The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-07-29
WEEKLY CORVALLIS GAZETTE,
Corvallis, July 2g, 1881.
MAuak Goa.
vofclN1c FIRES ON THE SANDWICH
ISLANDS.

fhe steamer City of New York
which arrived at San Francisco or
the l4th, brings the latest news from
Honolulu. The Gazette of July 9th,
speaking of the volcanic fires on
Mauna Los, says: ''The past week
has been one of great excitement in
IIilo, in consequence OF the renewed
activity in the volcanic fires on Mau-
Ma Loa. One arm Of the fiery stream
Nxs pushed itself into the Kukuau
gasch, and is within three miles OF
ta,e village Of Hilo. All Hilo may be
said 20 have visitedthe flow during
tie last few days. Men womer and
children, some on foot and. some on
horseback, have made the pilgrimage.
As seen on Wednesday, June 29th,
II presented view never to be for
gotten. A mile above the lower end
of the stream the lava was flowing
in l;quid, living torrent, some thirty
feet wide along it's course, consuming
everything in it's way. From this
point half mile of the seething,
struggling torrent could be seen.
The belt covered with lava was some
500 feet wide, all hot, and liable at
any moment to break out into renew
ed activity. AT night the scene was
awfully grand beyond description.
The sky has been brilliantly illumi-
mated for nights past. Ii is now one
of the worlds great wonders, and
will well repay the journey of those
who appreciate the grand and awful
in the works of Nature" Under
date of June 3Oth the sheriff of Ha-
waM writes from Hilo: ~ fear that
we are on the brink Of a great cal
amity. The lava stream has at last
broken out of the woods Immediately
above Waiakia and the fish pond,
and that portion of Hilo, including
possibly the harbor, cannot escape
except by miracle. Last Saturday
gradually increasing action was no.
ticed, and Sunday the lava broke out
ofthe woods, and getting into small
water-course, jeanne rushing down in
the direction of Kukas and Kalipohpo
at great speed. Monday I visited
the scene of the flow, and it was truly
s terrific sight to see two streams,
of lava almost as liquid as water
rushing down the beds of streams,
pouring over fertile land and carry.
ing destruction with it everywhere.
The roaf of burning grass and ferns,
Che explosions and conclusions were
fearful. While we were watching it,
about three hours, the stream pro-
gressed some four hundred feet. It
cannot be more than two miles FROM
the sea in 3 direct line. A contin-
nous stream Of people are goiHg aud
returning. It seems almost incred-
ible that lava stream is SO near as,
but it is, alas, too true. One part of
the town seems safe; but if the stream
gets into the bay, it will doubtless
destroy it, and oil the people in that
vicinity will be ruined and Homeless.
This morning the report from the dow
ie that action 1T the lower end Is
somewhat abated, but farther up it
continues IS violent as ever. Il is
probably only temporary lull. "
The opening scene is also described
by another correspondent: "About
June 22d the old mountain was OBJ
served to be more than usually ac-
tive, the whole summit crevasse pour
ing forth immense volumes of smoke.
By Friday noon the three southern
arms had all joined into one, and
rushing into deep but narrow gulch
forced its way down the gulch in a
rapid flow. By Saturday noon it
had run mile. The flow was on an
average seventyfive feet wide and
from ten to thirty feet in depth, as
It filed the gulch up level with its
banks The sight was grand The
whole frontage was one mass of liquid
lava, carrying on its surface huge
cakes of partially-cooled lava. Soon
after we reached it the flow reached
. deep hole some ten or fifteen feet
In depth with perpendicular sides.
The sight as 1T poured over that fall
in two cascades was magnificent.
The flow was then moving at the rate
Of about seventy-fve feet an hour.
Kit goes through Kukuau probably
all the lower or front part efthe town
viii fall a prey to Madame Pele."
The Jacksonville Sentinersays: The 9th
or day we took the trouble of counting mp
the number Of cripples in this county, and
how they came to be such. We-found eight