New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-02
a MOUNTAIN OF FIRE.
rur rprrprIoN OF MAuNA LoA.

THE ERUPTION OF MAUNA LoA.
Nh ..v ONLY ACTIVE VOLCANO or THE sANL
80 70, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF MGKUAwEowEO AND
xuAUEA-AN EXPEDITION IN THE FACE OF
MOLTEN FLooD-ANxIETY RZGARDING THE FATE
OF HfLo.
Huo. Hawaii, Dec 1O.-Mauna Loa, on the island
~ Hawaii is now the only remaining active volcano
!, the Sandwich Island group. Haleakala, Mauna
Kes and Hualaai have long been extincti 1t not be-
ne improbable however that all four were once con-
temporaneously in action, though Mauna Loa mas re-
tanned its activity longest. At some former period
the volcanic action this island with its immense
{ terminal craters and its numerous lateral ones,
must have been unparalleled At present, with only
ous mountain active scientific authority rates this
As the most extensive seat of volcanic action in the
Pacific, and one of the most remarkable regions of
4 eruption in the world.
There are two craters ON Mauna Loa, one at the
summit at height of nearly Ii, 900 feet, having
circumference of about ten miles and a depth of
thousand feet and another on the southern slope
of the mountain sixteen miles from the summit, at
a height of over 1000 feet having circumference
of about nine miles and depth of 600 feet These
creters great pits, having lakes of lava in con-
slant ebullition not oil the floor. but within
limited areas, except at times of eruption. when the
molten lava runs in a thousand directions, filling
the pit and surging like an angry sea- Sometimes
great cones are formed at the very centre of ac-
tyty ana the liquid lava is thrown vertically, like
fountain of water TO a'height of 1000 feet, as in
the eruption of 1852.
The direct occasion of an eruption is the filling Of
the pit by successive flows until the pressure is suf
fcient to rend the mountain side and allow the lava
to escape. This long process, occupying several
years. the difference in time varying with the
height at which the fssure isformed and dependent
on the freeness of the flow. The summit crater,
Mokuaweoweo, is less regular in It's eruptiODs than
Kilauea, the lower crater. singular TACT IN con-
neetou with the ePuptiors of these craters is that
there is apparently sympathy between the Two In
their action. Violent eruptons at Mokuaweoweo are
ordinarily accompanied by only normal activity at
Kilauea 1900 feet lower down. This has led to
the belief that the two craters are independent OF
each other, though in all likelihood Kllauea is
the enlargement of assure formed at an early
period when violent earthquakes accom-
panied great eruption of MokuaweoweO.
Professor Dana In his Geology" has suggested that
difference of 5000 feet in the arms of sphOn,
provided those arms are many miles long, wOulc
hardybe appreciabe, and that the lava in that
case would rise in the summit crater and occasion an
eruption when nothing of the kind would occur IN
The lower crater In recent visit to Kilauea this
same problem presented on a smaller scale.
Three lakes found in different stages of actv-
ity One was in state of vigorous ebulliton, lit
tie fountains playing all about its surface and nm
derneath its walls. reminding one of seals sporting
in the water; another inaccessible, but the lava
had evidently sunken to a considerable depth, and
no signs of activity were disceruible; the third was
rs quiet as mill-pond. though the liquid lava could
be seen around the edges, the writer standing les
than twenty-five feet above it IN line perpendicu
lar with it's brink, uncommoded only by the excess
sive heat
The problem rs to the relations of the two crasers
is one having practical bearings. For if it can lie
proved that there is connection between the two,
the fiery pocket theory of the interior of the
earth would teceive substantial confirmation. The
facts stated above would seem to disprove such
theory for it can hardly be doubted that the three
lakes in close connection. and what IS true OF
them may be true of the two craters. 1t may be
that there are great of vaporized water
acting not always in the direction aud due to
internal changes not always at the same location,
that act the molten mass so as to cause special
currents driving the lava up one arm OF the slphon
while not affecting the ordinary current in the other
arm. And it may be that the chemical constituency
of various lavas at different levels and different
temperatures would be such to cause the lava in
one arm of the sIphon TO be in specially huld con-
dtion, which. taken in connection with the currents
spoken of above, would send the stream up much
higher and more rapidly in that arm than i'll the
other. We are now in period Of special eruption
and it may be that developments will show the true
explanation of this problem of the craters.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT oUTBURsT.
Both Kilauea and Moku aweoweo have been in
crcasing in activity for several months. The filing
up process has been quite marked at Kilaues for
over year. During that time lava streams
have been flowing sluggshly on the north
side of the crater floor and the level has been per-
ceptibly raised. In May, Mauna Loa was illumi-
mated by its fires for few nights. so that the dis
play could be ali over the island. These fires
disappeared, however. and no trace of a lava flow
could be found. 1t is probable that the lava was
spread about within the crater and the pressure on
the walls was thus increased leading to the great
rrpdins of the mountain which bids far to
mark the present eruption as one of the most
important in the history Of these islands. For
months the old inhabitants have been prophesying
an outburst, but every one supposed it would come
from Kiauea. 1t Is more than likely that there
will be an extensive eruption ct that point before
long but at present the great seat of activity at
the very top OF the mountain. Early Friday night.
November 9. O bright light was reflected from the
clouds above Mauna Los that increased in briiancy
until morning. All day Saturday great clouds of
smoke could be seen Hilo, forty miles away, ris
ing iron the mountain as from city that bad been
swept by great confagration. All Hilo was o
fever of excitement. The town. che largest on
Hawaii, though at the sea-evel is really on the
slope of Mauna Loa, and many OF the largest and
most destructive flows of lava have come in this
direction. In 1852 one stream came within eight
miles of Hilo In 1856 another stream. computed
to have an area of 800 square miles aud width of
from three to tive miles came within six miles of
the town, greatly to the confederation Of the in
habitauts. who set apart day of fasting and prayer