The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-11
I1ev1D LAVA.

LIQUID LAVA.
An extr-. Of tho Hawaiian Gazette Of
November 18th gives an account of an
eruption Of the volcano of Mauna Loa ex.
ceeding in volume any ever before known.
on the Island. The grand outburt Of
fire is described as follows: It broke out
about 7 p. m. on Friday, November 9Th,
about six miles north of the summit
crater Of Mokuaweoweo on Mauna Loa,
and flowed down the elevated plateau
lying between Mauna Loa and Kea,
sending out two branches, one from near
its source towards the old crater Of Kill
suea, and another branch further down,
trending towards the east. On Wednes.
day, November llth, the flow could be
seen distinctly from Hilo winding its
way towards Puma, with . small branch
stream running towards Hilo. The
stream running towards Puma was shout
thirty miles in length, and from 100 to
200 yards in width, with depth of about
twenty feet. A correspondent Of the
Gazette accompanied party to view the
grand sight, and they climbed the noun
tain side. Soon. he says. as the fog grad
ually cleared of the sides Of the noun.
tain, we saw .-.....
A TREMENDOUS RIVER OF FIRE
Pouring down the steep sides, We could
see IL distinctly down the slope, till II
ran into the fog bank, which had settled
like huge snow-bed all over the low-l
lands. The fire was an intense white
light. and was running furiously down.
ward. They then went toward Puma to.
see the molten rivers by night, and, he
adds, the moon sst, and still It was light
enough to see the road. Away above US
in the heavens shone the brilliant fount-
ain head, and thence to the end was
continuous stream of liquid lava. There
lay 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.
The whole front edge, being about three
fourths Of mile wide, was most in.
tsnsely brilliant light, and as it slowly
advanced and rolled over the small trees
and scrub, bright flames would flash up
and die out along its whole edge. Then
GIANT EXPLOSIONS,
Vast and terrible, as if the earth was
being shattered by earthquakes, and all
at once huge dome Of motion lava was
thrown up about half way up the noun
tain side, and continued to flow over like
an immense fountain. The next day the
party crossed the old lava beds for about
1000 feet. Not twenty feet distant was
this immense bed Of lava slowly moving
forward with Irresistible force, bearing
on its surface huge rocks and immense
powders Of tons weight. The whole
front edge was one bright rod mass oi
solid rock instantly breaking off from the
towering mass and rolling down to the
foot of it, to be again covered up by an.
other avalanch of white hot rocks and
sand. The mass was at its front edge
from twenty to thirty feet in height,
Along the line of its advance it was one
crash of rolling, sliding, tumbling red-hot
rock. We could see no fire or liquid
lava at all, but tho whole advance lin,
of rsd-hot stones and scoria. There wer'
no explosions willis we were near tn
dow. only = tremendous roaring like tel
thousand blast furnaces all at work a
once. Some fears Of the safety Of Hill
are still entertained, but the flow seem
turning in another direction.
A FOUNTAIN OF LIQUID LAVA.
A correspondent Of the Honolulu Press
writing from Hilo. November 10Th, say,
"The sight on Saturday was indiscribabl
grand. All day, with or without th
glass; our eyes were turned towards th
mountain. Afountain Of liquid lava wa
pouring up from the summit line {
Mauna Los. Two fisry streams wer
distinctly visible. coursing down its sid,
ono towards Mauna Kea, the other neare
Hilo. At night the sky was glare {
light that made objects distinctly visible
IN the strssts and in our rooms. Wsdns'
daH nirht tha nieht Of fha rnoa,n&nin =,