Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-07-15
Ha,uaft's Volcano in ActiOn.

Oflngs adVlceS 10 June Z.
The volcano is in an exceptionally ia
vorable condition. The bottom of Hale
mauman is fast filling up with lava.
There is a lake now, apparently from $50
to 800 feet long and nearly as wide The
empty portion of the pit, recently est-
mated at 500 feet deep, is not now over
200, and the whole crater Is now under
going daily transformation.
While the queen was at the volcano
some ofiicious kahunas, or native soreer-
ers, the direct descendent of the ancient
heather priesthood, performed at night Il
sacrifice to the goddess Pele II was a
strange and weird spectacle. The pit
was all ablaze below; the SKY was all
aglow above. The kahunas, in their fan
tastic attire and strange motions, showed
up distinct in the glare of Kaleidoscope
color from the molten mass below.
Ever and again from the chief active
cone huge jet Of molten lava would.be
hurled 100 feet into midair. by some
strange illusion it seemed to rise slowly
and sink down as gradually as though it
were buoyed up by some invisible inhu-
ence. 1t spread out at the top like huge
palm tree of fire, its spray was cascade
of flaming color Its roar was the rush
of many waters. The play Of colors was
absolutely indescribable. After time
the surface of the lava grew dull in col
or. In an incredibly short space it black
ened. Soon the crust cracked, and zigzag
lines of glowing light appeared. They
looked exactly like the forked tightening
upon the bosom Of the black thunder
cloud. The lines Of light increased and
widened. The surface of the frozen sea
was agitated from beneath. Great fakes
of the black ice reared up on edge, and
slowly sank from sight Again it was a
tossing sea of fire Again with burst Of
thunder sound the fiery palm tree raised
its flaming head a hundred feet above the
surging sea. The roaring billows flung
themselves upon the jagged rocks that
hemmed them in. The fiery spray flash
ed and scintillated till the mighty column
fell. The sea grew black. And so on
and on and over and over again the aw-
fil scene reneated itself till the dazzled
eyes were well nigh blinded.
When the sea Of fire was its brightest
the weird kahunas, with strange incanta-
tions and fantastic gestures, flung into its
awful billow their living sacrifice, two
pigs, chicken and a square-shouldered
botte Of gin. The pigs went in with a
plunk and were lost forever. Immedi-
ately afterward there was a burst that
threw the lava 10 or 20 feet into the air.
Something evidently exploded, possibly a
pig. This was looked upon as an un-
lucky omen. and a feeling of consterna-
ton took possession Of the company. The
chicken was next cast in. He Aoated a
moment on the surface ere he was con-
sumed. Though we could not hear, it is
almost certain that the unfortunate roost-
er squawked once. This was Il better
omen Hawaiian chances were decidedly
looking up. Then the most precious gilt
of all, the bottle of gin duty So a gal
lon), was offered up to the rapacious god
dess of fire. Tears stood in the eyes Of
the chief kahuna as he lovingly handled
the precious thing. His hand trembled as
though reluctant for Il moment Then
The hurled the bottle far out over the fiery
sea. Down and down 400 feet it went
till it touched the heaying flood. A yio-
let-tinted fame flashed up and hickered
along the surface. 1t was good omen.
Pele was appeased and the country was
safe.-Sqa Francisco Chronicle.