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

fully terrific, awe-inspiring sights
but this present display at Halemau-
mau, though somewhat different, sur
passes them all in real beauty as an
exhibition that can be viewed only
with admiration, without feeling of
the awe and fear which the others
created. It is a picture which no
artist can paint, no pen fully describe
and no person fully comprehend with
out seeing it. Were it located within
where within the boundaries of the
United States, it would attract more
spectators than Yosemite, the Mari
posa big trees, the Geysers, Niagara
or the Chicago Columbian Fair, or in
deed of all these combined in one
colossal show!
THE PILGRIMS OF ST. GEORGE AT
THE SHRINE OF MADAME PELE.
1t was quite accidental that during
my visit at the Volcano, Mr.. b. j.
Wythes and his companions of the
yacht st. George, of the Royal Yacht
Squadron, arrived, bound on the same
Grand, visit to Madame Pele on the
occasion of her 'hOuse warming"
So the descent into the crater was
made by party of ten, starting from
the new hotel about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon of the Doth, and the edge of
the lake was reached after brisk
walk of sixty minutes. The day and
hour proved to be most OppOrtune, as
madame was arrayed in her most
gorgeous royal robes, in hues of the
richest volcanic vermillion. Several
of the party Immediately started off
to descend the almost perpendicular
cliffs to secure q closer interview with
her; but this was found harder task
than was anticipated, and only two,
including Mr.. Wythes himself,
accomplished the feat of reaching the
lower levee, and as there was still
shorter distance of very uncertain
| footing, between them and the flow
ing lava, discretion seemed to be the
better part of valor, and a retreat was
ordered, without securing the coveted
| mementoes of coins dipped in the
| LIQUID lava, which she sometimes be-
slows on her daring admirers. How
| ever, the glowing picture which they
saw of her gorgeous paraphernalla,
will be indelibly stamped on MEM
Ory as long as the name of kilauea is
remembered. The visit of the st.
Georges party was very timely, ana
| they unanimously voted that 1t
should be marked a red letter day in
| their yachts voyage, as it surpassed
anything they had seen since leaving
England.
NOTES ON THE VOLCANO.
AS everyone knows who has seen
| it, the crater of Kilauea is a sunken
pit, three miles in length, and seVeral
hundred feet in depth, enclosed on
all sides, by steep walls, which 1orm-
erly-perhaps 10 or 100 years ago,
were in some places 100 feet nlgh.
In the southern part of this vast pit,
is the active lake of Halemaumau,
which covers an irregular circular
area of perhaps 5000 feet IN exten,
| each way, and is simply small
crater pit in the larger one. All tne
lakes which occasionally appear, such
as South, New, Dana lakes, and others
have ali been located in what has
been termed the "Halemaumau clus-
teri and are simply different vents
of the same subterranean volcanic
chimney of Halemaumau, and when
one becomes closed the lava bursts
out Il. another place, on this or that
side If the old central lake which has
nov, re-appeared so beautifully.
Tie first thing that arrests the at
tention of visitors, especially of those
who have been there before, is the
| fac hat the large crater of Kilaues
IS filing up, and its present floor is
pro5abiy 500, perhaps in some part
Zoo feet higher than it was seventy
Years ago. This rise is caused partly
| by occasional upheaval from interna
Volcanic action, just as other parts o.
the Island have been raised. In fact
the crater is almost full, and the
arnutions of Halemaumau fifty years
hence may find an outlet on the
southwestern side, where the wall 0
the crater is now not over fifty 1ee'
high.
| Mr.. Adolph Marcuse, of the Roya