The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-01-14
KIL0EA.
A Visit to the Hawaiian Volcanic
Giant.
How Madame Pele" is ProDi.
tiat6d
Her Retreat and Her Hair.
& Veritable Sea of Fire and Scenes
IndeSerlbably Grand.
"Zsphyrus Lost in Wonder and
Onutterabls Admiration.
KIL0EA.
Her Retreat and Her Hair.
SANDWICH ISLANDS,
December 18th, 1880,

NCCOlnbCL 4Obuf 4COOa
Editors Herald:
To visit the Sandwich Islsnds and
not pay honors to Madame Pele, y
is like going to England and not visit
London; so have always had in
mind. before finishing my studies in
tue tropics, q visit to the great
Hawaiian wonder, ard in my flying
trip, winch l am about to relate,
accomplished it, for l saw, l heard
and / never shall forget.
Reports flying thick and fast from
the volcanic isle, of wonderful dis
plays of fireworks on the summit Of
"Mauna Loa." which is Il, 900 feet
above the sea level, and also Of the
extra activity of the volcano on the
side OF the came mountsin. but 10, coo
feet lower down, l resolved to go to
the scene of action, and l accord
ing jumped aboard the Liketike, the
largest steamer plying among the
islands, and at 5 O'Clock pm on
Monday, the 9Th inst, We glided
cut through the channel. The zephyrs
played upon the surface, while The
setting sun gave the rippled waters q
golden tinge truly magical. Honolulu
always presents a much more cheer
fll appearance at a distance than
when waking through her street, es-
pecially when seen through the re-
Election Of the setting SUP.
The L,kttik: has my applause for
the steady and majestic manner in
which she performed her part, bat
the captain is too much OF stranger
TO the shores OF Hawaii to insure the
safety of her passengers. for while We
we're costing along that island the
second evening out, he let the LIkelike
strike a rock, sending thrill through.
out that soon brought to the upper
deck all the passengers, except
"Zephyrus," who. fer once. deter
mined to assume q GOODNESS, knowing
that land could be reached by swim
ming, in cas- the vessel went down;
but fortunately, no particular dam
age was done.
Daylight of the fret morning after
leaving Honolulu found US passing
along the channel between Maui,
which Wss to our left, and Lanai and
Kshoolaws, to our right. l will re
serve any particular mention OF these
islands for 9 special visit. On lesv-
ing Maui. TO cross the channel to
Hawaii, two very prominent land
marks are visible on that island, viz,
Mama Loa and Msuns Kea, the
latter being about 200 feet higher
tnsn the former.
The island Of Hawaii hss 1000
square miles. more than all the other
islands OF the group. We called at
several villages along tha coast, and
at Kohsla. The King, with his at
tendants, came on board, to take
passage for HIlo, on his visit around
the islsnd. In conversation with
him, he expressed q desire to visit
Salt Lake City during his contem-
plated tour in the United States. l
took the liberty o! saying to his ma
jesty that he would fnd some warm
hearted friends in Utah.
We reached Hilu, the chief town Of
Hawaii, about 2 O'Clock M, on the
9th, and as the clouds disappeared
from the summit OF Mauna Loa, We
caught the first signt OF the flames
and smoke Issuing from its summit.
Hilo has q lovely tropical situation,
but her streets are irregularly laid
out, although they are characteristic
OF ell town streets on the islands.
Within one. hour after landing, al
though stranger, 1 was in the
ssddle and on tie road 10 the
great attraction. Being alone,
III leisureIy moved along, carried
away IN profound thought, for imme-
diately on leaving Hilo the ascent Of
Mauua Loa begins; but you pass over
many miles before the ascent is really
perceptibie, on lava beds OF very
ancient formation. Birds singing
beautifully aroused me from my
reTerie and 1 found was passing
Through a dsnse forest of tall onia-
| !ehaa. the trunks Of which we're orna-
mented with vines, creepers and
ferna, with an undereroWth OF the
latter, that made the forest impene-
trsble; and yet | had no fears OF
hiehwaymen, but I rather enjoyed
the solitude and music OF the birds.
This "trip OF timber ID about four
miles wide and extends from the sea
towards the summit a distance Of at
least twenty miles, and taus strips Of
timber range along the side OF the
mountain, the intermediate sections
which indicate more recent flow oil
lava than where the forests range.
have luxuriant growth OF ferns and
scrubby trees. The ferns, in places,
almos: attain the capacity OF trees
and yet this bIosd extent OF country,
which am convinced co1ld be utll-
izsd TO great advantage, remain;
neutrsl ground, and 10 all probability
thess immense forests will remain
until Madam Pele" again sends ou
her terror flying flows OF lava. The FIRE
few miles Of the path skirts along tht
side of the mountain slope. but ener
the route becomes more direct TIT
ascent Increases. No one need feal
of losing the path, for an animal can
no; be induced. by spur or otherwise
to leave it; in fact, the most mysteri
Gus thing connsctsd with this Law
path, is the ingenuity of the person
who found place for it. Fortunatsl.
l procured q mustang acquaintet
With the lava rock, 80 much SO tina
when saw q little spot of grouu'
that I thought would be pleasant &
his .eet and tried TO rein him upon il
he became unmsnagsble and locke
- upon the ground with contempt
The last two miles of the path becou1
ing much more passsble and ID
steam and smoke from the Yolcsn
S curling up through the trees, arouse
- my anxiety, and the application
# tae whip increased our speed, wbe
suddenly, inmerging from toe TIM
be Der, stood agbsst upon the brink {
that awtully grand and wonderfI
caasm-the gresl crater Kiloea.
A desire to give q true, comprehe nsiv
u. description, unTsrnished, ofthis EoI
n. der, aud sm satisfied language csnnC
Y exsggerste this chief wonder OF ID
world. as stood upon the brink I
p' this mighty black gull. the sun vi
disappearing in the western horize
l behind Ms1ns LOa while Its IA