The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-12-05

Observatory, Berlin, VINO was at Jne
crater at the same time with the
writer, has furnished the following
data relative to the elevations of
various points in the crater, and the
present size and condition of the lava
lake:
Lava floor at the lower end of the path
leading from the Volcano House, $50 feet
below the Volcano House
The Halfway House." so called, 400 feet
below the same point.
The Little Beggar,'' SO called, 80 feet be-
low same point.
The Little Elephant" so called, 800 feet
below same point.
N e. edge of Halemaumau crater, 26O feet
below same point.
The lava lake was found to be below the
edge of the cliff above it, $50 feet
The total depth of the surface of lava lake,
below the level of the Volcano House,
$40 feet.
These statistics show considerable rise in
the points referred to, as compared with
the Government statistics of 1886, except
ing that of the lava at the bottom OF the
hill under the Volcano House, which re-
mains the same.
There is only one boiling lake, at present
about 1900 feet across from n e. to s..
and little less in the opposite direction:
S.W. part, where two large fountains, and
numerous small ones, are continually
playing.
The color of the molten lava is reddish
in the daytime, and yellowish during the
night. Probably the true color is yellow
and the change in daylight may be caused
by the blue smoke in the crater pit. Spec
troscopical observations could give an idea
about the real colour of the boiling lava.
The floor of the large crater is
smooth and even, compared with
what it was formerly, that is, there
are no ridges or hills, such as existed
prior to 1865, nor any large cones
though there are a few small ones
Nor are there any caverns now, such
as existed formerly, where the very
handsome specimens of stalactite and
other forms of lava were found. The
floor consists mostly of the liquid OF
pdhOeh0e variety of lava, though
there are few patches of the scoris
or 00 variety. Consequently, it i:
easier to travel over the floor of the
crater than formerly, when it wa!
more broken up. The path, too, ha'
been much improved by the residen
manager, Mr.. Lee. Good walkers
can now make the trip from the Laws
lake to the Hotel in from forty-five tx
| fifty minutes, with the guide unde
"quick step" orders.
Whatever the future of Kilaue;
! may be, as to its form and genera
| characteristics, whether it shall cease
| to be a pit crater, as it now is, ant
| shall assume the form Of q SUNNI
crater, which some think it may be
| come during the next century, on
thing is quite certain, it was never II
condition or shape better fitted U
| display its grand and incomparabI
beauty, in all the various changes O
molten lava, than now; and Their
has never been time when 1t wa
more accessible to sight-seers, with IL
| risk to life or limb.
The following persons were at Tn
Volcano Hotel at the time of tn
| writer's visit there: E. j. Wythes
Reginald E. Walker, V. P. BluecoW
George Fyfe, Nj. D., John A. Long
lev, Captain Smirke, all of the II: \
S. Yacht ST. George; Col. L. q. Mar
ceau and wife, of San Francisco; ID
Adolph Marcuse, of the Royal Obsel
vatory, Berlin; Il. Masaki, Japanes
Consul General; Jas. l.. McLane
Honolulu; Judge J. l.. Austin an
wife, of Hilo; Judge E. 5. Lyman, an
H. G. Austin, of Hilo; and all o
those who visited the burning lax
express but one opinion regarding
that it surpasses all conception Q
description. -
Kilauea, Hawaii, Dec. l, 1891.