The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-04-23

side, the one towards the Volcano
House. One can observe the fires
equally well from any other point on
the periphery Of the great pit. You
can now walk clear around it without
inconvenience from smoke.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE FIRE-FouNTAINs.
There is much change in this re-
spect from the action in Dana Lake.
There the chief and very violent
play was under the low overhanging
sides, with OCCASIONAL upbursts in CEN
trail parts. In the present lake, there
is little work done on the edges. The
activity is chiefly confined to more
central portions where it is constant
and violent. There appears to be
powerful yelling up of lava slightly
east of the center, which usually
flows westward in strong current
100 feet wide and 100 in length, when
it meets slow general current from
the west, and disappears downwards.
In Dana Lake, the inflow welled out
rather quietly from under the debris
mound at single point, pushing in
a strong current towards the center
and radiating or tanning out towards
from to points at the sides of the
lake. At these points the lava was
sucked down in most tnmultuous
manner, with violent and explosive
regurgitations, tlineing spray 80 or
40 feet high.
In the present lake, during several
hours of observation, l have seen
only two side points of like action,
both under the northwest bank, and
very intermittent. Centrally, how
ever, there is violent play of foun
tains. The chief and most constant
one is on the east edge of the up
yelling and westward flowing current
named above. Two or three times q
minute with much regularity, this
boils mp in bright billow or dome,
about 80 feet across and 10 feet high,
breaking up with more or less spray,
and falling in with heavy clash and
roar, and massive undulations of the
neighhoriDg surfaces. Much crust
from the eastward appeared to be
drawn in at that point.
South west from this large central
fountain, halfway to the bank of the
lake, one of about half the size was
in similar and very continuous play,
drawing in very much crust from that
section of the lake. West of the
center, halfway to the bank, was a
very intermittent center of activity,
which was sometimes excessively vio-
} lent. Once for ten minutes without
cessation, space of 20 feet by Is
was occupied by furiously tossing
surges of fire, maintaining height
of 10 to Is feet above the level, with
spray flying wide and high. This was
the finest thing seen.
Perhaps, after all, the great cen
trail current is the most brilliant spec
tacle. Here is broad sheet of bright
!, streaming fire half an acre in extent,
more than half filled with fragments
of black crust, between which dash
up hundred little sprays OF spark
ling glow, and among them constant
, ly dozen small jets three 10 six feet
, high. This current was in unrestine
, activity, fanked on the east by the
great bllowy fountain.
, The estimated dimensions above
: given were calculated from the known
' height of the 80 foot bank, and fro L
; the approximately known diameter OF
the lake. Objects in such pit look
: smaller than they are, as seen iron
above. Visitors at Kilauea are ia
2 miliar with the bright seams or cracks
: traversng the dark crust in every di
q rection. In Dana Lake the motion
: of these seams was from the side
r where the lava came in towards the
D points where it 80 unanimously
b plunged downward. In the present
: lake, the cracks form in long curved
: lines parallel to the banks and move
t gradually inwards toward the center
: AS they advance they bend up into
: zigzag and crinkled lines, like chain
lightning. They interlace with Other
q lines, forming an intricate network
of blazing meshes, breaking up among
Y the furious activities of the middl.
e area.
: The foregoing is matter-of- fac
9 statement; the writer has no supply
t of words adequate to paint ever
8 family the actual scene. Those WHIT
: have actually visited and seen Hale
t ma uma'u by night, will perhaps b.
S able to use these imperfect hints 81
n as to reproduce to themselves some
n thing of what is to be sees now.
u PROBABILITIES OF THE NEAR FUTURl
y OF THE CRATER.
OF course it is impossible to fore
: cast anything positively about this
e 1t will be in the regular course o
e things for the lavas TO rise gradual
d during period of five years or NOR
d before another collapse, and fnall
= to overflow extensively upon tn
It main floor of Kilauea, as they di
e during the latter part of the las
n period. 1t is not improbable, how
IS ever, that one of the periodical grea
:. eruptions of Mauna Loa may 500
e intervene. That would probabl
il cause severe drop IN the Kilaue
70 lavas for short time, or might vi
l. feet this crater more seriously, a