The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-10-15

Pell, the Goddess of Volcanoes, according
to the Hawaiian mythology, had decided
to spare the beautiful little town; but early
in May it began again to flow more rap
idly, and the end of the flow being no
longer a-a, but consisting of pohoehoe, has
made greater progress. For some time it
moved slowly, as the lava stream forced
its way through a swampy region covered
with dense wood
The flow is divided into two principal
branches, known as the Hilo and Waiakea
streams. The latter is the smaller of the
two and is much in advance of the for
mer Hilo is threatened by both, and
should tho main body reach the sea, the
town and perhaps the harbor will be de-
stroyed. The onward progress of the
flows is much retarded by having to feed
numerous smaller streams that shoot off
from th c main branches. Some of these,
after proceeding a short distance, cool
down, uatil, pressed by the great mass be-
hind, they break out afresh. Some pene-
trate into the wood, aud there die out, and
some shoot ahead until the main flow
sweeps over them Sometimes the flow
stops for three or four days, making little
or no headway, and then it will suddenly
break out with renewed vigor. Sometimes
it dies out at the end, aud breaks out at
the side, and moves onward as before. An
outbreak through the hard crust in the
centre of the flow will oyerrun a portion
already cooled, aud again a branch will
flow off to one side, and making a detour,
pass on to and over the main body that
feeds it.
4 stream of lava is subject TO no law
that governs the action Of water or any
other substance, fluid OF solid. 1t will fol-
low canon or cross ono, aud will run up
hill as well as down, the firm crust meas
ing the ieneous fusion acting like 4 conduit
OF hose. The atmosphere has more effect
on il than water, and it eools very quickly,
like melted glass, when exposed to the
air, crust usually forming in ten or fifteen
minutes sufficiently firm to bear ones
weight
About two and a half miles from the
village OF Hilo was fall in the Waiakea
Creek narrow bed 10 which the advanc-
ed portion Of the lava stream was running
and the views of the artist taken at this
place show we'll the action Of the flowing
lava. This fall was twenty feet high, aud
the depth Of the water below was about
the same, aud it was thirty-6ve yards wide
The flow above the fall vas Que hundred
feet vide, and was moving at the rate of
one hundred fee, in forty-eight mioutes,
and was one hour and forty-two minutes in
Glling up this depression even with the top
Of the cliff When the lava began to pour
over the clif it was of the consistency Of
molasses, and had much the same appear
anee, aud the ends of the slowly dripping
streams would blAekcn and harden and
break Of before reaching the water When
it had nearly 6llcd the water hole below,
the steam arose in great clouds, and the
Kissing and bubbling sound it made was
ike steam escaping from a number Of large
boilers
The lava flow was months in passing
through the wood back Of Hilo, but now
both the Naiakea branch aud the main
body are below i,, aud have but to traverse
an opea stretch Of country, covered only
with feras and grasses, aud sloping gently
toward the sea.
The sight Of the lava working its way
through the wood was strange aud grand, :,
but to reach il required the severe labor
Of cutting a way through the dense jungle,
aad sometimes, before the party was ready
10 return, u braneh Of lava shooting of
from the main aoW would cross the trail,
cutting OF the line of retreat, thus neeessi-
tating the cutting Of another path. Eat
ing its way through the forest, consuming
every green thing before il, the flow leaves
behind drcaTy waste Of broken lava, firing
ed wilh long uneven lines Of beautiful
tropical shrubbeEy As the lava would
surround the trees-prineipally lauhala,
kukui, haa, sumae, aud guaya-the crust
forming on the surface would IN many
cases hold the tree upright, while the stream
of molten matter beneath would burn of
the lover portion Of the trunk. Some
times the flames would dart up the trees,
licking the branches with their blazing
tongues, and blasting the leaves with their
death dealing breath. la some places the
leahess trees would be leit standing, aud
10 other places the flow would be covered
with the half charred trunks of the fallen
timber. To the pulu and other large tree
ferus, and the bushes and smaller ferns Of
sizes and unending variety, the same fate
was meted out by the mercileSs lava, aud
when, through the sudden opening Of the
seams at the extremity of the flow, the red
lava would pour out, il was really sad to
see the emerald pillows Of foliage bow and
disappear before the alme-crested waves
Of the on coming food Of liquid fire.
Harper's Weekly.