Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-19
Artery RIVER.
Overflow of Liquid Lava from
the Sandwich Island Volcano
OG REnuNR LOa-A Magnificent
and Terrific sight.

Honolulu papers, per the City OF
New York, contain alarming letters
from Hilo, which is threatened with
destruction from lava from the volca-
no of Mauna Loa. The population
is preparing to fly from the fiery food.
Two streams of liquid lava are coming
in rocky channels, which are sometimes
filed with roaring waters. but are
nearly dry at this time. These two
gulches are too small to hold the
seething mass, and the fiery flood
overruns the banks, and spreads out
on either side. The united width of
the two streams may vary from fifty to
two hundred feet. Going down the
sleeper parts Of these rocky beds the
roar is like that Of the serf and often
thunder. Under date of June 30 the
correspondent says: About Wednes-
day of last week the old mountain was
observed to be more than usually ac-
tive, the whole summit of the
crevasse pouring forth immense
volumes OF smoke. By Friday
noon the three southern arms all
Joined into one, rushing down the
guleh in rapid flow. Saturday noon
it had run mile. Monday morning it
was reported to have reached the fat
back of the Halai hills. The stream
was entirely confined to the gulch and
intensely active when about half o
mile from the fats. The flow on the
average is IS feet wide and from ten
to thirty in depth, and filled the gulch
up level with the 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
dow reached a hole some ten or fifteen
feet in depth, with perpendicular
sides. The sight as it poured over
that fall in two cascades was magnifi-
cent. The flow was then going at the
rate of about IS feet an hour. About
midnight we noticed dimunition in
the activity of the gulch flow, and
soon saw bright red glare above the
tree-tops, and presently we're startled
by burning PAS bursts and the
cracking and falling of trees some
where above. The whole sky was
lined with the light of burning trees
and shrubs. About 2 am. We made
an attempt to reach the scene of the
great activity, and succeeded by going
up the south side Of the gulch quar-
ter of a mile. The on coming over
flow had swept over the banks of the
narrow gulch, and was flowing like
water into dense grove of neneleau
and guavo trees. There they
stood in a sea of liquid lava
over space Of more than
an acre, while the fires
were running up thoir trunks; and
burning branches and leaves overhead.
| The flow was so rapid that the trees
were not cut down for more than 200
feet from the first of the flow. In
one place we saw a huge dome of half
melted lava rise up fifteen or twenty
feet high, and twice that in diameter,
and apparently remain stationary
while the fiery foed went on, we
watching this for about an hour, see
ling how rapidly it was advancing. Al
early noon we started back for home
The reason of the quick advance Of
the flow for the past two weeks has
been the increased activity at the
fountain head, the Junction of the
streams mentioned, and the fact tina
this narrow rock bed gulch has formed
Aume to pass the liquid lava along il
solid, narrow stream without am
chance for spreading out laterally. Il
is impossible to say now when the flow
will reach the sea, but the probability
is that it will take the KaukwaI
gulch, now not over 1914 miles from
the sea. 1t may spread out on the fla
above Hiloa, and run down to tn
north of the hills, but the tendency i
toward Rishponds. There is no hop
now of its not reaching the sea, ant
in a short time, probably before yol
hear from us again. fit goes through
Kaukwan. probably all the lower o
. front part of the town will fall a prey
- Me- Dali