The Osceola times., 1881-01-29
A RIVER OF FIRE.
Scenes at Mauna Loa, the Hawaiian voicn.
no, Described.
San francisco Cor, Chicago Times.

San Francisco Cor. Chicago Times.
Hawaiian advices to the 9th Instant ara
received by the China merchant steamer
Ho Chung to-day. The Gdzctte gives adj.
ditional details about the great eruption
of Mauna Loa. 1t says: The view from
IIilo of that outbreak upon Mauna has
shown some remarkable changes DURING
the past week The flow toward Kan is
diminishing. Parties returned from XII.
auea report that the stream is flowing
very slowly and as seen, from the Volca.
no House is losing its fire day by day.
Kilauca, however. is exceedingly active
presenting unusual attractions. The most
active flow now is that running from near
the summit of Mauna Loa in northerly
direction or toward Mauna kea. Clouds
for the greater portion of the time have
obscured the mountains, lighting, how
ever, at intervals to reveal the sublime
fires still doing their awful work Sat.
urday evening, November 20, was very
clear, and an eruption was observed in
three distinct craters with great flow of
molten lava running from one to anoth.
er, and one down the sides Of the noun
tain to the north, apparently. Parties
watching the mountain from Hilo Just at
dusk noticed a sudden eruption or ex-
plosion from one of these craters. An
immense amount of material was sudden
ly thrown several hundred feet into the
air. Wednesday evening, November 4,
was also very clear, and the pyrotechnic
display, which was very magnificent
could be admired by all beholders. On
Thursday morning the mountain was
clear for an hour, and revealed through
the glare that the confguration of the
dome-like surface of Mauna Loa is much
changed. Two crater-mounds of consid-
erable height break its even front, lying
apparently two or three miles apart. The
second is northeast of the first. A third
crater, at a little greater distance and
north of the second, was also observed.
and in all three there seems TO be great
activity. At times during the night the
clouds cleared away, revealing columns
Of fire and smoke, not only pouring from
the three great centers Of activity, but
from the whole line. Several parties
have gone to the scene Of action, and
those who have returned speak of the
flow as awful beyond description, rolling.
grinding and burning its terrible way
with irresistible force" Just before the
departure Of the steamer a heavy column
of smoke and fame on the line Of the
advance seemed to indicate that the flow
is in the Hilo woods. A correspondent
from the field writes as follows: Lava
has flowed about twenty-five miles to-
ward Hilo, and is now in the neighbor.
hood Of twenty miles away. 1t is from a
quarter to half mile wide at the upper
part Of its course, and from three quar-
tiers 10 mile wide at thelowerend. 1t has
entered the woods on one side, and as it
rises high, about ffty-fiye feet, which is
specially high at this point, its front looks
threatening, though / did not see any
portion of it in motion at the lower end,
but conclude that the motion was at the
center and Of rotary nature, rolling the
masses Of lava and clink stones to either
side in great piles. Ast rushed along, in.
creased activity at the fountain head
could be plainly detected along the line
Of the flow by the increased number Of
steam holes and the escaping smoke.
saw no trees burning, though the stream
had advanced into the upper woods.