The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-09
VISIT TO KILANEA.
The Great Volcano on the Island Of
kanai.

The following extracts are from private let
ter to his father, in this city, written by W. I.
Wells, a government teacher on the island of
Kanai, Hawaiian Islands, describing a visit to
Kiianea, the volcano near Hilo, picture Of
which was recently on exhibition at the loan
art exhibition:
Tuesday at o'clock We left Honolulu on the
W. G. Hall. We travelled 200 miles, stopping at
numerous little ports, one OF which was kalnke-
kua Bay, where in 1919 Captain Cook was killed
by the natives. Here small monument was
erected about sixteen years ago by some Eng
Hshmen. We stopped at PumiIun over night,
and then started for the volcano. First we rode
about five miles on car, and then started
afoot. We Travelled about twelve miles that day
over a country where the rain is limited and
grass not very luxurisut. On one side was tho
sea; on the other the mountains. covered with
greenery, rising higher and higher, till they
eliminated in Msuua Loa, whose summit Is
1900 feet above the sea. About O clock we
reached the half-w house, and here spent the
night. Starting on the next day We passed an
old lava bed, which stretched away in the dis
lance as far we could see. Occasional trees
AMI shrubs found scanty susteusncs in some
crack, but beside these all was black and bare
Now we began to catch glimpses OF thin clouds
of smoke, which rose rom 8 little peak several
miles away. strange looking cloud hung over
the spot, but nothing else showed us where to
look tor the great wonder. In we went, over
lava rock, through volcano sand, now and then
stopping to strip bush of ohela berries. till at
last We reached the summit, aud could look
down into the great crater of Kflsnea.
What did We see? First Il hole, seven
miles in circumference and three to
SIX hundred feet deep, the bottom covered with
black, shining lava which looked in the dis
lance neary as level and smooth as a floor.
Near one aide OF this large opening was an
other whose bottom we could not see But ys
knew from the clouds OF thin vapor that rose
up, that here was the great burning lake we
had come so lar 70 see six mouths ago we
could have seen the FIRE from this point AT
that time the inner hole did not exist In its
place were two laxes, joined by hard lava, like
the rest OF the crater floor. One of these lakes
was at the level OF the lava, tus other had
thrown up round itself cone Of broken lava
go feet high. Numerous cracks were to be seen
over the bed OF the crater, through which could
be seen the burning lava below, while an oc-
cas- onal overthrow from one OF the lakes sent
fresh stream over the surface. All this was sud
denly changed. In February while a rartv of
tourists was visiting the crater they sudden
felt the floor give way beneath them The
guide cried out that they must return az soon
as poss bic, and the party was quite willing to
obey. All that night earthquakes shook the
ground ana the next afternoon the floor of the
crater sank down 100 feet The fire entirely dis
appeared, while at the same time Vekuyius
burst out. For several weeks no lava vas in
slgRt since that time IL has been rising grad
ually until now il is about 80 feet below the
surface. After lingering ca the edge OF the
crater for some time We went on 10 the Volcano
Rouse, when 10 oullt near the e4ge OF the crater
on one OF the highest points From here we
Went down into the crater On reaching the
edge OF the small hole We got our first glimpse
of the burning lake. ! confess the first thought
that came 10 me was not one OF wonder nor OF
awe. II reminded me OF the time when we
used TO sugar OF" and the kettle of yellow
syrup threatened 10 boil over. But as the Gay-
Iight faded the grandeur OF the whole scene
gradually came 70 me and !et as If I could
stay there Indefinitely, locking down at that
great boiling caidFon Of melted rock The hole
Itself IS about mile IN circumference the sides
being perpendlcuiar or sloping quickly down to
the bottom. The burning lake is about one
hall nile In circumference Ii YVES not all
alive " hen we were there. The outer edges had
hardened, presenting black surface, scanned
snd broken. There were about Elk eopcentric
clEe4es OF these cracks, rough aud irregular,
crossed by other cracks, breaking up the sur.
lses into irregular blocks of brown rock with
hery threads OF lava running be-
tween. Al these blocks erce-e
the outer row, were continually moving towsri
the crater. slowly AZ FIRST but with ever iacreas-
Ing rapsdiIy, the cracks growing wider until