Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-05

Extinction Of the Greatest Volcano in
The WOrld-A Notable Eruption OF the
Past.

From The New York Tribune.
| Recent advices from the Sandwich islands to
the effect that there was no more fire in the
crater of Kilauea, if true means that the largest
active volcano on the planet has been snuffed
out. The new lake of molten lava of Halee-
Inaumau, which is mentioned as having disap-
peared, has not been in existence many years.
and the period of volcanic activity and EARTH
quakes, which accompanied its formation, inn
mediately preceded the last great eruption
from the neighboring crater on the SUNNI. of
Mauna Loa in November of 1850.
The islands of Hawaii, which is the south
most of the Hawaiian or Sandwich group is
in the form of two great twin peaks, Mauna
elevation of nearly $4,000 feet On the sum-
NIT OF Mauna Loa Is a crater which is inter
mittently active: On the slope Of Mauna Loa
Is the crater of kilauea lake of fire., which is
referred to in the dispatch. Kilauea is unique
among the volcanoes of the world. 1t is situ-
ated in a great pit in the side of Mauna Loa,
/ 200 feet deep and three miles in diameter
the walls OF which are almost perpendicular, so
that they can only be descended where zigzag
pathways have been made. The lakes of fire
which make up the volcano OF kilauea are in
the southern end OF the pit. There is at all
pits, and they are constantly changing in form
and position. In the ordinary condition of the
volcano people can descend the sides of the
great PIT and walk over the floor to the lakes.
The floor is black coal and SO hot that it
scOrches shoe leather. There are great seams
IN IL AT intervals, from which issue steam and
sutphurous smoke.
The shores of the lakes themselves are high
and steep. One can go close to the edge on the
windward side, and by holding hat in front of
the lace or wearing mask. peep over at the in
1ernal bubbling which is going on in the abyss.
me surface OF the'lakes, when quiet, is covered
with a thin layer OF black, newly hardened
lava. The surface is never quiet long nor over
us whole extent. pulsating mound makes
its appearance at some point and swells by
slow degrees until cracks appear running from
the apex. The fiery molten lava appears we'll
Ing UP through these cracks; the layer over the
4ff
the edge, these cakes disappear aud are swal-
lowed up by the red liquid underneath, which
pom, poiIs ana "uooies ana sputtefs III the vent III
has found, throwing up spray which Is caught
by the wind and spun Out as fine silk. In
this condition it is found in crevices of the lava
on the banks, looking much like punches OF
bionde hair. The native Hawaiians term this
stun Pele's hair, Pele being the goddess sup
posed to inhabit this Hale-mau-mau blouse OF
Everlasting Fire. Natives who visit the spot
throw coins or edibies into the lake to appease
the wrath of the goddess. The high banks of
the lakes constantly breaking Oft in great
masses and being swallowed up in the seething
caUldron below. In periods of great activity
the surface of the lakes rises and sometimes
oEerfiows the banks, when long stream OF
lava creepS over the floor of the great pit, dis
posing itself in smooth folds like giant taHy.
kilauea is 1000 feet above the sea level, and
Is about 20 miles from the crater on the summit
OF Mauna Loa, which is over 5000 feet higher.
Yet there SEEMS to be some connection between
the summit crater and the vent in the side OF
The mountain. During the summer months OF
1850 there was great activity in Kllauea and
several severe earthquakes on the island OF
Hawaii The new fire lake OF Halemaumau,
which the telegraph says has disappeared,
made It's appearance during this period. One
night in November Of that year an eruption
broke out on the summit OF Mauna Loa with 4
loud explosion, and the stream of lava came
pouring down the mountain side in foods. The
country through which it came wild, an
impenetrable tropical forest. In the first nights
after the eruption broke out the stream could
be seen rom tar out at sea, looking like a fiery
serpent lying on the mountain side. As the
months went on the upper part of the stream
eoo!ed on the surface and crusted over, serving
as Il conduit To carry the liquid TO the terminus
OF the flow, where it broke out and pushed its
way more slowly. The flow OF lava continued
INTO the summer OF 1881, when it stopped,
about a quarter OF a mile from the little tropi-
cal towp OF Hilo, having eaten its way so miles
through the forest, which was utterly swallowed
up IN lts path. No such flow OF lava had come
from Mauna Loa since the great flow OF 1S59
which reached the sea. Two eruptions so
closely following as that of 1880 and the one
which seems to be foretold by the phenomena
III hlIauea would be unprecedented.
SITTING BY THE FIERY LAKE JUST BEFORE TT
DISAPPEARED.
y letter received in Poughkeepsie from
Charles NJ. Rowley, vice president Of the Brush
Electric Light company, says: Mrs Rowley my
son Charles, and myself, with seven other Id
dies and gentlemen from Australia visited the
great volcano known as kiiauea, on the island
Oh Hawaii, 900 miles from Honolulu and
nearly 5000 miles from San Francisco. We
lett Honolulu by steamer, and after a stormy
thence went on mules over so miles of lava
beds until we reached the crater of Kilauea
now 1000 feet above the sea. We descended
at night into the crater and walked u distance
OF three miles over lava until we reached the
burning lake. This was very active and we sat
for hours the brink of the great lake
of nre, which was at least three miles long
by l12 wide. The wavas of fire were run
ming very high, often 100 feet, while eruptions
We're OF frequent occurrence, throwing molten
lava into the air hundreds OF Ieet with "a noise
mat Was deaienlng. Now, for our narrow es-
cape This entire lava area, including miles
around the lakes, the very spot where we sat
down and passed hours, the three miles of path
way across the lava beds upon which we
walked, within fOrty-eight hours after we LETT
was completely destroyed, the whole having
fallen In and leaving an open crater, miles in
extent and apparently ialhomless. This was
followed by fOrty-three distinct shocks of earth
quake, lasting Tor a period OF fourteen hours
The whole party felt thankful at their narrow
escape from an awful doom and will remember
the rest OF their days how near they came to a
Journey 10 the center OF the EARTH
Distributing Tesiaments by RiecemeaI,
y stranger created a sensation on a promi-
nent street corner in Atlanta few days ago by
handing out page OF the Bible to each passer-
by. tie had d Bible cut through the back
Every man. woman and child who passed the
spot went away reading.
why do you do this?1 asked a reporter,
Gould l do anything better" the man re-
Piled.
hut who supports you while you are at it?'
Il IN not hungry" said the man.
Maybe you are rich?'' remarked the re-
porter.
I've got as much as the apostles had" re-
piled the stranger, who had not stacked up in
Ms WoTk OF handing out Bible leaves.
The stranger gave his name as j. E. Coe, of
Meriden, Conn, and said that ne was on his
Way To Florida He had some property, and is
spending the interest aud principal for little Te-
ttments, that ne cuts up and gives away a leaf at
4 time some day he uses many as twenty les
taments. AS Il result OF his iabors il Is pre-
stunned that many people read the Bible who
had never read ii before.
&Erht Acnna;-t,--n