Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-03
A VOLCANO IN FULL BLAST.
An Interview with the Crater Of KiIesus
A FrightfuI Thing to Look Ipon.


The proper name OF this great crater is
Kileaua and il Is 1t Iated on the southern
slope of the Mauna Loa mountain, some
several thousand feet below the apex The
crater proper Is nine miles in circumference
and about co. feet deep The floor of thl.
crater is covered with black lava, and every
few weeks or months II re 'eive. new coat
ing The floor Is as uneven as the waves OF
the restless ocean. The descent into the
crater Is M de bv a path cut down and
alongside of this great Pail On leaving the
house the eKcursIonist is provided with stout
staff and lantern The guide pre- 'edes the
company with staff. lantern and large
cantAcn Of water. The volcano proper lies
two and one half miles from the outer rim
Of the crater. The trip across the lava can
lie made with reasonable safety during the
daytime but woe to the traveller VINO Will
not have the guide even in daylight. That
lava is frarfullv treacherou>, ami what
seems safe one moment may next prove
great hole or tissure. III truSty Hawaiian
who has traYe ed that crater for years
knows the result Of each flow
The approa Ii to the volcano was made
from the safest side On aCS SOUns of the
treacherou> wind, whi" is apt 10 veer and
smot her YOU with Sulphurou> smoke IL at
anv time YOU are ovrrtaken tho guide drops
upon his knees, opens that canteen, calls for
your handkerchief, and thoroughly wettlng
puts it across your mouth, eNciaiming, aole
pilikia"-nO danger There are three ori-
fees ont of which at times pour red hot
lava "Lua Hou. the New Lake. Hale
maumau," the house Of everlasting fire and
PeleS Throat, alias The Little Beggar, 50
named because 1t draws its supply from the
New laSe Halemaumau is the oldest lake
and has a circumference of about one mile.
1t has for unknown yeErS been at work, ami
upon two sides has great walls, scores OF
feet high. lea, ing one opening and second
in case Of great eruptionS- The new lake
lies to the east about half mile, and has
a diameter of no. less than eighty rods
This lake has th' own an emhankment all
around itself probably fifteen feet high,
and is constantly heightening 1t oN
lava flows When this lax. becomes
active IT throws red-hot lava over
this wall with rec leS>neSs that Is truly
reprehenSibIe The Little Beggar is situated
quite distance from the new lake 1t tlooks
like a lighthouse built out of the remains of
the great Chicago fire 1t has an opening
on the sid. near thu apex. aud out Of tins
constantly dart the merry tongues VI Lll7
Subterrauean hell During the eruption the
molten lava belcheS out of this opening at
an incTe iihle rate.
The volcano is not always actise. Some
times it ute dies down. 4 few years ago
Halemaumau sank down and it was imp
sible with the naked eve to 81 til" bottom.
Ordinarily this Is not true. Tn fire falls
away several feet from the bottom Of the
lake and at that point the lava cools sutti
ciently TO allow the formation of crust OF
lava 1t looks ike dirty snow, save here
and there red-hot lines four or five inch :
wide extending across the crater This usT
ally lasts about ne hour and a half Tn
this large crust begins TO rise like hu-
leviathan out of the sea II is fairly fright
full 10 l"ok upon Then the fire bursts olt
in great columns and Jets. throwing grea
shretS of molten lava int" the air. Til
sound is similar 10 the swish and swa>h -
the waves of he ocean. When the volcano
is thus active the whole heav n, seem TO lr
on fire and the lurid glare Ugh the coun-
try for miles and miles around. d.-Hawai
Cor Inter Ocean