The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-07-06

/ third party on quite an erinen-e who called
/ to as to hasten snd Join them but we had
progressed only a few Yards when word came
that the stream in the narrow gorge WAS moving
on so fast that our return likely to be cut or
and Mr.. G. marking its advance by the smoke that
rose felt it was not wise to attempt to go to the
/ further side. ], whom we had sent on being fleet
of foot, to see how it was FASTENED back exclaim-
/ ing Like very much, Mrs. Coan, see that p
/ Meantime the gentlemen who were already there
took note of the warning and retraced their steps;
but Mr.. w. offered to assist me to place where
could see it safely; and what l saw was the most
awe-inspiring sight of all, for the mass was far
| heavier and wider spread and for speed and fury
of motion it was like the rapids of Niagara. But It
was all tame to Mr.. Coan, who had seen so much
more, and tame by comparison to what 1t must be
some miles back, for this is only picket from the
army, and Mr.. c. saws it sometimes seems as if it
we're acting just like military tactics-this skirm
ishing the left wing while the right is holding
itself in reserve, and coming down when not
watched to bring desolation in the rear. What
terrific pouring out of fusion there must be to
supply these several streams-their advanced
posts, and to make them lively so far from the
fountain. Why, at night it shows an emblazoned
front of four or five miles estimated. When we
went back to the middle one of the three tines Of
the fork we tarried long to watchits movements
so persistently pushing by obstacles, checked by
nothing, needing nothing, consuming, destroying,
bound for the sea.
Oh! the lovely ferns, one moment waving their
fresh fronds in the breeze, the next scorched by
the heat, the next mass of lambert flames and
my heart ache over that. The roar of the lava
was something fearful, it was as the roar of a
food. only Mr.. @. says that his was tenor and this
was base Then the detonations, ten in a minute
timed by the watch, and some of the explosions SO
heavy we felt the ground tremble under us. j, was
at one time sitting down in the dry bed of the
gorge a little before the lava and nearer it than
any one else, when there was a burst of steam
through venthole in the rocks that sent little
fragments flying hither and thither and he was
spattered by some of the dirt or mud that come
up Had it been one of the heavier explosions he
could hardly have escaped being hurt While we
fingered in the gorge another note of alarm from
the natives 70 the effect that the flow was ap-
preaching the spot where the horses were tied and
that soon the road would be cut off, caused us TO
think well of going ourselves to see how much
progress the fire had made in that locality. One
of the party called it false alarm, but then the
flow was breaking out here and there so rapidly
from over the banks of the channel which it had
filled up, no wonder it seemed to some that the
danger was every where.
1t was now noon and Mr.. G. wearied, sat to
rest PROSTATE trunk, thick green grass under
his feet and verdant boughs of trees above him,
but behind him the advancing stream. Here the
ground was very level and of course the flow was
not rapid but foot by foot yard by yard it rolled
forward, and very soon after Mr.. G. had left his
seat the burning ruin coverd the ground on which
his feet had rested and the log was afiame. There
was intense fascination in watching all the move
ments at whatever point we we're, and something
almost momentarily kept US eXclaiming-some
times it was the quick cooling over of the surface
forming the corrugated ridges that characterize
pahoehoe, and glistening in the sun like perfect
bronze-sometimes the putting of great bubbles
that crusted over moment, then sank back into
the fiery bosom from which they had risen-then
1t rushed down steep places and filling up the
hollows from which wreaths of steam cuTled up,
and then. its progress through the dense grass,
where, for a moment the triaed verdure hung like
green canopy over the red serpent gliding under,
to melt away and be seen no more. We did not
want to come away, and yet how great the mercy
that xra could nd 1aav with tba
that we might never see it doing greater damage
than it was doing. The hours had been full of
excitement to me, it was all so much more than
had ever seen before of volcanic displays l was
more weary than I realized when again in the
saddle but the ride home was restful. The air
refreshing after the intense heat which had
burned our faces, and from the point in the road
where the view OF hliO, the bay and the greatly
indented coast line breaks upon the eye, the pros
peet before us was perfectly enchanting in its
glowing beauty. l have always thought it view
of surprising loneliness, but now that there is so
much more cultivation, and the waste places are
emerald rice fields or taro patches, and the Waia-
kea mill and plantation are seen on
the right, the beauty is enhanced. Must
the fiery flood leave line of black desc
lation through it all How great the mercy that
the track it is now on is so apart from human
habitations and that there is no danger to human
life Our homes are not to be overwhelmed from
this side. that seems plain, and will still trust
that the ." hitherto" command has been spoken to
the threatener on the right One breath can quench
It Us quickly as it kndled it and all our fears
abate. A prayer and conference meeting was held
that evening at Mr. D. Lymans and there was
comfort in singing the sweet hymns Father,
WbltG'er OF earthly bliss" How 6rm a founda-
ton We saints OF the Lord and Saviour like
Shepherd lead US" And ] think there was some
truth 10 the saying from the heart The will Of
the Lord be DONE"
wish you could have been there as we were
thus carrying this care 30 the Lord aud shared
with us in the quieting influences u the hour.
Evening" II has been q stormy day; squalls Of
ram driving in from the sen have kept a great
mass of clouds in all the back ground, so we have
had no vestige of smoke or glare until tonight
Now the rain ceases and the hrmament is ablgz8
with light, showing by different shades oil red
ness the nearer and further flows.