The Daily bulletin., 1890-10-23
THE VOLCANO
A wonderful State Of AC-
dVity.
Grand Sight for Tourists and
Residents,
An Increasing Basin of Ur-
quenChabIe Fire.

The latest news and photographs
from the volcano, supplemented
with reliable stories of eye-witnesses,
testify that Hawaii's natural wonder
is probably at present the greatest
volcanic phenomenon in the entire
world. Much has been written and
many views and paintings have been
made of the volcano, but nothing
heretofore comes near equalling the
present increasing state of frightful
and continued activity.
Halemaumau is surrounded by
depressed circumference of about
two and a half miles of intermittent
activity. 1t is within this radius that
many late visitors have thought
they discovered new lakes, when in
fact they were deceived by appear
ances. Blow holes are constantly
forming around Halemaumau-at
one time thirteen were counted by
Mr.. j. j. Williams of Honolulu
which discharge an intermittent
| stream of molten lava. This dis
charge is caught upon the thin shell
of lava formed over the surface of
hell of fire, and consequently only
partially cooling forms a temporary
table-land of lava, which is given a
lake-like pulsation by the terrible
heat beneath. But as soon as the
center of activity shifts the table
land sinks into the crust and the
supposed new lake melts away. But
it is not here that the real center of
volcanic activity exists; nor does
the historic Halemaumau exhibit the
same state of red-hot displacement
that is exhibited in Dana Lake,
is the real center of disturbance.
As all know, this lake is situated
somewhat to the west of Halemau
mau and has for q long time been
gradually becoming a more noticeable
feature of the volcano, and while, as
around Halemaumau, the cooling floor
is in constant state of change and
increasing activity, Dana Lake is at
all times in fury storm of molten
ebullition beyond word description,
beyond painters brush, beyond even
the literal exactness of the photo
grapher's camera.
A dim outline, however, has been
given of this great natural phenom
enon by a series of most wonderful
pictures now being developed at
Williams Art Gallery in Honolulu.
A series of five exposures, made as
rapidly as the plates could be eX-
changed, show some of the wonder
full and unparalleled changes which
are momentarily going on. In this
lake a hundred fiery fountains,
ranging from fifteen to forty feet in
height, are in constant play and
change. The lake is surrounded by
levee formed by the constant play
of the fire fountains which deposit
the lava in shreds and masses. This
levee is wall of black, glistenins
lava, which at night, as fresh lava
, falls upon it, flashes into {
fiery enbankment, marking tht
, entire circumference of the lake.
| The usual scene of volcanic ac
; tion has been the gradual breaking
up and reforming of centers of ac
: tivity while now the entire depres
t sion of two and half miles in cir
q cumference mentioned, containin,
f both Haleruaumau and Dana LAX
g as centers of greatest activlty,is in
e constant and increasing state O
: frightful and unexampled commo
q ton. The trail across the origina
: floor of the crater is, however, in n
: danger and tourists are enabled t
q get one of the best views possibl
i of the volcano. There is grea
r danger on the floor of the lower dc
!. preston and some of the incident
n related by Mr.. Williams, who ha
II furnished the data for this shol
a sketch, are full of thrilling adver
o. ture.
n Many tourists have visited til
d volcano since the present state {
1t wonderful activity began and frol
ir all accounts, and by judicious il
g depreciation of historic analogies {
e former times, it is believed that til
n center of disturbance will be largel
is increased and continued for man
le months. Many tourists from Am,
70 rica and elsewhere will doubtle'
i take advantage of the present seaso
s. for seeing sight which may new
ii again occur in the present decat
1t and which will probably not occl
, until the end of the next,