The Hawaiian gazette., 1886-08-03
Latest From the Volcano.
Letter from Professor Van SIyke.

H1Io, H. l.. July 10Th, 1886.
EDITOR GAZETTE II made my first visit to HI
lauea last week, remaining there from July 18th
to the 9th. l visited the crater twice, first on
Wednesday the 2lst, and again on Friday the 23rd.
On the first visit, was in the crater from 10 I'm.
until PM; and the second, from II am. until
Ppm.
1t is impossible from mere description to give
any accurate idea of the location of the places
where liquid lava is seen in the crater. can tell
what saw, but any figures of distances and size
are mere estimates of the eye and probably qnite
imperfect
The molten lava is visible in three different
places, all of which l visited. Two of the three
places quite difficult of access, the approach
being circuitous route up and down over masses
OF loose rocks and possible only in the day time.
These two places are quite near each other in the
neighborhood of what was formerly the New
Lake, though some little distance SOUTH They can
hardly be called "lakes''; should call them wells
One of these is where liquid lava was first seen
after its first disappearance in March. This is
somewhat irregular in shape, being perhaps thirty
feet wide and 60 to rs feet long and not less than
100 feet in depth. To obtain a view of the bottom
one must go to the very verge of the we'll and look
over, and this can be done with safety at only one
point. Immediately beneath this point at the
bottom of the WELL but where it could not be seen
without too great risk, there was an immense
noise and evldence-of intense activity. Over the
portion of the bottom of the well that was visible
the lava was hardened except in place where
1t could be seen as 1t was pulled out and thrown
up little distance every few seconds.
The other we'll was nearly circular In shape
perhaps 30 feet in diameter and 100 feet deem.
This could be approached only at one point, and
this point was on the leeward SIDE SO that the
fumes of sulphur dioxide would allow one to re-
main there only few seconds at time. At the
bottom of the well a partial cone was formed Der.
haps 10 feet across and in this the lava was boil
ing with intense violence, now and then throwing
up spray of lava quite hundred feet to the
mouth of the well and almost Into the face of one
standing on the edge and looking over
The third place where the liquid lava could be
seen was in the lake below the west wall 1t is
possible to get down to the edge of this lake and
obtain coined specimens but it is an extremely
hazardous undertaking. There are or were two
lakes here but they seem to have merged into each
other the activity being confined to the part last
formed. Small lava flows were constantly break.
ing out and in the evening there was general
breaking up of about one third the surface This
lasted only one or two minutes but was followed
by quite extensive lava flows. | saw no fountains
and no cones here. The best point for observing
this lake Is 500 or 1000 feet distant from it. One
can get on the edge OF the perpendicular wall i'm
mediatey above it $50 or 200 feet but this is un-
safe as land slides are constantly taking place at
all points.
When visited this lake two days later, its sur
face had evidently risen and it was more active
than when l saw it before.
There were signs of activity in other places but
no fire could be seen. About the middle of july
some lava reappeared in HaIemaumau but it has
not continued in activity.
The activity of Kllauea is evidently increasing
and, while the sight at present IS well worth see
ing, there is promise of even much more in the
future L. L. VAN SLYKE