The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-11-20

panied with clouds OF steam. Inc eou'i''ron v NV
sea, and spout of volcanic matter, lasted about three
minutes. The captain in alarm ordered the man at
the wheel, the vessel Icing then under way. to head
her of but as she vas about to wear round, they
saw astern another submarine eruption. In this
they could only perceive a great eoullItion OF the
ocean, and an asserting column OF steam. which
continued visible til night set in. The sea all
around the vessel during this time was in a fretful
state, making a heavy chop sea. and the schooner
rolled and rocked heavily.
The Captain of the steamer Lehua which came
into port last evening from Maui, reports that the
brilliant light caused by the eruption, was visi-
BILE from Labaina on Thursday night, still as in
tense as in the first stages of the flow.
The flow of lava from Mauna Loa still con-
tinues, and the scene presented from the sea
beppars descn ption. On Wednesday night the
flow could be seen distinctly from Hilo, vending
its way towards Puma, with a small branch
stream running towards Hilo. The stream run
ming towards Puma is about 80 miles in length,
and from 1O to 300 yards in width, with a
depth of abolt 20 feet. On Wednesday night
the two streams ran parallel for some distance,
and presented a very beautiful sight columns OF
6LuOk6 anu eau doCcuuCu lIOh bObh otiOollc
and united IN an arch overhead, forming an
avenue through which could be seen for miles
the molten mass boiling and seething here and
there, suddenly throwing up immense cones, to
be as suddenly burst asunder, and in other places
immense columns of lava would be thrown to the
height of 200 feet or more. A gentleman who
visited the vicinity of the eruption to ascertain
the direction of the flow, states that on Thursday
afternoon the main stream was within ten miles
of the Volcano House, and running towards
Puma, whilethe smaller stream was within fifteen
miles of Hio, but he apprehends no danger to
Hilo, as the stream is very sluggish, and will
have to fill up an intervening gulch before it can
get to the toyn-and even at its present rate 1t
would take many months to even fill the gulch.
There is an immense lake of molten lava on the
plateau between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa,
nearly fifteen miles in circumference, which feeds
three streams, and in turn is fed from the crater,
which is still throwing out immense quantities of
lava. Friday night the light was not as brilliant
as it has been-probably on account OF the sur
face lava having cooled to a certain extent"
We copy frNn the Gazette the following gra-
phic account of the eruption from Mauna Loa
WA1MEA, November 18th, 1880.
We pitched our tent under the lee of the hill and
alongside of some fine Mamani trees, where we
could see the whole slope of Mauna Loa, but not
the whole plain. Clouds and fog had now en-
veloped the whole plain and mountain, and not a
light could We see. We climbed the hillside now
ever, and sat down under the lee of some bushes
and awaited the clearing up of the fog and clouds.
1t was not long before old Mauna Loa lifted Its
bald head above the tops of the snowy clouds and
a brilliant light burst on our view from the sum-
NIT. In a few minutes we could see the whole line
of fire along the summit, down to the terminal
crater, where an intense bright light showed US
that old Pele was true to herself and was preparing
a sight for all, seldom to be seen. AS the fog grad
ain, we saw a tremendous river of fire pouring
down the steep sides We could see it distinctly
down the slope, till it ran into the fog bank, which
had settled like a huge snow bed all over the low
lands. The fire was an intense white light and was
running furlously downward. After waiting till
eleven O'Clock, and the fog not clearing off the
plain we went back down to the camp and watched
the magnificent show. About half past twelve the
fog lifting, two of us went up the side of the hill
towards Puma to see the sight. and what a sight it
was. Almost under our feet lay the end of the flow
slowly pushing it's way along through the scrub
the moon set, and still it was light enough to see
to read. Away above US in the heavens shone the
brilliant fountain head, and from thence to the
end was a continuous stream of liquid lava, bright
er by far than fire, as we could see how pale a fire
looked in comparison whenever a bush took fire
and burnt up alongside. There lay a river of fire
before US at least thirty miles long, every inch of
which was one bright rolling tide of fire. There
was not a single break in the whole length. 1t di-
vided about a mile from the top and ran down
forming a parallelogram, Joined again, and run
five miles below. The whole front edge being about
three fourths of a mile wide was a most intensely
brilliant light, and as it slowly advanced and
rolled over the small trees and scrub, bright flames
would nasa up ana o. one e out noa along ItE IT'S whole eage:
AS we sat there IN the cool stln nlgnt watcn1nS
IL, every now ana tnen a report as II a cannon oroke
on the stiffness, all along the whole line OF hre,
caused 1 suppose by the heating or alr under the
new lava In the old lava caverns and bursting up
through the crust. Then too occasionally a deep,
but loud rumbllng noise would almost start US from
our seats, evidently coming from the deep re-
cesses of the old mountain, as if it was spouting
forth its fiery Hood. The cannonade was very fire.
quent, now right close to us and again coming
from a distance away up the side of the mountain.
I could compare the whole view, with nothing, but
like a streak of chain lighting frozen in its tracks,
as the fire seemed to come out of the Heavens, it
was so far above US. AS we sat there watching it,
all at once a huge dome of molten lava was thrown
up about half way up the mountain side, and con-
tinued to flow over like an immense fountain, as
long as we watched it. We also saw another stream
of lava start from the fountain head and run right
along the top ridge of the mountain for about two
miles and then apparently stop. There was no
fountain throwing up lava ON the top of the noun
tain only a steady rushing stream. About half
past two we descended to camp and turned in for a
few hours sleep.
The next day after breakfast we made a futile
attempt to reach the flow directly opposite Kalae-
cha, but as the fog and mist were very thick, gave
it up.
On my return / again made this ascent to where
we viewed the fire the night before to determine
the position of the whole flow. Before 1 reached
the place the mista cleared off and 1 had a splendid