Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-07-02
Eawaii's Volcano in kction.

The stesmer Australia from Honolulu,
brings adVicee to June 9.
The volcano is 10 an exceptionally favor.
abe condition. The bottom OF Halemau-
man i5 fl ST filling up with lava. There is
lake nov, apparently from $50 to 300 fset
long and yearly es wide. TIE empty poi-
tion of the pit, recently estimated 3. 500
feet deep, Is 70. now over 400. and the
whole crater is COW undergoing daily
trsrsfor nation.
Wnile the queen was Ut the volcano come
cfficious kahunae, or native eorcerers, the
direct Descendants of the ancient hesthen
priesthood. performed at Right sacrifice 10
The goddess Pee. II wes strange and
geird spectacle. TIE pis wes ali abIszs
below the sky vas oil aglow above. The
kshuva as, Is their fantastic attire end strange
motious. sh wed up distinct 10 the glare CT
kgleiioeoopic color from the molten mass
below
Ever epd agan from the chief active
core huge jet of molten lava would be
hurled 100 ieet into midsir. By come
strange illusion 1t seemed to risa sowly
and siuk doEn es gradually es Though it
we're buoYed rp OF some Invisible Il haence.
1t spread out at The top liks huge palm
tree OF fire, sp!sy was cascade OF h4n-
irg color. lis roar was as the rush of many
waters Tbe play of cc'ors was absolutely
inGeecribabe. After q time the surface OF
the lava grew dull In color. In an increci-
by short space 1t b!sokened. Soon the crust
cracked, and zigzag lines of glowing light
appeared They looked exactly like the
f5rked lightning upon the bosom OF tie
b aok thunder cloud. The lines of light in
creased aud widened. The surface of the
frcz sn sea wos sgitated from beneath, Great
fakes of the black Ice reared up on edge,
and slowly sank from sight. Again 1t was
a tossing sea OF FIRE. Again with burst of
thuuder sound the fiery palm tree raised its
flaming head hundred fest above the surg
ing sea. TIE roaring bilows flung them
selves upon the jagged rocks shat hcmmed
them Ia. The fiery spray flashed and soin-
tillated Till the mighty column fell. The
sea grew black Add 90 on aud Oh and over
aud over again the awful scene repeated
itself, till the dazzled eyes were we'll nigh
blinded
When the sea OF fire was its brightest the
weird kahunas, with strange .ncantations
aUd fantastic gsstures, flung into Its awful
billowa their living sacrifice, two pigs,
chicken end eqnare.ehouldered bottle OF
gin. The pigs went in with plunk and
we're lost forever. Immediately afterwsrd
tDcEc SdS u uuAct tudt tut CIV luC iowa AZ oh ~
feet into the air. Something evidently e1-
ploded, possibly pig. This vas looked
upon as an unucky omen, and feeling of
Goes ernstion took possession OF the compe-
ny. Tbs chicken was nsxs cast in. He
f>ated O moment o q the snrfacs ere ne was
Consumed Though We G uld not hear, 1t is
almost certain that The unfortunate rooster
squswked once This ws5 better omen.
Hawaiian chances we're decidedly looking
up. Then the most precious gift of all, the
bottle Of gin (duty S. gallon), was offered
up to the rapacious goddess OF fire, Tears
STOOD, Ia the eyes of the chief kahuna ss he
loviogle handled the precious thing. Eis
hand trembIed a. though reluctant for me-
nent. Then he hurled the bottle far out
over ths fiery sea. Down and down 400
feet 1t went till it touched the heaVing food.
4 vlolc-;nted fame flashed ~ and flicker
ed along the surface. Il was coed omen.
Pele was appessed and the country was safe.
San Francisco Chronicle.