The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-08
MAUNA UOA.


--s-s- p-------f
MAUNA LOA.
The Great hawaiian Volcano Lava
Floods sim Pouring Out-Beleaguer-
ing Fires Around the Doomed Town Of
Hllo--ecenes FIT for Dore's Pencil and
Dante's Inferno-Perilous Sightseeing.
A correspondent of the San Francisco
Bulletin, who has recently visited the
active volcano in Hawaii, gives the fol-
lowing vivid description Of the scenes
daily witnessed there:
The great eruption of Mauna Loa, or
the - Lofty Mountain" has been going
on for eight moDths. Visitors are lock
ing to the Hawaiian group from all
parts of the world to see this gigantic
display of the hidden forces of nature.
From the summit crater of Mokuaweo-
weo the mighty volcano is pouring out
a molten food, over fifty miles long,
and in many places four miles wide.
This stream of lava threatens to destroy
Hilo, fill up the harbor and perhaps
make a bold promontory jutting far out
into the ocean. over the spot where
pleasure boats and ships now sail. In
1859 the eruption flowed for thirteen
months, and the present outbreak may
last as long. The head of the stream
is now within two miles of Hilo, is over
four miles wide. and in places is banked
up to the height Of one hundred feet.
II this laya wall bursts, as it is likely to
do at any moment, and without warn
ing, the lovely town and beautiful har-
Dor will be overwhelmed in swift de-
struction, as were the silent cities which
lie deeply buried beneath the wrath of
Vesuvius.
For the past three weeks Hilo and its
environments have been swarming with
tourists gathered to witness the wide
spread devastation wrought by the lava
flow from Mauna Loa Mountain during
the past eight months, it being just that
long to-day since the eruption of this
year was discovered. Mauna Loa is
situated on Hawaii, the largest island
Of the group. and is virtually the high
est volcano In the world. It rises from
the oceans shore vast snow-capped
dome, $4,000 feet in height. Cotopaxi
volcano, in Ecuador, has summit 49,
600 feet high from the sea level. but
from its base upon the great tablo-land
upon which it stands it is only about
1000 feet high; consequently it is much
less imposing in aspect than is Mauna
Loa, whose summitcrater has been long
extinct; the recent outbreaks always
occurring upon the weakest parts Of
the mountains sides, and at elevations
ranging from 5000 to 1000 feet.
The low is but q short distance to
the southwest Of. Hilo, and is approach
ing it with alarming velocity, the three
streams into which the flow has been
divided, having united with an acceler-
ated speed resulting from the union.
Last week squirt of half mile was
made, and during the week an advance
of over mile has been effected. That
the town and harbor are doomed APP
pears to be foregone conclusion. The
melancholy duty of recording their de-
struction is at hand, and may be ex-
pected any day; yet, SO accustomed to
the situation have many become,
through familiarity with the awful phe-
nomenon, that they have ceased to re-
gard the danger of their position in its
truly appalling light, and they act and
jest about it very much as Noah's
neighbors did previous to another mem
orable disaster. They propose estab-
fishing telephone line to facilitate
communication with the plantations
and other towns upon the island.
Throngs visit the scene of the flow
daily, and many persons run over the
molten mass the moment the slightest
crust forms upon it and while it is yet
hot enough to burn wood or leather.
Indeed, it takes days to cool, there be-
ing always q liquid fire flowing beneath.
July IA party went up In the evening
to see it, the aspect then being most
awe-inspiring. They intended to re-
turn by moonlight. and walked up the
flow about three-quarters of . mile
an undertaking which narrowly es.
capped proving most disastrous. For
hours the lives Of all rested upon most
prccarious tenure.
At first the ladies could not be in.
duced to set foot upon the lava, fearing
that its hot, thin crust would break un.
der and precipitate them into the fiery
furnace they could view through cracks
and holes in what they were invited tc
tread upon. Having started out ovel
the cooler portions, however, they
gained confidence. till at length the,
were SO carried away with We Inspiring
excitement incident to their marvel
Gus surroundings, that they had los
much of their timidity. and could b.
persuaded even to the brink of molter
stream or cataract Of living flame
Hither and thither the party ficvR rapid
motion being necessary to prevent the
total and Immediate destruction of theil