
reaches the surface, while most of it remains
at the bottom, the water here varying from ten
to fifty fathOms in depth. Some of this lava
consists of what is known as q Pele's hair"
and when first taken out is red hot, and yet
preserves its peculiar characteristics. This
| singular volcanic glass has always been sup
posed to be formed by the wind blowing the
| floating lava as it rises from the crater, and
causing it to spin out. How it gets down
der Kona is question for scientists to solve.
Numerous fishes were killed by the action
of the volcano, and were picked up on the
surface by natives cruising around the spot in
their canoes.
The foreigners residing on the hill at Kea-
lakeakua watched this singular eruption with
| glasses, but so far as we could learn it was
not visited by boats until after the passengers
by the steamer had done so.
What is most singular in this connection, is
the fact that no volcanic eruption has been
known to have occurred in the Kona district of
Hawaii, during the residence of foreigners
there, or within the last hundred years. The
active fires and flows were supposed to be con-
fined to the summit crater of Mokuaweoweo,
and to the districts of Puma and Kau. The
present outbreak indicates that the internal
fires are again at work undermining the earth
crust below Kona, though it is to be hoped
that there will be no further outbreak. How
long this eruption will continue in action, no