Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-05-27
Mr.. Furneaux's Volcanic Studies.

few days ago we visited tho art studio of Mr..
Furneaux at Aliiolani Hale and were fortunate in
having the opportunity TO SEQ his full Gorics Of
views of the late lava flow from Mauna Loa.
These together form perfect history OF the flow
and give a better idea of it than could be con-
voyod by the most facile pen. They not only
accurate paintings Of the subjects chosen, but are
careful studies OF volcanic phenomena and as
such are of great value. OF these views, over
forty in number the first to be mentioned is q
set of four, two each of the source crater and
two of the first vent where the lava stream issued
about siE mi!es from the crater. Two are near
views Of tls Esces and two were taken at
short distanc 'r ng the general appearance OF the
ing the eutire line of the flows down the slopes of
Msur Aoa and tho bright fires at tho source.
Tvg "a these show the town of Hilo and the
mountains back with the course Of the burning
lava toward the sea. These give orio better idea
Of the track of the three flows than could possibly
be obtained from map Among the studies most
valuable as illustrating volcanic phenomena are
several sets Of companion pictures. Two repre-
sent the Kau a-d flow, one showing it when moving
slowly like burning glacier and the other view
of the end after 1t had ceased moving. view of
the extremity of small branch Of the Hilo stream
shows the smooth pdhOehOe and the manner in
which it travels One other that might be added
to this set il a view of portion of the flow of
1868 near Kilauea-iki, peculiar one III many re-
spects, representing the cold Uat0choe in the state
| in which it cooled Nothing could more clearly
| illustrate the character of the flows from Mauna
Loa and the difference between the two kinds of
| lava.
There arc two views Of tine large blow hole about
! four miles above the extreme end of the flow,
where tho lava remained III an incandescent state
| for some weeks after the stream had ceased to
move Ono of these was painted while tho flow
was still moving and the other after its death.
One view showing q steam ven, where two
branches of the flow united in the bed of stream
| of water is very interesting, and two otherB of a
! like character are view of n whirlwind ON the
lava bed caused by the cold air rushing in and dis
placing the hot air arising from tho hot lava, and
another showing water spout over the flow.
fourth picture very much unlike the above in col
oring, but equally interesting q study, is q
| painting OF gas explosion on the How at night
! Among the most interesting as vol as most beau
| tifu studies III the collection ia one showing L
flash of volcanic lightning" and the peculiar
| yellow glare 1t throws over the landscape. For
| companion picture Is another showing the reflec
tion from the fiery stream below on the overhang-
ing clouds and lighting up tho heavens with pale
and varying tnts. There are two views OF molten
lava falling over .precipice. one taken about
twelve miles above Hio and the other and larger
one nearer the sea. Apcture showing John Hall S
house before the lava reached it and n companion
painted after the flow had destroyed the place
interesting in many ways In another set OF views
creeping among lauhala trees, another showing
the How pushing its way through tho fern palms
and other shrubbery, aud third ono the same
spot after the lava had pas ed Among tho others
which go to make up the series Is view showing
the lava burning pathway through heavy forest
of ohia; another pcturing the glare from the flow
as secn through the timber at night showing the
union of three flows in q depression in the noun
tains; night seen ON tho main flow above Hilo
representing the streams OF liquid fire threading
their way among great jagged masses Of black lava,
suggestive of an ice jam ON northern river; a
group Of natives watching the progress OF the lava
at the end Of the flow, and another, which might
be termed the last of the series showing the Waia-
kea mill and the extreme point OF the laya How
where 1t ceased TO move at the moment when all
hope of saving the mill had been abandoned.
Other views which belong with this group of vol
canic studies, taken at kilauea, equally inter
esting aud valuable. One of these is general
view, excellent one, of the whole craterj one Is
a view of Halemaumau and another is scene in
the South Lake-one OF the most wonderful and
beautiful in the collection, To describe theso as
they deserve would be impossible in hastily
written newspaper review and We have not at.
tempted 10 do more than make brief reference
to the most striking ones. complete history OF
the eruption of lss0-sl Is here placed before the
gazer and We must express the hope, shared by
many that the set will have permanent place OF
exhibition in Honolulu, and not be sold to differ
ont purchasers aud scattered tho world over Ihc
majority Of those pictures ara already framed and
the others win be within a few days-probably q
week or two-after which the collection will be
open Tor the inspection of tho public.