The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-03-02
KILAUEA.
Some Of the Features OF the G-eaf
Crater De ,crib cd by F. L. Clarke.
IS. F. Call, January 2sth. |

being gwen under the auspices CT the
California Pioneers, would be delivered
by F. L. Clarke of Hawaii on the subject
of "The Great Volcano of the World
was sufficient to crowd to its utmost the
portion of the large hall was packed,
and the audience overlooked into the
vest;bule.
The lecture was preceded by piano
and violin recital by the Misses Joran,
assisted by Charles Michiels on the cor
net The musical renditions of these
young ladies were of high order of
merit, and elected rapturous applause
from the auditors. They executed in
admirable style two of the characteristic
melodies of the Hawaiians, "Aloha oe"
and "Ahi Wela," and concluded with
the national anthem of the little island
kingdom.
Mr. Clarke introduced his subject by
giving brief sketch O. the geographical
position and features of the Hawaiian
Islands. He dwelt particularly on the
fact that they are entirely of volcanic
origin, and described in few brief SEN
fences the theory of their growth.
''By the greatest volcano OF the earth"
said the speaker, 81 mean the greatest
active volcano in the world and easiest
of access. The whole group has been
built by volcanic action from the north
west island of Kauai to Hawaii, which
is still in the course of construction. On
the island of Hawaii is the active crater
known as Kilauea, which nestles on the
side of the peak of Mauna Loa. The
crater is known to the natives as Hale
maumau, or House of fire. The out
break of lava is very rare, seldom pour
ing over the sides of the crater walls"
The lecturer then dissipated the COM
mon conception of volcanoes gained
from biographies that they were precipi-
tous and emitted great columns of fire,
stone and other substances which rose
to great height and then fell in spray.
ga ride of fourteen miles from the sea,
through a beautiful forest whose density
of foliage and great beauty suggested
nothing of lavatic origin, brought the
travellers to the crater of Kilauea. This
is nine miles in circumference, and has
never been known TO be inactive. A
year ago the crater walls were built up
ovei 700 feet by it's own action. After
descent of over mile from the edge o.
the mountain to the crater walls, the
visitor was rewarded by view of
IL. ~
convulsed from within, sending forth
great rivers of lava in every direction.
Gin the entire history of the volcano
no accident has ever happened. Within
half an hour after an eruption the crater
can be traversed without danger. The
pre-eminent beauty and grandeur OF the
volcano can only be appreciated by
night; then the glowing fires, twisting
and turning, sputtering, rising and sink
ing, darkened by passing clouds and
lighted by moonshine, inspire awe and
leave an indelible impression. Often
the volcano seems cold and sullen, and
the visitor is disappointed, but large
crack will suddenly appear filed with
fire and heated air, which will flush the
cheek although many miles away. The
whole surface suddenly becomes one sea
OF fire.
''Its color has never been simulated,
although many painters had attempted
it. The crater is sometimes of silvery
color and will rapidly become golden
crimson, but it's true and most beautiful
color is like dark blood.
Referring to the encircling walls, Mr..
Clarke stated that without any apparent
cause they would suddenly sink into the
molten lake and disappear entirely, only
to be replaced in time by others. In the
early part OF 1857 the walls were 700 feet
in height, and in March they melted
away, although no fire was visible. At
the present time the walls have risen to
within 400 feet of their old height. A
curious incident observed in the crater
of Kilauea was that it sometimes emptied
itself and appeared forty miles off,
This was probably through some sub
terranean channel. After one OF these
emissions scientists found great mass
o. light feathery matter floating in the
sea some distance from the volcano,
which was attributed to the underground
flow of lava rushing into the Gea. In
January, 1887, there was an outbreak on
Mauna Loa that coursed down the noun
tain side IL eco feet in two streams, but
no injuries were recorded. The city of
Hilo has thus far escaped destruction
from lava streams. Only one explosive
eruption of Kilauea is known.
In concluding his lecture Mr.. Clarke
explained that there was no connection
between the crater of Kilauea and that
at the top of Mauna Loa.