The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-08-31
Hnn. Anrnst o.. 1881.

eruption of 1SoO-ol Is at an end. The people OF
Hilo do not say much but are silently and infinitely
relieved. During all these terrible months since
the lava flow began its steady march to the sea
from the depths of the woods, there has not been
much said, but feeling OF suspense In view of the
approach Of this internal destroyer, has oppressed
the minds of all. And now, at the very doors of
the town, the grim arms of Madame Pele have
taken hold demanding admittance, only to be ar
rested by the withdrawal of the force behind. The
courage and patience of the people have been most
admirable. What would long ere now have pro-
duced terrible panic in Honolulu has been met
here with patient waiting. Ii, however, any sup
pose that the flow has lost its interest," it is great
mistake. For months TO come il must be of the
very greatest interest not only to the sight-seer
but TO the intelligent engineer geoogist, and spec
ulator 1t is in many respects the most interesting
flow on record in these Islands. The visitor here
seldom goes up the flow more than three or four
miles, up far as the site of John Halls house.
Mr. DAVID Hitchcock, who has been long time
an observer of volcanic phenomena, and whose
opinion is of value with reference to facts de-
veloped and your correspondent, greatly desired to
see more of the flow than this, and especially to
trace out and ascertain tho sources of the flows
variously known during the past few months as
Laumaia flow, the Hilo and Puma branches. We
therefore gladly welcomed the adjournment of the
Court ON the noon of the 10th till the 22nd as the
promised time, and at half-past one, having pre-
viously dispatched q well-laden mule through the
woods to the lower line of the flow of 1853, we
started off for q long and hard trip. Leaving our
horses at some kukui trees about two miles from
the wharf, on the great nat above the hala1 Hills,
struck acrose the country to the how at the nat
ural bridge. This bridge no longer exists, as the
lava flowed over and covered 1t, and then pushed
its way up the cool stream to the north. The flow
itself however makes natural bridge, as the large
volume of water in this stream continues from un-
der the new lava and yet no visible outlet. l may
as well say here that time will not permit any de-
scription of the various interesting points along
the flow, my object being only to get at and ex-
plain the and source of the above mentioned
several flows or branches. Opposite the natural
bridge another blow-hole exists, and so far as
known it is the lowest of all The term blow
hole' is not sufficient to describe what it is. True
the internal heat of the flow here blows off, but
in brief blow-hole is simply the cavity made Wis
ibe by the falling IN of portion of thin crust
a channel or duct of hot lava. As rule thesr
channels ducts are very deep, and generally the
very lowest point of all is not visible for the
that n false bottom or floor intercepts the view
These false bottoms are evidently made by the
cooling and soidifying of the surface of the flow
ing stream after which the running lava recedes
still lower which in some instances the process is
repeated. Holes breaking through these flows
sometimes permit the eye TO see the lower levels of
terrific heat and furnace-like glow of these truly
internal regions The axis of the grand line of the
flow lies about west by north to west by south, but
in many places the whole line of flow is out of this
line.
From the natural bridge the flow curves away
round to the southwest and thence up to John
Halls, where there several blow-holes At this
point the flow is almost half mile wide, still
10 the anu udIIONlIR. GOlLB Tue
flow we came to sharp hill down which the lava had
poured furiously, through narrow space of not
over thousand feet wide. 1t was densely covered
with fallen trees, cut off but not burned, as the
flow which burned them off at the base had not
been followed by an overflow. Here the lava must
have flowed wholly by some deep underground
channel. Still further up, say three miles above
Halls, we struck out to the north over the Hilo
flow" 1t curved away round TO the west again,
having general width of a half to three-quarters
of mile, with one great squirt into the woods to-
wards Hilo. on the east. At the head of this flow,
say q mile and a half or two miles from its
point of junction with the main line of flow
below, we came out upon vast field of lava to the
west and north. Turning to the right, north, and
following the line of woods we came TO the upper
line of the so called L1umaia tiow and turning
again to the right, east we followed that for two
miles or more, till night-fal overlook when we
reached the Laumaia house, q comfortable hut
made of koa bark, and weather-proof. This Lau-
maa flow for most of its course adioins the south
side of the flow of 1855 in some places infringing
upon it.
