Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-15
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
New outburst of Mauna Loa-oue Of the
Greatest Eruptions on Record.

Greatest EGuptlonS on keco1O.
Advices from Honolulu have been re
ceived to July 9TH per steamer Australia
which arrived at San Francisco Wednes
day. The most exciting event when the
steamer left Honolulu was the new out
burst of Mauna Loa, which threatens to
cause great destruction. The Sheriff o.
Hawaii writes from Hilo as follows, under
date of June 30th &C. fear that we are on
the brink of great calamity. The lava
stream has at last broken out of the woods
little above Waiakia and the fish pond,
and that portion of Hilo, including possibly
the harbor, cannot escape except by mir,
acle. Last Saturday gradually increasing
action was noticed, and on Saturday night
and Sunday the lava broke out OF the
woods, and getting into small water
course came rushing down in the
direction of Kukuau and Kalipohpo
at great speed Monday l visited
the scene of the flow, and it was
q truly terrific sight to see streams of lava
almost as liquid as water rushing down the
beds of streams, pouring over fertile land
and carrying destruction with it every
where. The roar of burning grass and
ferns, the explosions and conclusions, were
fearful. While we were watching it
about three hours-the stream progressed
some 400 feet. 1t cannot be more than
about two miles from the sea in direct
line. A continuous stream of people are
going and returning. 1t seems almost In
credible that Il lava stream is SO near us /;
but it ig, alas, too true. One part of the
town seems safe, but if the stream gets
into the bay it will doubtless destroy it,
and all the people in that vicinity will be
ruined and homeless. This morning June
30th) the report from the flow is that action
at the lower end is somewhat abated, but
further up it continues as violent as ever.
1t is probably only temporary lull. "
Another correspondent describes the out.
break as follows: "About June 22d the
old mountain 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 rushing into .
deep but narrow gulch, forced its way
down the gulch in rapid flow. By Satur-
day noon it had run mile. The flow was on
an average seventy five 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 partly cooled lava. Soon
after we reached it the flow reached deep
hole, some ten to fifteen feet IN depth, with
perpendicular sides. The sight, as it
poured over that fall in two cascades. was
magnificent. The flow was then moving at
the rate of about seventy five feet an hour.
If it goes through kukuau, probably all the
lower or front part of the town will fall
prey to Madame Pele."
The Hawaiian Gazette OF July 9th says ::
The past week has been one of great ex-
element in Hilo, in consequence Of the re-
Mauna Loa. One arm OF the fiery stream
has pushed itself into the Kukuau gulch,
and is within three miles OF the village Of
Hilo. All Hilo may be said to have visited
the flow during the last few days. Men,
women and children, some on foot and
some on horseback, have made the pilgrim
age. AS seen on Wednesday, June 29th, it
presented a view never to be forgotten. 4
mile above the lower end of the stream
the lava is flowing in liquid, living tor
rent some thirty feet wide along its course,
consuming everything in its way. From
this point about half Of the seething, surg
ing torrent could be seen. The belt COW
cred with lava was some 800 feet wide, all
hot and liable at any moment to break out
into renewed activity. st night the scene
was awfully grand beyond description.
Rev. Titus Coan writes from Hilo, under
date OF June 2Sth: "The northern wing
of the line is less than six miles from us,
and the southwestern is less than two miles
distant. while the center of the line APP
pears to be the most sanguinary. From
the southeast wing the seething fusion has
fallen into a rough water channel, 20 to so
feet wide, which comes down from the
main bed OF the flow almost direct to Hilo.
We found two streams of liquid lava COM
ing down in rocky channels which are
sometimes filed with roaring waters. but
nearly dry at this time These two guiches
are too small 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 80
to 200 feet"