The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-07-06
The verr Latest from de Lave Flow.


Enron GAZETTE II little thought when wrote
you last, that in so short a time would have to
write again advising you that the lava flow is
through the woods aud very near Hilo; but such
is the fact.
About Wednesday of last week, the old noun
tain was observed to be more than usually active,
the whole summit crevasse pouring forth immense
volumes of smoke. By Friday noon the three
southern arms had all Joined into one, and rush
ing into deep but narrow gulch forced its way
down the culch in a rapid flow. By Saturday noon
it had run a mile and was Just above John Halls
house on the south side. On Monday morning it
was reported to have reached the fats, back of
Halai Hills. Ny wife and self started that after
noon with the intention of spending the night
along side We met crowds of people returning
from the flow and all reportedit active and coming
rapidly down the gulch We rode up to it before
dark and found that the stream was entirely con-
fined to the gulch and intensely active. It was
then about half mile from the flats spoken Of
The flow was on an average 70 feet wide and
from 10 to 30 feet ndepth, it filed the gulch up
level with its banks. The sight was grand. The
whole frontage was one mass of liquid lava carry
ing on its surface huge cakes of partly cooled lava.
Soon after we reached it the flow reached deep
hole some 10 or Is feet in depth with perpendicular
sidea The sight as it poured over that fall in two
cascades was magnificent. The flow was then
moving at the rate of about % feet an hour.
About midnight we noticed dimlnutiOn in the
activity of the gulch flow and soon saw bright
red glare above the tree tops mauka of US and
were presently startled by tho burning gas bursts
and the cracking and falling OF the trees some
where above us. The whole sky above us was
lined with the light of burning trees and shrubs.
About A. NJ we made the attempt to reach the
scene of the great activity and succeeded by going
up the south side of the gulch some quarter of
mile And what scene lay before us as we
assembled slight elevation. Inc on coming over
flow had swept over the banks of the narrow gulch
and was flowing like water into dense grove of
neneleau and guava trees. There they stood In
sea of liquid lava over space OF more than an
acre, while the fires were running mp their trunks
and burning the branches and leaves overhead.
The flow was so rapid that the trees We're not cut
down, for more than 200 feet from the nrst of the
flow. In one place we saw huge dome of half
melted lava rise up, 10 or 20 feet high and twice
that in diameter and apparently remain station
airy, while the fiery flood went on. Watching this
for about an hour and seeing how rapidly 1t was
home.
The reasons of the quick advance of the flow,
the past two weeks, have been the increased activ
ity at the fountain head; the junction of the
streams mentioned above and the fact that this
narrow rock bed gulch has formed as 1t were
ftHe to pass the liquid lava along in solid mar
row stream, without any chance for spreading out
laterally.
1t is almost impossible to say now when the flow
will reach the sea- but all things considered, the
probability is that it will take the Kukuau Gulch.
1t is now not Ia miles from the sea. 1t may
spread out ON the Hat above Halal and run down
to the north of tine hills, but the tendency is to-
wards the fish-ponds. We have no hope now of its
not reaching the sea and IN a short time-prob-
ably before you hear from us again. If 1t goes
through Kukuau probably all the lower or front
part of the town will fail prey to Madame Pele.
There is however no danger to life. must close
as the mail will soon leave.
HiIo, Thursday, June 30th, 1881.
Extracts from Letters of Rev. Titus Conn.
Hawaii is still on fire. For a few days past our
volcanic fires have been more vivid and glaring
than ever. The line of fire extends for miles from
northwest to southeast, and the smoke ana
sanguinary glare appear like line of soldit n
battle. "
1.-The northern wing of the line is less than six
miles from us, and the southeastern IS less than
five miles distant, while the centre of the Ene APP
pears the most sanguinary. From the sol.h east
wing the seething fusion has fallen into & rough
water channel, twenty TO fifty feet wide which
comes down from the nam bed of the loE almost
direct TO Hilo, crossing Volcano street, half mile
from Mills store and entering into the Waialama
stream which cuts the beach about midway. In
this way the lava at white heat is fast approach
ing the shore. 1t is now only two and half miles
from Volcano street and it Is very liquid running
much like water. 1t has, some part of the time,
run at the rate of half mile Gay. Large parties
of fifty to one hundred visit it daily, and some go
up early in The morning and return and again go
up in the afternoon.
1t is supposed that one hundred have visited the
stream recently. Mr. Kennedy and Mr.. Richard
son are alarmed for the mills, and they have be-
gu2 70 pack and remove their valuable articles.
Our town is greatly moved, and some have sus-
pended all other business to watch the fires The
puifs of smoke and steam along the descending
channel appear like the smoke of steamers de-
scending a river. We still hope in the mercy of
the Lord while the fiery flood is fearful. The
main body of the fire is moving slowly down upon
us in sufficient breadth TO sweep our whole town,
while the small stream is like advanced pckets on
a skirmish line. We are in the hands of Our ALL
wise and Gracious God, and would not be else
where. Let Him do according to his pleasure,
while it is comfort to call upon Him in the hour
of trouble, and hope in His mercy.
Tuesday PM, June 2Sth.-.Mrs. Coan and
have been to the lava flow to-day and returned.
We we're little over an hour in reaching the.how,
walking our horses slowly all the way. native
with good horse will reach the fires In forty min
utes, and return in thirty. We call the distance
three miles. We found two streams of liquid lava
coming down in Jocky channels which are some
times filled with roaring waters, but nearly dry at
this time. These two gulches are too snail
to hold the seething fusion. and the fiery
flood over-runs the banks, and spreads out on
either side The united width of these streams
may vary from fifty to two hundred feet In 60
ing down the sleeper parts of these rocky beds
the roar is like that of our Wailuku or our surf,
and often like thunder.
"Were yon here You would probably see its
triumphant entrance into our town, about half
mile east of Church street, in few days.
1t will be grand spectacle were it not full of
terror. If the vast fiery lines which lie upon the
hill behind u.s. only five or six miles distant does
not move down upon we may hope that most
of our town will be spared, but of this we not
assured. We wait the will of Him whose wisdom
and will are perfect. and we plead His mercy
which is infinite"
EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LITTER.
HIIo, June 9th. 1881.
This has been the darkest day that Hilo has
known in connection with the flow of 1881 We
knew by the glare of the sky last evening that
there increased activity, and we both said that
at time had tie look been more threatening
There such broad belt of light, and it looked
so near Before breakfast this morning. native
came who had been at the Waiakea flow and told
us what he had seen-a startling story; but we |
have become dstrustful of all the native reports
that would not allow ourselves to be much |
alarmed until we could hear further Mr. c. as |
soon as be could went down town to get more reIi-
able information, and when he returned asked |
eagerly, how is it p and be answered" we'll IL Is
al true r. He had seen several who had been to I
the dow and the reports ell agreed.
We are feeling sober, for truly we know not but /
that destruction awaits our beautiful homes-and /
where shall we go The people in the Kukuau /
apana (district) are moving their things and then
cpIy