The lower end of this Laumaia flow covers the
great sweep to the south of the 1855 flow. The
Laumaia House is on the '56 flow, and seri-
ously threatened in the rear with the new lava
flow which came to within 300 feet of 1t. We
passed a cool night at this superb mountain re-
treat full of rest and rereshment, and awoke with
the break of day, to partake of hasty breakfast.
Then sending the boys down through the woods
home-we started again up the flow, the Laumaia
branch. Before we reached the head, Mauna Loa
crater could be seen a heavy co umn of smoke |
ascending to a great height then blowing off to
the north. Below this crater, to the left could be
seen the mound where the second crater sends !
forth the flow of this year, columns of smoke and
steam marked the whole line of flow from the top |
to where we stood. Passing rapidly up, this time
by the side of the flow of 55 again reached the |
great body of lava previously spoken of: here we
stopped for few moments to take in the situation;
a long line of woods running up the mountain |
marked the splce left between the flows of 1SS0SI /
and of 1855. Looking south We saw the distant |
line of wood apparently unbroken and perhaps |
three or five miles away. In the middle of the |
field there appeared to be several mounds rising |
above the general level. 70 these for the purpose
of observation we directed our steps; must men |
ton here, that across hot crack we met with one
of our large well known spiders with beautiful |
web, watching for strangers. To the nearest line |
of wood was about three quarters of a mile, and |
the lava still hot to the feel, yet here he was
ready for business. Passing the head of the hilo
flow and another short branch running into the
woods to the east, we reached the said mounds and
climbing to the top of the highest had a fine view
of the scene. Here then was what madame Pele
was doing in the early months of the year-burn-
ing hundreds of acres of wood till vast fiat of
miles in extent was filled and covered before the
three streams reached out for the sea. If this now
dead lake of lava were placed on Oahu it would
occupy about the space frcn Waikiki 10 Palama,
covering the whole town of Honolulu from the
upper slope of Punchbowl to the reef, and any
where from ten to two hundred feet deep, There
on to the northeast could be seen the heads of
the Laumaia and Hilo lows with two three
short spurts besides into the woods. Directly east
WIS large opening into the woods which we con-
claded must be the head of the Puma flow. No
further break visible to the south of this,
cept one spot which we concluded must be mere
recess or bay from the main body. To the west we
looked directly up for many miles along the line
of the main flow, source of supply for this vast
strange pond or reservoir. Everywhere smoke in
thin columns with much steam. Starting down the
supposed Puma flow wo at once found greater
activity signs of it than we had seen anywhere.
Mr.. Hitchcock easily detected the roar of lava
flowing beneath, and we constantly heard the
boom of a subteTranean explosion. The surface
was cracking and our poles took fire at almost
every crack. In some places we saw the live fire.
was for sitting down to wait the movements of
Madame Pele, but as time was short and we with
out food or water, we reluctantly moved on. That
evening from Hilo saw heavy smoke about this
locality, which Mr.. Hitchcock said was probably
from an overflow. Proceeding down the flow we
found that stream turned to the left and ended
IN the woods. But on the right at one point the
lava had flowed from outside somewhere and Joined
this squirt. Rightly conjecturing that we were not
upon the real Puma branch we struggled through
the fallen woods and came out upon broad field
Of lava which at WAS the main flow,
and which probably issEed from the bay above
mentioned. Following down this line for two
miles 50, we came to the point of juncture with
the Hilo flow, having hesitated once where the
main flow divided equally, one branch continuing
directly ahead into the woods, the other running
sharp to the left and then turning east again. The
1ne which appeared direct evidently ended in the
woods In a half mfie From the point of
junction we returned weary and foot sore 10 Hilo,
which we reached about three o'clock hungry and
thirsty.
1 have said nothing about blow holes for each
merits separate description, and We have visited
en- or twelve. On the whole was impressed with
he feeling that. erceutinG one ulac7a. we're