The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-07-09
Threatening Advance of Lava Near HilO

By the Likelike, on Sunday morning. VI re-
ceived alarming news from Hilo and its neigh
borhOOd, as 70 the advance Of the lava which
has for some time past occupied a threatening
position. Although, at the last moment before
the steamer left. The alarm had TO a great extent
subsidized, enquiry into the facts shows that the
danger was rather delayed than abated, and that
it is almost certain tina. one or more Of the
streams into which the flow has divided will
push forward to the sea, doing great mischief,
even if it does not overwhelm the town OF Hilo.
The flow which was nearest to the Waiakea
plantation homestead, broke out suddenly,
whilst Messrs. Kennedy and Charles Richardson
were inspecting it on Sunday, the 26th ult.
4 stream OF lava, liquid as water, and glowing
with a white heat, broke from the face of the
flow and ran down a narrow and t%ortuous gulch,
nearly a mile in length. making such speed that
the visitors had to make haste TO avoid it. At
the foot of the gulch Is 4 hollow which often
fills up with water, making a lagoon. This is
now being filled with lava and has checked the
onward flow which had threatened the mill and
other buildings at Waiakea in such a manner as
20 lead the manager to remove all portable stores,
etc, and to take measures 10 be in readiness to
remove the plant itself 10 a place of safety.
Towards the end of the week, however. the
supply of lava seems TO have slackened some
what, and hopes were entertained that if the
fiat now being overlooked should be filed up,
the stream may pass forward to the sea without
destroying the mill. There are two outlets for
it. One of those is by gulch a little more than
half a mile on the Puma side Of Hio-by this
route the lava would pass comparatively harm
lessly to the sea, by way of the course of the
WaioIama stream. The other is a shallow gulch
known as Kukuao and lies nearer to Waiakea,
and there Is much reason to fear that if this
channel Is taken by the lava 1t Will quickly fill
up the gulch, and overflow the level ground and
destroy the plantation buildings. The fields of
growing cane are not threatened, the lava being
nov past them and at a level considerably
below them. Crushing is being carried on with
the utmost vigor, in order to get as much work
as possible done beforehand in case of untoward
results to the mill.
The natives have cleared out Of their habita-
tons IN the neighbOrhood and are also leaving
Hilo. The town itself Is not menaced by the
flow Just described, but there is another
one which il 1t breaks out in "a similar manner
must overwhelm a large part of the town, its
course being directly for the main street.
To THE EDIToR, Byron says IT sweet TO
hear the honest watch-dog's bark, and had he
lived near an expressman's yard IN the vicinity
of Singers bakery, he would have dreaded TO
hear the beast hay deeP-mouthed welcome as
he drew near home" Where are the police ?
Are they so completely occupied in running
in " doubtful inebriates, or hunting the Mon
golian, that the very important duty of preserv-
ing the quietness of this sylvan city is neglected.
Seriously speaking i must resort either to my
six-shooters or patent medicines in order that
my slumbers may be undIsturbed by the ours
wop~ Urn