The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-12-08
LATEST FROM MAUNA lOA
THE ERUPTION DIMINISHING !

The following is the very latest from the scene
of the eruption, from gentleman of this city.
We also present our readers with another of Judge
Hitchcocks graphic letters:
Tbs eruption on Mauna Ioa still continues, but
the first two streams which broke out November
9Th have both ceased to flow. The lava flow on
the south side has passed Ainapo, but seems to
have finally stopped about mile and a half above
the Government road, and ten miles west of
Kilauea.
On the north side of Mauna Loa, the first stream,
which broke out November 9Th, near the source of
the eruption of '55, skirted the northern edge of
that iow until it reached Mawae in the edge of
the woods, % miles from Hio bay, where it ceased
TO flow, though it is still smoking in places. On
Wednesday November Path, there was intense &C
tion again at the of the eruption, or $500
feet above the sea, and hill thrown up at
least 400 feet high. An entirely new flow is now in
progress to the east of the first consisting of
eral small streams of moving slowly northeast.
At noon of Tuesday, November 3oth, they were
more than half way down the slope, and have
probably reached the great pahoehoe flow of 1855
by this time.
There is also brilliant display every night in a
new crater several miles west of the point where
the lava has flowed out and steam is rising at
several points along ths fssure which no doubt,
connects the two craters.
HrLo, HAWAII, Dec LIST, 1880.
EDITOR GAZETTE: On Monday last Prof A. and
myself left Hilo to again determine what Madame
Pele was doing on tins side of the Island. Mon
day after riding the dow of 1856 we visited
the first iow that visited over three weeks since
aud olfb ErI - 7
could only discover that it had moved onward
some 6 or 800 feet on the side toward Kalaeeha.
No red hot rocks or fire was to be seen anywhere
along its edge. 1t was evidently 'sDead How."
That night we encamped on high ground where
could see the whole mountain side and slope.
But before dark heavy fog set in and shut out all
our view. About midnight however it cleared off
and we had magnificent display. The summit
line of fire from Mokuaweoweo to the terminal
crater was extremely active and we saw stream
of fire flowing down we supposed then along the
old line. 1t widely spread out, but toward the
last it divided into two main streams. The sight
from our camp was splendid The view was I'M
DISTRACTED by fog or cloud discovered that there
had opened another crater at least two miles near
er Mokuawcoweo, than any l saw on my Waimea
trip. There was no light on the flow toward Kau.
started for the new flow which by day light we
discovered to be some distance to the south of the
first flow, and running down the large island en-
closed by the two arms of the flow of 1856. One
of the streams appeared to be half mile further
down the mountain, and distant from the termi-
nal crater some ten or twelve miles.
We struck the LIST flow about two miles from the
lava end and found it still hot and smoking along
the edges and in places all the surface. We
struck straight it however lodging the hot
ter places, and in just half hour descended the
south side into the - "A " of o. and from thence
down to the Pahoehoe flow of the same year. The
new " Aa' flow was at that place little over half
mile wide and terribly uneven. 1t had almost
entirely covered over the IA" of 1856 and in
some places even had oyerhowed the Pahoehoe
stream.
We then turned our course in straight line for
the most northern of the two streams. Our way
for the first miles was altogether the old
Pahoehoe till we reached the Island spoken of
above. This covered with grass, bushes and
small Ohia trees and was for the most part very
ancient IA " flow. Our ascent by this time was
quite steep and tiresome, and after about miles
side of the flow, whose red hot sides even the light
OF the sun did not din at more than mile dis
lance, Tins now was narrow. not over two or
three hundred feet in width. We were now with
In about 10 miles of the crater formed during
the last few days 1t is evidently formed of Vol
canc scoria and sand as the sides were very steep
and even. Its height may be about $50 feet and in
size not less than Punchbowl. The stream of fire
seemed 10 start from the rear of this hill and flow
down from around the north side. The IA ~
flow, along side of which now stood, was slowly
moving down the slope, in the manner as
described IN my former account red hot rocks
parting on from the steep sides and rolling to the
bottom setting ire to every shrub and tree they
touched, only in turn to be again covered by
another avalanche of the same. The steam and
gases arising from the flowing mass were almost
entirely free from the smell of sulphur. SO much
so that at few wards distance one could breathe
them. The smell being somewhat like the smell
arising In large Iron Foundry when the molten
iron Is flowing into the molds. After while, we
started across to view the other stream whose in
cesssnt avalanche of rock seemed to betoken
great activity and on climbing a spur of old Aa :"
what sight met our gaze. About 100 feet from
US the "Aa " had reached the PERCEPTIONS
side of the old flow and Just burst out the
whole front of that part of the ow and was rushing
down the steep incline like river. This was Aa !"
in fluid semi fluid state. 1t was lust fluid
enough TO run and that was all. The stream was
about50 feet In width and came slowly but irres-
istably down towards small island of rocks
where We was standing. Its surface was nearly
on plane, but entirely covered with small spear
like projections standing up and out of the liquid
lava while the surrounding lava red hot and in
semi-huid state. In this the fow of "Aa differs
greatly from Pahoehoe, which flows unevenly but
with smooth gittering surface Again 81 Aa y,
even when flowing almost looks like rock gran
ulated all the way through. l. has cohesion
and when falling breaks up into small pieces and
hardens almost instantly.
While Watching the flow of this IA - stream
which had passed our stand point about 100 feet,
| down a natural depression, saw huge boulder
loOsened from the mass above, come rolling down
the stream now and again hitting bottom and then
| pushed on by the irresistible power behind roll
completely over exposing its white hot surface and
then again sink almost out of sight only to be up
| heaTed again. The sight was one rarely vouch-
safed 20 men and well repaid US for the fatigue we
had experienced IN reaching the flow. After few
/ minutes longer watching that grand sight we
commenced retracing oar steps and Just before
/ dark after following down the LIST IA" flow,
keeping 1t on our right we reached Halealoha just
/ before dark after weary tramp of over 20 miles.
Thus far the flow has apparently continued un-
/ diminished, and the new how has now. without
doubt, very nearly reached the bottom of the noun
TAM bringing 1t about % miles from Hilo and
running down IN direct line to cross again to the
/ flow of % g. We reached Hilo about p. NJ. on
/ Wednesday, being gone from town only about two
/ and and a half days.
have just been reading Mr. Oleson's descrip-
tion and on the whole, 1t is good, but there are
several radical mistakes in it, which can be laid
! to his not having been on the ground before He
his way ftonl Raiasha to the tioc which is an
impossibihty, as the flow of AZ is some miles to
the west of kalaeha and the flow of '55-55 is to
the south of the first flow of 1850. He did how
ever, cross very ancient flow of IA.
Again the final crater, or where the lava pushed
its way down the mountain is exactly on the flow
of '55-6, and not that of '52. In no instance
has the present flow reached that of '52, but is
some miles to the north of Ii. 1t is almost an i'm
| possibility tracing the flow of 80 from the Ka-
| laeha side of Mauna Kea, as that flow broke out
1 the western slope of Mauna Loa, and not the
eastern The flows of 43, 81, $3.50 and 80 are the
only ones to be seen from kalaeha and vicinity.
Both, professor \ and myself carefully studied
the locality of all the flows, having with also for
reference copy of the veyor-GeneraI's map of
central Hawaii.
1t is quite singular that up to this time no pa
hoehoe has been elected during this eruption only