The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-11-24
THE VOLCANO.
A Graphic Description by !
Tourist.

Mr. Wilson returned from the
volcano Wednesday morning full OF
enthusiasm regarding his trip to the
crater. When asked for his idea of
the burning lake, he cheerfully con-
sented, and went on as follows
Last Friday, at about 8 80 P. NJ,
accompanied by a guide, we started
for the crater. The steep hillside
that forms the boundary of the valley
ON the north, was descended by a wind
inc nath bordered by ferns and shrub
bery. among which are many pleasant
nooks. rendered all the more pleasing
10 the eve by contrast with the scene
below. On reaching the bottom OF
the sIope. which is 800 feet lower
than the cliffs that tower perpen-
dicularly on the left, the track LED
straight across the lava field, ana
grim appearance it presented-hllls
and hollows of dark grey or shining
black-like waves of billOwy sea OF
pitch. Some of the lava looked as
though it had been poured out in a
thin stream, and took the form OF
huge coils of tarry ropes; some pre-
sented a ribbed and twisted appear
ance like the surface of a ripping
stream, and more resembled the
waves of q vast inundation rolling
one over another like the front of an
advancing torrent. The surface of
this black wilderness is rent into
assures, some of them impossible and
of great depth. A glance into these
rents, that are caused by the cooling
OF the lava, showed that the pitchy
appearance was confined to the sur
face; down below the lava was solid
stone. Advancing with a winding
course over mounds and through hoi-
lows, turning hither or thither to
avoid crevices, passing steaming
cracks where the hot rocks evidenced
that the subterranean fires were not
far below, and occasionally crossing
areas stained yellow, pink or pnr-
pie, by the deposits of sulphurous
fumes, we made our way towards the
centre of the valley. AS this was
neared two extinct craters or blow
holes were met with. They were in
form like bee hives or glass-blowers'
furnaces, being open at the top and
having a basin or crater beneath
them. Their interiors were burnt
yellow and pink and resembled the
inside of crueible, while on the out
side the cones were thatched with
black shining pear-sbaped drops of
lava that had fallen in showers and
CONCEALED upon them. These vents
are said to have been very active
some wears ago. a
sit presently appeared that the
centre of the lava field was occupied
by deep cauldron, or central crater,
measuring about quarter of mile
in diameter, from which rose cloud of
thin blush vapor. AS we approached
the lava cliffs that form the perpendi-
cular environment to this pit, its in
terror came gradually into view, and
each member as he realized the scene
before him became silent and mo-
tionless with wonder. And well he
might; for Pandemonium lay below.
There with roaring sound like the
surf on a rocky shore accompanied
by deep subterranean thunder tossed
a sea or lake of fire. Its surface lay
over 200 feet below the top OF the
cliff; but there was a lower ledge
with perpendicular face to the lake
that constituted the real shore and
was only so feet above the fiery surge.
1t was resolved that an attempt
should be made to reach this lower
platform. In order to accomplish
this, it was necessary to descend
the face of the cliff which had
been fractured and torn by recent
commissions into stupendous heaps of
rocky debris that offered very preeari-
Gus foothold. Many huge fragments
of stone weighing several tons were
poised on mere pinnacles and threat
ened to topple over at a touch. The
descent was periIous, but it was ac-
complished, the guide doing his duty
well. The rocks were exceedingly hot
10 the touch, and the glare from the
lake had a scorching effect on the
face. With cautious steps the margin
of the lake was approached.
''The lava rocks, which were rent
into fissures, were very hot under
foot and tremulous and insecure,
being evidently undermined with
caves of fire. The view of the lake
from this point as night was closing
in was indescribably awful and grand.
Al IMO pOlhIS hCdl ohO NOhOOA OhS
LIQUID fire rose and fell in domes of
about sixty feet in diameter, as
though upheaved by torpedo explo-
sions, the movements being accom-
panied by reports like thunder, while
from their centers columns OF fiery
spray were shot SO feet into the air
and fell in showers of crimson fire
surprising in magnificence the most
brilliant displays of the pyrotechnic
art.
around about these central erup-
tions innumerable small fountains
rose and played, and sometimes
danced like sprites along the margin
of the waves. The forms of the surges
were exactly similBr to the curved
outlines of the wreaths of foam when
the waves are breaking on sandy
beach. But their motion was inwards
towards the centre, where they were
drawn into the eruptions or
involved in the surrounding
turmoil where the leaping waves
were gemmed over with sparkling
rOsettes of molten matter at white
heat. The margin of fiery foam that
bOrdered the leach like a ribbon of
gold was found to consist OF white hot
lava, over which fitted occasionally
thin flames. This apparent foam in
stead of breaking on the shore was
gushing up from under it, where the
everlasting rocks were melting away
like wax round the wick of a candle
Sometimes strips of the leach, thirty
feet wide, would be detached by a
cleaning crack, and float away
towards the vortex, like ice does oc-