Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-08-25
RISKY PROSPECTING.
A MANS MARROW ESCAPE FROM
A VEGETABLE OCTOPUS.


A Naturnlist's Story.
In the latter part of the year 1867 was
commissioned by the Belgian government
TO find certain rare wandering plant that
was believed to grow on the higher slopes
of Mauna Kea, large extinct volcano sit
uated in the northern part of Hawaii. /
had station built on one of the wooded
slopes of the mountain, far away from any
other habitation. My only companion was
Il native who had lived all his life on this
part of the island. About twice month
he would visit the seacoast to obtain need
sul supplies for our camp. This native,
who said that his ancestors were big
chiefs" whose bones lay secretly buried in
caves on the mountain sides, was very old,
although he could climb canyons and scale
lava cliffs with wonderful agility.
During one of my botaniZing excursions
passed by the mouth of n narrow canyon,
or gorge, and asked Pill, the old native,
if he had ever explored the same. Pill
suddenly became interested in his pipe and
didn't know anything about the gulch and
didn't understand what l said. This was
rather strange in Pill, for natives general
" know every rock and tree in the section
where they live, and knew Pill was lying
when he said he did not understand me.
So naturally I determined to examine
into the mysterious ravine. Some time
after this l was walking with Pill down
gentle slope when l saw a number of bones.
Pill stopped. He walked back few rods
and sat down on a stump. Not word
would he say. L began examining the
bones, and for two hours or more puzzled
my brain over a problem as l had never
done before. What l found was this:
circular area of about 100 yards in di
ameter thickly covered with the bleached
remains of birds, animals and human be
among the shrubs and grass. The larger
bones were near the center; in fact, found
that the bones became gradually smaller
as | approached the periphery of this cir
cular boneyard. In the center of the cir
Gle was a well-like opening in the ground,
from which animated a sckening odor.
No vegetation grew within fifty feet of
this cavity. How came this hole with its
horrible stencil? How came these bones
here? How came they to be arranged
about the central opening? These ques-
lions continually presented themselves,
but they remained unanswered.
\ deep mystery seemed to hang over the
spot. 1t was growing dark. l heard Pill
calling and hurried to him. He pointed in
terror to the center of the bone covered
area. y shadow was thrown on the scene
by q rising bank of clouds But declare
that l saw rising from the pit visible
vapcr, a column of visible fog or smoke
or gas that was luminous. Spellbound
gazed at the spectral column. Near the
ground it had the appearance of phos-
phorescent flame and gradually became
fainter Us it assembled. Your imagination
Will Have to picture the unearthly phenom-
enon. Pill pulled at my arm and in 81
lence we left the spot, and we did not loiter
by the wayside.
As was looking for a simple plant and
not blood curdling manifestations, was
inclined to break camp and leave. But by
morning my nerves were in better order,
and l went back to the scene of the evening
adventure. / could find no clew to the
mystery, and the matter gradually went
out of mind as prosecuted my labors.
But had occasion after IA time to visit
spot near where had seen the canyon about
which Pill was so apparently ignorant.
One evening made known my intention
to Pill TO return to the place and to explore
the gorge.
''When?" said Pill.
''ln the morning. l replied.
Without word the old native arose
from his mat ON the floor and departed.
He was gone all night. He returned by
sunrise, bearing on his shoulders " bundle.
When we reached the canyon he stopped
and unpacked his load. | saw a stone
idol, curious in shape; he placed 1T on the
ground and then took Il small pig from his
DunUle- M8klDB IL ire, ne SOlilt-
thing in the flames, muttered strange
sounds and made symbols in the air with
his fingers. The animal offering was placed
before the idol. After he completed his
strange rites he said that L might never
come back, but he had done what he could
to preserve my life. He would wait until
the going down of the sun, and then, if l
did not come back, he would wall for me
as did his fathers long, long ago when a
son fell in battle. Then he sat down, COW
cred up his head and was silent.
All this made me feel uncomfortable.
The natives of the Hawaiian islands are
supposed to be Christianized, but in time
of danger or trouble many often turn to
the discarded gods of their fathers. l
knew Pill believed that great danger
awaited any one who assembled the ravine.
But | went 1 had gone about mile,
when over the tops of tree ferns L saw
waving mass of sea green foliage undulat-
ing in the wind. The object looked like a
huge bunch of thick leaved seaweed, and
the peculiar motion of the same arrested
my attention. l was now over 800 feet
away from the curious object and hurried
TO obtain closer view. a wall of fern
covered lava about ten feet high stopped
my course. Climbing up so that l just
could see over the edge, L saw an object
such as the eyes of civilized man never be-
fore beheld. Imagine n bunch of seaweed
about twelve feet high, the edge of each
piece lined with fine streamers which radi-
ated in ali directions and trembled like
fine wire spirals, the whole object moving
like the frinSes of anemone.
/ was wearing Il heavy felt hat with a
wide brim, and pushed it back from my
forehead to get Il better view. AS moved
my arm the strange object ceased CULVER
ing and every vibrating antenna or stream
err pointed directly at me. just then my
foot slipped from a jutting rock on which
| was standing and / fell, but not before
something cleaved the air with a horrible