Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-29

brought US to the top of the fiery lake. a
few moments waiting and our most ex-
travagant expectations were realized.
FOUNTAINS OF LIQUID LAVA
Began to play-ten, twenty, fifty feet high.
A center fountain played continually all
the evening. Others spit forth stream
and then subsidized. Eight at one time sent
up their fiery Jets. Soon we saw great ac-
tiyity near the shore, and we concluded
that nothing short of nearer acquaintance
would satisfy us. Taking our lunch hastily.
we clambered down the most impossible
places, and III ten minutes reached the
very edge OF the seething, molten mass.
Fascinated by the dangers OF the situation,
we seemed riveted on the spot. Immense
stones were thrown in, which intrusion
Madame Pete resented by throwing up al
most in our faces a frey flood. On one oc-
casion we were obliged to retreat, to escape
being struck by the bits of fire. A stain-
pede ensued, when the guide called pre-
emptory halt.
GRAND, MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
The darkness now became intense, and
the display of pyrotechnics corTespondingly
magnificent. The cliffs were lighted IN
with lurid glare, showing them white in
contrast with the stygian darkness Of the
heavens around, and the peculiar red color
of the continually playing fountains.
When could We gol The ever-changing
conditions of the lake made the scene al
ways new. Having spent two wonderful
hours on the brink of this wonderful sea
we turned our backs regretfully, filed with
awe. Scaling the nights TO the eyrie, we
saw an illumination in the vicinity of the
" New Lake" and fastened in that direc-
ton The sky became brighter and brighter
Fearful lest the grandeur would have
passed before we could reach ii, we hastened
on. We assembled, descended, scrambled,
ever with the object i'll view, but seemingly
to retreat on our approach. As last we
found ourselves,
BREATHLESs, OVERLOOKING
What had five minutes before been a toss
ing, surging mass, but now was fast cool
ing, becoming darker and darker until the
heaying flood had ceased from its troubling
and was soon as black as surrounding
night Disappointed that we had lust
missed this most glorious of sights, we
turned our faces homeward. The "Old
Lake" now lit up the heavens, and our
We had not remained there. TWAS now /
P. II. In a short time we reached the re-
cent " flow" and spent some time making
specimens, idols, VASES, coin specimens, and
| joyfuily brought away horse shoe
partially covered With lava which l picked
up near the "Old Lake" We reached the
base of the final slope, and the nights
which we must reach seemed inaccessible
tired as we were We finally dropped
down on the porch of the Volcano House
ALMOST EXHAUSTED.
After three cups of hot tea and decorating
the fire place with dripping garments, we
retired, to get up in the morning to learn
that the New Lake had given a fine
exhibition about u o'clock If we had
only waited! One of the most aggrayatine
things about a visit to the volcano is lis
unreliabllity. For months it may remain
inactive, and all the WEAKNESS and hard
ship goes for naught Then, again, it NAV
break up" every few hours as was the
case during our visit.
Sunday morning dawned rainy, wet. dull
without, but bright and warm and com.
Portable within. The day was spent in
conyersing, reading and sleeping 1t was
continuously rainy, and out of doors of
fered no attractions. had had all dav a
lingering hope that it would clear of, SO
that we might try our luck once at the
New Lake"
sKIPPING OVER LAVA SEAS.
AT P. NJ. five of the party. moved by a
common impulse, sought out the guide, and
equipped as on the previous evening. COM
menced the descent. The way seemed much
shorter than before. We found the trail
over which We had passed the evening be.
fore covered in part by the hot lava
1t had moved imperceptibly, but in the
twenty-four hours since our last trip, i.
had slowly and surely crept across ou1
path. 1t Kissed and sputtered as the rain
fell upon it. We chose a spot where the
stream of lava was narrowest, and tripped
acrossed it quickly, | assure you. The
crust being but one and half or two
inches thick our shoes suffered from the
near contact to the fiery food beneath
We breathed easier when
THR BURNING RIVER WAS PASSED:
Fastening on, so that the New Lake.
would not again display its charms unseen.
We looked longingly toward 1.-The Little
Beggar," from which dense sulphurous
streams of steam and smoke were issuing,
The wind being in the wrong direction, we
dared not venture near it, besides. we
promised that we would not 90 to it, as one
of the party had had such narrow escape
there two evenings previous. Reaching
the New Lake, we found it in action. 50
we settled down to await its " breaking
up, giving ourselves until II o'clock.
OCCASIONAL FLASHES OF LIGHT
And boiling in the corner nearest to us
gave us hope that we might be SO fortunate
as to have our wishes fulfilled. We each
selected a steam crack tor warmth, and in
perfect comfort awaited the moving of the
waters Quoting poetry and singing be-
guiled the time, while we did not move ON
eyes from the place where the most activity
was observable, for from this we gathered
our hope. But all in an instant. at 9:l0
all eyes were riveted on the spot most dis
tant from us. It's breaking up" -" Oh
oh oh J oh i"-at the rate of about 100 a
minute.
The lava came towards us, from two di.
rections, surrounding the floating islands
which tossed about in the lake, sometimes
nearer the shore, sometimes far out at sea
at the mercy of the waves. The molten
lava streamed round the black crust, form,
ing numbcrless little islands, which one
after another became submerged, and the
whole lake was
ONE SHEET OF BUBBLING lava
Could anything have been more awe
inspiring, unless, perhaps. TO have seen the
waves seething and tossing against the
Islands and surrounding cliffs? This ha:
often been seen but we were satisfied. In
five minutes from the time that the
breaking up" commenced, all was quiet
and the lake was fast darkening. We
gazed until all was quiet, and Tom said
That's ALL Then we turned our faces
toward the mountain. The rain had ceased
but thick mist would have made it diff.
cult, perhaps, to retrace our steps. had we
not been guided by the light which Tom
had left at the foot of the slope.
Filled with thoughts of awe and mystery
and power we bent our steps towards the
goal, following track of sulphur which
Tom had defined the trail At the foot
of the mountain we met gentleman of the
party that did not go, and who had felt
some anxiety about us. He assisted us to
make the ascent. Some of the party
reached the top breathless, and gladly sank
into chairs. From the house they had
seen the grand Examinations, and were
prepared 70 hear our very enthusiastic ac-
count IN arrival.
THE RETURN HoMEwARD.
Wpll ralaosal r. =.