National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-14
BURNING LAVA
SIGHTS ON THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Wonderful Cascades Of fFire-Burning Piuid Pouring
Through Gulches aud Chasing the Visitors
Lakes OF a Molten Mass-A Wild, Weird
Scene Never TO BE Forgotten.

4 letter ftom young lady now residing In the
Sandwich Islands and written to n friend in this
city has Just been handed u.s. The lettor was not
intended for publication, but as no condolences are
betrayed and as It is OF thrilling interest we are
allowed TO presentit;
PAPAIKoU, HAWAII, Nov, s, 1881.
My DEAR Mn. b.; ] have just skipped through
my breakfast or, rather II has skipped into me,
and now must hurry aud write you q line. II
you have your money in your hand pnok up and
come right out here to see this lava now. II mas
tion flowed for ffleen months, but this is the
largest and most terrific one ever known here.
The volcano Is about two miles from the sea. IL
sometimes pours with great rapidity; then, slow
ing up. the food moves slowly, grandly on. We
took horses and rode the seven miles that In
tervene between home and the mountains with
great rapldity, leaving the pack-horscs to take
their time
THE PARTY CONSISTED
mostly Of ladies' and as you know dare do al
most anything, we were on the lava within al
hour from leaving home. We fastened the horses
In safe place, and went out on the crust; but
before we were aware, we were obliged to go back
and move the horses for the lava was creeping to-
ward them, and they became frightened. While
standing OH the crust we could distinctly hear the
rush and roar beneath, as 1t ground It's way ovei
the rough earth It is extremely hard to get speci
mems, or rather to keep them, they are so, brittle
OH wish you could have seen what have seen
There were
THE MOST WONDERFUL CASCADES
that poetic fancy can picture. The lava poured
down into gulches aud canyons dropping Into the
water with kissing boom as If n thousand de-
mons were struggling for some mastery; or II
would stealthily creep around you and hem you
In aud cut you of ifnot watchful lthas power
of fascination that makes the looker-on almoS
forget himself, and before he is aware he Is in tht
terrible danger Of being swallowed up. II follow
the footsteps as If determined
WITH RELENTLESS FURY
TO ovortakc Mt last. Our party selected q high
knoll at safe distance and pitched tents for thC
night Three times during tho night we had tC
move for the lava had turned its channel ano
was coming toward us. II increased its speed sc
rapidly that we did not-could notgo to sleep, and
we watched the creeping river, or rather lake o.
fire, until dawn. We finally had the tents and
horses moved across deep ravlne and considered
ourselves safe. To our surprise the lava rushed
not only into the mouth of the gulch, but ou
across the corner and poured down over the side
mind can conceive. The water steamed anC
hissed and ioamed II fought desperately. boilini
and leaplng three or four feet, but was crowded
out and forced over to take refuge In lower level
COULD NOT SLEEP,
and so sat and watched 1t; In fact did not dar,
to go To Sleep lest might not escape. You canuo
imagine the difference in the view II presents by
night as compared to the view by day. The one Il
living acting fire, the other is a gray molten
creeping relentless stream, that fills every depres
sion, swallows the little lakes, drives the rvulet
away in steam makes a desert of the ilowery val
ley, waste of the rich plantation, and stops onl!
when engnlfed in the ocean. Thousands o
acres of valuable property have disappeared, anC
still the streams steadily moving on in variou
directions toward the sea. have written thi
letter while sitting in my saddle, and watchin!
the Wild weird scene. knew you would enjoy 1
more, and ifyou come nextsummer. MS we all hop
you will, YOU will say that words are inadequate Il
picture the wonderful scene. All, we arc beinl
buried in clouds, and must away else i shall bj
lost, and run the risk OF being swallowed in tn
lava. With love ~ all and hoping you will enjoy th
| phi otographs of the lava cascades, CARRIE