The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-30
The volcanoes of Hawaii.

"a
former, Haleakala, is situated on the island
of Maui the summit being nearly II 900
feet above the level of the sea- The crater
is, | believe, over As miles in circumfer-
ence. You could drop New York into it
and still have some desirable corner lots
left for Chicago and San Francisco As
YOU stand on the summit you look down
into the crater 1000 feet, the sides now
terraced and covered with sandalwood,
giant ferns, and wonderful profusion of
tropical flowers and shrubs.
The latter, the active volcano of Keleau-
weau is situated on Hawaii, 80 miles from
Hilo, which distance you make over a solid
lava rock road, on a sore-backed horse.
All the native horses for hire have sore
backs. | believe that is the only way they
can get them to 90, but it makes it very
interesting for the rider on that rock road
with his horse ON dead trot. AT every
football he is forcibly reminded of pile
driver.
The crater is situated on spur of Mauna
Loa. the highest mountain of the islands,
nearly $4,000, feet in altitude, but the vol
cano is only 1000 feet above sea-level.
The crater is not, a cone, but great pit on
this level bench, niue miles in circumfer-
ence You 90 down, down over this almc st
perpendicular wall, 800 feet, and stand on
the floor of the craterH This is the place
of eternal burnngs the Hale-mau- mau, the
house of everlasting fire, Of Hawaiian my
thology. Although it is two years since
| stood there the awful and \sublime pic
turc rises clear and distinct before me now.
The area at the bottom of the crSter is not
liquid mass, but for miles and miles all
around you there spreads scene \pf I'M
earthly grandeur. Five or six lakes Of fire
lie to left and right; the floor beneath is SO
hot you can scarcely walk over it; lava
oozes up through the assures. You can
light match in any of the cracks. Huge
cones, twenty or thirty feet high, made by
the bubbles of lava, rise through the seams
and are cooled by the air The fact that
the points of eruption are continually chang
ing gives one a very insecure feeling as he
walks over this burning floor.
At last we stood on the verge of the
newest lake formed, about mile and a
half in circumference, and lying 80 feet
below us. We peered over the edge; the
centre lay solid and black before us; but all
round the boundary beautiful fountains
of blood-red fire were playing, sending their
spray 80 feet into the air. We were on
the windward side or we could not stand
the heat
After while we rose to so, but the
guide said, ''Not yet; you haven't seen it
yet" We waited and waited; an hour
passed At last the guide cried Look
there" \ crack-a seam Of fire shot
across the surface, score more followed
in different directions in quick succession,
the centre began to rise, the great cakes Of
lava driftsd toward the edge and disap-
peared, the centre rose higher and higher,
and in moment more the pot was boiling.
The whole lake was seething, foaming,
billowy burning sea, lashing the black
shores, and sending its fiery sprays hun
bred feet high cooling in the atmosphere
and dropping around us like fne-spun
threads of glass. We fell back to re-
spectful distance and for an hour watched
in silence the most awe-inspiring and ter
rible sight mans eye can rest upon. Then
the pillows began to subside, the waves
beat themselves to rest against the shore,
the whole centre cooled down as before to
Il black solid mass, while the fountains took
up their old vocation, playing around the
edge.
After half day among such scenes it
was with feelings of relief, and with bis
tered feet, that we again climbed the rugg-
ed sides of the crater and breathed purer
air from the heights above. | saw at this
time that wonderful river of fire that flowed
from the summit of Mauna Loa for thirty
miles down toward Hilo, and its proud
waves were staid within three-quarters of
mile of the town. 1t was about 3 miles
in width and from 10 to 80 feet high. 1t
cut its way down through the forest and
carried everything before it; being Of the
consistency of thick mush, and forced by
the awful pressure behind, no obstruction
could be placed in its way. 1t looked
strange to see it rolling up hill and press
ing on in straight line. The whole heav-
ems were ablaze at night, and by its light,
miles away, you could read the finest print.
THE NEW VOLCANO IN BERING SEA.
The Secretary of the Treasury has re-
ceived from Capt. NJ. A. Healy of the
United States revenue cutter Corwin, I'M
der date of Ounalaska, May 18th, two in
teresting reports by officers of the Corwin
describing Il visit to the recently upheaved
volcano in Boring Sea, at the northern end
of Bogosoff Island, in latitude 53 degrees
So minutes Is seconds north, longitude
16S degrees u minutes west. This vol
cano, which is in state Of constant and
intense activity, was upheayed from the
sea in the summer of 1882, but was not
seen by any civilized eye until September
| 9th, 1888, when it was discovered by
Capt Anderson of the schooner Matthew
Turner A few days later it was also seen
by Capt Hague of the steamer Dora, but
no landing upon it was made previous to
that by the officers of the Corwin last
spring. DIR. Yemans describes it as dull
gray, irregularly cone-shaped hill, about
500 feet in height, from the sides and sum-
nit of which great volumes of vapor were
arising At height of about two-thirds
the distance from the base to the apex of
the cone very irregular series of large
steam jets issued, which extended in a
horizontal direction completely across the
northwestern face of the hill Around
these steam jets were seen, upon nearer ap-
proach, deposits of sulphur of various hues,
which at distance had looked like patches
of vegetation. A landing was effected
without difficulty upon a narrow sand spit
connecting the new volcano with the old
island of Bogosloff, and Dr. Yemans and
Lieut.. Cantwell undertook the ascent Of
the smoking cone. 1t was covered by q
thin layer Of ash, formed into a crust by
the action of rain, which was not strong
enough to sustain mans weight Al
every step the climbers feet crushed through