The Somerset reporter., 1889-06-06

ISLANDS, 4 sEEN by \ KANSAS CHAN.
The greatest attraction which the IIa-
waiian group Of islands las for tourists
aud sight seerS from abrOai, is doubles,
the great volcano OF kilauei- pronounced
| kill-ah-ware. What has been needed in
description Of this famous volcano, was a
statement of facts, so FAY as they were
! presented to the eye, and in plain and
easily understood language without exag-
Ieration and without imaginative -four
shes that the facts did not warrant
The writer of this article will adhere
strictly to facts As he SAW iAcm on a visit
to this, one of the graudtSt wonders Of
earth, made last month.
Without noticing the trip by the steam
er kinau from Honolulu % Hawaii, the
largest and most southeastern of the
group upon which the volcano j. situated.
wc will prepare to descend into the
great crater of klauta We are
furnished by our host Of the Volcano
House with guide and horses,
the latter to carry us down mile
If winding path before we reach the
Crater floor where no horse can travel.
The most advantageous time to enter this
Crater is about 3 p. NJ, and at this hour
under favorable conditions Of weather we
commenced our descent. The path is
about eight feet wide on the average it
is well and carefully constructed, passes
through pleasing forest scenery, aud in
no place does the angle or incline exceed
zen degrees. In straight line, from
brink to base, the distance is not quar-
ter of mile; hut the winnings of the
path are full mile in length,
bn al 'T.
feet; but to the observer, it looks as if
these figures understated the true height.
At the bottom we leave our horses and
follow our guide on foot over hackcned
masses of llva rock thr"un together Tx
the conflicting pillows of storm-lashcd
ocean
Yet there is good aud safe path over
hese ups and downs and it is almost i'm
possible to slip upon the brittle surface
charred and glossy as if the whole area
had received uniform and shining coat
of coal tar.
The forms into which these lava rocks
locally called pahochoe have been thrown
are peculiar. Here and there are huge
blocks of solid rock but living between
these are hollow girders of lava pipes of
large size resting on the ncven surface
and through which the liquid fire poured
Is fluid masses over the surroundings,
IN, moulded the lava into fantastic
shapes, We often step upon old daies
where the lava had been twisted and cir
clcd like coil of naw.cr, each rope. twist
and circle being distinct ami true in its
resemblance; while in juXtaposition are
sections OF straight eaDlc having all the
appearance of wire woven, more or less
thick, and not unlike sections of the sub
marine telegraph cable that connects Ann
erica with Europe. In places, the large
drain pipe looking girdCrs are broken into
fragments that are strcwed around; at
| other places the pipes are merely cracked,
'tnd occasionally we find their hollows
wholly revealed by a regular hreak-Oti
Yet among this apparent confusion of
blocks. slabs, coils and clinkers. there is
also the evidence of design and order
which only student of Natures wol Ks
can discern We have the knowledge
that our path leads over a comparatively
thin crust of cooled lava only few feet
above Il seething ocean of boiling miner
ais, and that at any moment this super
structure may burst open and the fiery
Hood pour its rivers of lava over the sur
face; yet we have no fear, and have no
precedent of former fatal accident to
bring the possibility wildly to our minds.
We are now near to the first or smaller
lake of fire, usually called the north lake,
and our guide deposits his water canteen
and the lanterns of the party upon the
trail and bids us follow him. He then leads
Us over scarcely noticeable tract to the
right for about 20e feet, and at this point
came to a dead stop. This said he.
sis the North Lake; step upon this ledge
one by one and look down We did rs
desired, and peered over the brink into
the boiling, seething, dashing, fiery cald-
ROM and took the whole in at 4 glance,
Right under our feet and about three
Yards below was the flowing liqnid and
the red surf dashing and caving in the
foundations of the rock upon which we
stood; and we hastily realized the posi-
bility of a launch into the terrible pit.
Onr guide, however, tried 10 assure us
that there wa no danger, saying "IDe
rock is tough and warning of Il fail is al
ways given by means Of Il crack which
opens and surrounds the ledge when it is
doomed to 90 down. This was to some
extent reassuring; and we took another
and longer gaze with all the caution
that feeling of insecurity inspires. The
surface of the lake had lead-Cnlorcd ap-
pearance a greenish tingr, in places; and
was sireaked here and there with rents OF
srinsoh t"ae "'"t"e. anu n'' w.
ienS V"en eu "''' nv ~, -, ''.H -
peale"' Ieal'pc"'eu """ ''''"''" e'''s
rev w, "'i'u',S ..,..,,..... ,.....,.a
NJ sieatosl WY was Nv" az
tlo "; '"' Inv ,,. ~ ~,
oasie' aSa'nov w ~, ,''-
oil'''son sp,as 80 n"N "rpt' 49,,
mass Ho'e',.t ~" ~ ,t''1''"- :
Ne soo. i',. t''is ,'' i'''''
'",' a'',' 49,.
SUMS w.. - ,''a Nv ~
, , ~, ,i "a' ''us .f
w., , I'D, hi; ,,,.' =,
eve. " VS. ~ w. -. - 81"
'''o '''nI at,,, "a $3.50, 'i;,,,.,,''.
w 'i'' ''.1' III ~ - J..
IN 'it,. =. ,,,i.i,,, ,,,rs.,nn7 ,o..,u,r1i,a
h.a,, hoir I, = ~ a.. 1ax,r orlnr a,I
''" :. -, - na,, n,,,thi., a,,i
Va q ,',m,,,, Th' .I,stam.,, =. ,,,i,
III , T,',, ~, NJ. w., hni,in', ia,a and
a., Va hu ,h, a,c,nI;n1, hns, an3 ,h.
49, '.'n :, t.. -, ,ni,ti, Coo.
m'.,' " t,ar' tho hr;nt
Wv" Nv. now ro r,,,urn IN tho main trail aud
,o,; ~ NV anr i,,,arns No., ', tn,yard.
iIsi Hs un l.rn,, irr..n,,i,rt,' far,n,,,
riI,N ~ rnnts thrn,Sn M Nv ,h,, r,1,.ann
p,'s y, ,ha ~ ,be cr0,r Tbo ,,"rsi
! hSS' WV ''h''' - NV Ni"'' = ~ ''t' 60