Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-25
miscellaneous.
GREAT VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

~ AhaW St hsaso oNSh CNNtttN Nv MI
eruption OF the volcano Mauna Loa which
far exceeds any former outbreak Of that
celebrated mountain of fire. The erup-
ton began early on the evening OF the 9TH
INST. a few miles north of the summit
crater. and flowed rapidly down to the
plateau lying between kea and Mauna
l.oa. Ii formed two branches. one run
ming toward the old crater of kilauea and
the other toward the east. On being first
observed il was seen that the great stream
of liquid fire was making its way toward
kea. But early on Saturday morning,
some twelve hours after the outbreak. 1t
was noticed that the second flow appeared.
and was rapidly running in the direction
of the beautiful town of Hilo. fmme-
diately there was the utmost alarm, and
for time there was every fear that the
place was destined To be overwhelmed.
But before the stream had reached half
the distance to deep wood. which stands
in the way, it suddenly and without any
apparent reason, turned 10 the northward
So the flows continued until "Wednesday,
the 18th inst. when the two streams ran
beside each other for considerable dis
tance, presenting one Of the grandest
sights which could possibly be witnessed
From both rivers of red hot matter there
assembled dense columns of steam and
smoke. and these, as they went upward
and united for time, formed an arch-like
avenue, through which there could for
miles be seen the dull glare OF the boiling
and bubbling mass which steadily moved
on its way. Suddenly here aud there
great cones would he thrown up, and
again streams of lava, at if unable TO find
vent in any other direction. were forced
upward in columns TO the height OF scores
of feet For more than thirty miles from
the outlet the liquid fire rolled on, the
width OF the streams being from six and
eight to twenty and thirty feet, according
to the nature of the ground over which
they made their way,
In places. too, their front edge rose to
the height of 80 feet, presenting the ap-
pearance of an advance wall of fire. From
this mass great blocks of matter continu-
ally crumbled and broke of, falling with
q dull crash which cannot be described
As has been intimated. il the lava contin-
ues TO flow in the direction which il has
now taken there will he hardly any danger
of its doing any damage to Hilo. Run
ming as IL does it would have 10 fill up the
UIedl NdlitN DtifW IiuiI VIZ abu w
swamps before reaching the neighborhood
of the town. Still there is n danger that
the stream may strike and follow the
course of the flow" of 1855, which
lasted thirteen months, and sent the burn
ing lava over an area estimated at 300
square miles. II il should take this course
il would in all probability 60 TO and be-
yond Hio. Still il is at present 81 miles
from that place, and the prospect is that
the town will escape llolealoah, on the
contrary, is in the greatest danger. But
while there is any event more than a
probability that much fixed property will
be lost there is but little danger OF loss Of
life The flow of lava is so slow and reg
ular that il can easily be avoided and all
the movables of value taken out of its
course.
Mauna Loa is said to be the highest ac-
tive volcano on the globe. Its elevation,
as ascertained by Lieut.. Charles Wilkes
native by the by of this city-during his
exploring expedition forty years ago. is
1873 feet; though from the sea, forty
miles distant, it looks like smooth. reg
ular hill. by no means imposing. clad half
way up with forests, and rounded off at
the top in the manner of a dome. The
mountain has been built up from accre-
| tons by volcanic agencies, to which in
fact, the whole d-IIawaii--owes its
origin but it has. different from many
volcanoes. no cone Of ashes. II has num-
Der of craters. both at the summit and on
the sides, and new ones are continually
forming. Kilauea, the old crater. is nine
miles in circumference and G000 feet above
sea level The terminal crater--the native
name is Moku-a-weo-weo--i some 15,0W
feet long. 5000 wide, and on the west
bank. is nearly eight hundred feet deep
Wilkes. who descended IL. describes IL as
full of ridges from ten TO fifty feet high
alternating with deep chasms, beds o
hardened lava. and smoke, AMI steam
exuding assures. The entire top oi
Mauna Ioa-Long or High Mountain
vast expanse of lava, thrown out fluid
and now resembling mass OF metal will
great beds Of clnkers. During Wilkes
visit, Kilauea contained lake OF liquit
! fire, which overfowed and discharged IN
one night 100000 cubic feet Of lava
while a smaller pit poured out in "a hour
200. .OOO, 900 cubic feet. kilauea was lont
regarded by the Hawaiians as the abode
of the goddess Pele. and the threads o
hardened lava spray collected aDout IL arr
called by them Pele's hair. During ar
eruption in January. 1859, three new era
ters we're opened in the side Of the noun
tain, the highest at 10000 feet. From on
of the lower craters rose a column o
LIQUID lava, from 200 to 800 feet high
which found its way under ground to al
outlet halfa a mile distant. and poured in
cataract at white heat, down steep Of D
feet. The lava spread in number Q
streams over the lower slope and reache'
the ocean in five days. destroying vii
laee in its fiery course. The meeting 0
the lava and the sea is said to have bee
terrific scene. II continued to flow to
ten months, and on reaching the water
forty miles from the crater, was still at
light red heat and moved at the rate {
two or three miles an hour, the strear
being in some places five or six mile
wide. During the eruption six shocks {
earthquake occurred. BY far the large
crater known is on Mani, one of th
\ Hawaiian group. 1t is called Mauna Ha
!. eakala-Mountain Of the SUMS from
to 30 miles in circumference, from 1000
5000 feet deep, and 10000 feet above Il
, seq. Mauna Loa is one Of the most pi
ltorial OF volcanoes when in action, n
. tho v,resept errlption promises to exce(