The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-07-20
The Lava Flow.

! me Jury NtlroU Iof rev moments ana II
turned unanimous verdict OF Sc Not Guilty"
Tho Lava Flow.
Accounts from the lava flow vary "a usual, hut
I from reports that We nave from people who have
seen and studied its movements we are Given to
understand that the danger Is not 50 imminent TO
the town ms ~ generally reported. During the last
/ week a small tongue has shot out OF the Waiakca
flow seventy feet long and six feet wide, but tho
/ flow Is very active ON top and has spread very
much lsterally on the fiio side. The Waiakea
people have become Qd1te sanguine az 20 their
chances OF escape We are told however. that
evon the littlc tongue which has advanced during
the last week has taken away some land marks for
the natural bridge over which the middle path
used 70 30 isnow covered mp this is the spot which,
in the extract published below is spoken Of as the
place where we tied our horses. Beyond tho
seventy feet reported, the Waiakea flow has made
no progress but II may bre1k ont AZ any timo with
Increased viCur, however II il does So Il will cnmo
upon sort OF marShy basin which may take a con-
siderable time 20 Gil up; according 90 our inform
ant, months. IL viii 90 on piling up and
spreading out time and again before il will be
sufficiently concentrated 10 burst forthbut unless
the central fire Of Mokuaweoweo wcakens II mHst
inevitably on up and then It will break Out az
some point and come down with a rush 70 the sea.
When we think of what a tremendous distance
this molten stud has come il is perfectly marvel
lous, taking into consideration all the windings Il
cannot be less than forty-hve TO fifty miles. Peo-
pie need not think that rsvines or gulches have
any effect upon it; one gentleman who has lately
been up there says that deep gulch has no more
eject upon stopping the flow than a pin scratch
has upon the water in Nunanu stream in freshCt.
The only thing which Is saving Hilo and the
vicinity at the present time, is the number of
of-shoots which the original flow has 10 feed. II
Year readers will step to MeSsrs. Whitney <
Rohertson's window, they will see the position of
tho various of-shoo;s. The main and most danger
GUS flow is overlapping the old flow Of 1886, and
has not up to the present writing reached the end
of It; II viii take months, at its present rate of
tn ,rf will a1rt
infallibly go 10 the north and overwhem the town.
The Puma dow 10 the south IS making very little
progress 1t is the Naiakea How which has made
such progress and Is 50 near Hilo and the Waiakea
plantation; from every indication of the ground
however il is likely, unless it spreads considerably
out 10 avoid both the fields and the mill. and
to find its way TO the sen somewhere near the fish
ponds. We certainly trust that it may take this
course and thus avoid doing anything more than
slight damage to property. We are indebted for
the map which We exhibit to data supplied by Mr.
Young, who has spent considerable time in look
ing into the possibilities Of volcanic action and to
Mr.. Herzog who has kindly worked up the data.
1t will be interesting TO compare this map with
that of Mr.. Furneaux. which shown a few
weeks ago, the position OF the flow has much
changed.
Dear -: Since YOU left we have kept watch
the lava, one top flow has come over the old one,
and has flowed over in that place where We
tied our horses; that ravine think, will get hlled
up before much OF an advance takes place. In two
weeks the advance has been seventy feet by six
feet wide.
The first flow has not moved, but is dead cold;
this seventy feet by six feet is the top How.
All the action is toward the ravine on the right
side. II II works as it is doing now it viii get be-
hind the round bills SCI, 50 good many think.
The action behind Is little, there is nothing we
can see to make US in fear of an immediate start.
Our faith Is such at Maiakea that cannot be-
lieye it is to move Us.
Extract from private letter:
HIo, July 18th, ISL
have been to the flow; it is the most wonderful
sight ever saw; expect togo again before return.
ing to Honolulu IL Is really not much of ride
TO the foo. of the how from David Hitchcock's.
