The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-09-26
Mauna Loa, in Hawaii, and Its Nota-
BILE ErIlptionS.
From eoldthwaite,s Magazine.

From Goldthwaite's Magazine.
On recent map Of Hawaii, the largest
island of the Hawaiian group, are a num-
ber of black marks, some narrow and some
very wide, extending from a common CEN
tire in the interior to many points of the
compass, some of them reaching the sea,
40 to so miles away. These marks repre-
sent the areas that during this century
have been covered by lava flowing from the
greatest volcano in the world. In 1887
Mauna Loa gave two terrific displays of
the most intense volcanic activity.
The average interval between the erup-
tive periods of the volcano is about eight
years. Mauna Loa, which means "The
Great Mountain, is by far the most i'm
rortant of modern volcanoes. Several
years ago Captain c. E. Dutton, of the
Ordinance Corps in our army, made care
study of the Hawaiian volcanoes. He says
that modern eruption of Mauna Loa rep
resents more material than Vesuvius has
omitted since the destruction of Pompeii.
The great lava flow Of 1856, which ex-
tended forty-fve miles towards the sea,
with an average breadth of Al miles and
an average depth of 100 feet, would nearly
have built Vesuvius. The flows of 1859
and 1881 were little less. The first erup-
ton of 1887 lasted two weeks, and the mol
ten lava flowed for twenty miles down the
gentle slope of the mountain, its lower edge
entering the sea. In this way Hawaii is
gradually growing, the great lava floods
encroaching upon the sea and enlarging the
coast line. Although all the twelve islands
that form the Hawaiian group are of vol
canic origin, it is only in that island which
gives its name to the group, and which is
larger than all the rest put together, that
volcanic energy is now displayed. The
greater number of Mauna Loa's lava flows
have been toward the northeast or north
west coasts of the islands, but the stream Of
1887 reached the southwest coast.
Unlike most other volcanoes, the streams
of melted matter which run down Mauna
Loa's sides do not issue from the summit,
but from great assures in the side of the
mountain, sometimes thousands of feet be-
low its top. The main axis Of this stupen-
dous mountain mass is about 70 miles long,
and the mountain slopes very gradually
towards the sea on all sides. Instead of
being cone, which is the usual form of
volcano Mauna Loa is great dome-like
elevation. The reason is that the out
pourings from the bowels Of the earth,
which have formed it, have been IN their
molten state so completely lquifed that
they could spread over a larger surface,
while the more solid matter issuing from
Vesuvius aud many other volcanoes re-
mained nearer the place of vent, and con-
sequently built up the mountains in the
form of peaks.
) Mauna Loa is nearly $4,000 feet high,
and the ascent along the most accessible
route to the summit can easily be made on
, mules. The slope of the mountain is so
gradual that it takes, along the usual route
up the mountain, twenty miles of travel to
gain an altitude of $500 feet. 1t has been
observed that the great eruptions of Mauna
Loa have generally been preceded by in
tense activity at the summit ori6ce, the
emissions there, however, never overflow
the great lava walled basin in which they
are confined. After the main eruptions
there is perfect quiescence in all parts of
: the mountain. Captain buttons theory is
that within the mountain an accumulation
of eruptive energy and material is con-
stantly in progress, which cat first seeks an
: : outlet through the summit orifce; but as
! the accumulation goes on the mountain it
self is ruptGred," " the lava is discharged,
and the volcanic energy is for the time
: boing depleted.
Eleven years ago great stream q lava
for some months poured down the north
, east slope and advanced steadily over the
plains, some of them almost level, to the
coast, some 40 miles away. 1t was max
! ing straight for the pretty village of Hilo,
and the inhabitants concluded at last that
; there was no hope of saving their town.
In the last days of its flow its progress was
much less rapid, but still it kept pushing on
I at a rate of 300 yards day. All the porta-
Bile property in the town was packed up,
! and the people prepared to move at a
moments notice The stream of lava split
in two long arms and appeared to be about
to encircle the town. The two branches
: had reached the outskirts Of the town, when
suddenly, without any premonition, the flow
stopped and the movement was not renewed.