The Laumaia branch is coming 20 meet the other,
which Is widening out and going towards lilO:
weeks, If as soon. 1t has been more active since
our visit, although thought it very active then
The night We were there II came down about half
a mile towards HilO not from the bottom, I'VE
were mile and half above that point,) but it is
spreading out on both sides. We moved our camp
twice. The first time the lava came towards us at
the rate OF SIX feet minute some of the time and
that although our camp was on rising ground The
ladies' of the party felt anxious, We moved
across small gulch, thinking that it would pro-
teci US from the fiery stream. We had eaten our
lunch beside the water in this gulch, distance
from what was then the active stream, distance
above the spot, but 10 our surprise the lava fol-
lowed along III our track at once. and Ii was a
magnificent spectacle to see 1t pouring over the
upper side ana entrance llere were three
cascades of from six to ten feet high. Soon the
wind freshened. and as the lava crept nearer, the
smoke from the burning tfees grew so dense and
suifoca.ing that we couldn't endure it, so moved
One Of the tents and finally the other. 1t seemed
Dmin0us the way the fire crept in after US, for all
night the loud crash of falling trees drew nearer
and nearer. did not sleep for I could not, but
kept running down the track to see the pouring
ire. 1t crawled steadily up one path, but down.
ward too, that II would abate IN this direction
n few hours. 1t like kissing. roaring
monster. We had moved down about half a mile /
md II had followed Us The ire IN the trees does
lot spread at all, as 1t is SO very moist from the
frequent rains. 1t burns no further than the edge
IF the How. But the burning trees and shrubs |
made some of the most plteOus means Ii sounded /
Ike those tiny sounds which sick child makes IN /
deep Once IN the night had terrible fright |
had fallen into moinentOry doze, when awak- 4
ne suddenly saw ID. h and the bows running /
Town the path, and ahead a fearful blaze. In my |
ialf-sleeP thought II was mountain Of fire 1
bout to fall upon Us, and called loudly for them
o come back
Notes from the letter of a little girl;
Tuesday morning, 1.-THE l2.h,) party of fifteen
+ US under charge of Mr.. David Hitchcock.
tartsd up to see the lava flow. l rode mule.
We went up through the woods 1t very
nlddy, and II one place my mule tumblsd but did
lot roll over me. In one place We got Of of our
orses and went on the flow. through a crack we
Ould see the fire below. By-snd-bye We came to
gulch which had water, SO w stopped and ate
ur lunch We were long ways above the end Of
he flow, which has been stationary for some time.
Lfter making our camp we went to see an over I
low which was very active. We would see sort of
avs open, and out would pour the red lava, and
hen We would see streams Of 1t running along.
We WALKED right on the lava that had been flowing
efOre, when We went back We could not md the
ant. 1t had been moved during our absence, as
be flow was coming so near We had supper at
ight-the beefsteak and coffee for which we're
0oked on the flow. They had sticks on which the
leaks were put, and then they we're put down
racks About half-past seven we went to the
ulca where We ate our lunch. The How had
slched IT. Oh, 1t beautiful sight to me, the
d lava flowing over the sides. Two streams
hich looked like roads, united and famed to-
ether, besides which .hsre were one OF two cas-
sdes falling. Our tsnt was moved down again to
e further away. About nine we had doughnuts
I'd coffee, and soon smoke began pouring IN
here We we're and most stihed us- so we had 10
Ike I'D that tent and move away. / vent to sleep
bout twelve O'Clock, and slept the rest Of the
ight. The next morning went to the guich,
nd walked over Whist had been rsd-hot the night
sfore- We could see the fire below in the cracks
ie tired to get specimens with sticks and most
uruf our faces up, but 1 succeeded IN getting one
tile piece when 1t was rsd-hOt-
TIE flow would go right around some trees but
ley would stand. some 1t would burn the
aTes of, and leave the bare trunk standing. Il
a thing which cannot be described in letter,
ct vill Try and do i better With words wher /
Il home
Extracts from another private letter.
Hno. July 18th, 1881.
" The lava fow continues to Be the Leading sub
ct OF interest
The wonderful advance It made Of more than
lie In three days dune 25-2S), was the cause Of
iIch anxiety.
Inc great surface flow which follows IN the wake
the narrow advance streams has at last reached /
le extreme end Of the June 18th ioE, covering It
implicitly and spreading al the same time in the
rectiOn Of Hiio. Il vas ten days IN running a
tile more than nlile-during the last twenty
III hours the lava ran about 700 feet, and Is ROC
owing at the TaIe Of from fifteen to twenty feet