The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-03
THE MORNING NEWS: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1892
THE PLANT WAS AFTER HIM
A Mans Narrow Escape From a Vege-
table Octopus in Bawaii.

From the Honolulu advertiser.
In the latter part of the year 1857 was
commissioned by the Belgian government
to find certaio rare wandering plant that
was believed TO grow on the higher slopes Of
Mauna Kea. large extinct volcano stu
Hted in the northern part OF Hawaii. had
q station built on one of the wooded slopes
of the mouatain, far away from any other
habitaticn. My only companion was a
native who had lived all his life on this part
of the island. About twice month he
would visit the seaooast to obtain needful
supplies for our camp. The native, who
said that his ancestors we're ''big chiefs"
whose bones lay secretly buried in caves on
the mountain sides, was very old, although
be could climb cany ons and.scale lava cliffs
with wonderful agility.
During one of my botaniEinR excursions
passed by the mouth of q marrow canyon, or
gorge, and l asked Pill, the old native, II
ne bad ever explored the same. Pill sud-
denly became interested in his pipe, and
didn't know anything about the gulch and
didn't understand what | said. This was
rather strange In PHI, for natives generally
know every rock aud tree in the section
where they live. and knew Pill was lying
when be said he did not understand me.
So, naturally, determined to examine
into the mysterious ravine. Some time after
this was walking with Pill down a gentle
slope, when | saw a number OF bones PHI
stopped. He walked back few rods aud
sat down on a stump. Not word would he
say. l began examining she bones and for
two hours or more puzzled my brain over a
problem as ha never done before. What
l found was this: A circular area Of about
100 yards 10 diameter. thiokly covered with
the plsached remains Of birds, animals and
human beings. These CHASTITY relics were
scattered among the shrubs and grass. The
larger bones were neer the center; in fact,
L found that the bones became grad
ualiy smaller as approached the
periphery of this circular bone-yerd.
In the center OF the circle was we'll
like opening In the ground, from which
emanated sickening odor. No vegetation
grew within so feet Of this cavity. How
came this hole With its horrible stencil
How came these bones here's How came
they to be arranged about the central open-
ingi These questions continually presented
themselves, but they remained unanswered.
A deep mystery 5eemed to hang over the
spot. 1t was growing dark. heard Pill
calling, and hurried TO him. He point ed in
terror to the center of the bone-covered
area A shadow was thrown on the scene
by rising bank of clouds But declare
that | saw rising from the pit visible
vapor, a column Of visible fog or smoke
of gas that was luminous Spell
bound, l gRzad at the spectral column.
Near the ground it had the appearance OF O
phosphorescenu flame, and gradually be-
came fainter as ig assembled. Your imagi-
nation will have TO picture the uDeartkly
phenomenon. Pill pulled ae my arm and in
silence we left the spot, and we did not
loiter by the wayside.
AS was looking for simple plant and
not blood-curdling manifestations, was in
clined TO break camp and leave. But by
morning my nerves were in better order
aud went back to tho scene OF my evening
adventure l could find no clew t. the
mystery, and the matter gradually wens
out of my mind as prosecuted my labors.
But had occasion, after time, to visit
q spot near where had seen the canyon
about which Pill was 30 apparently ignor-
ant. One evening | made known my inten-
ton to Pill TO return to the place aad ex-
plore the gorge.
"When" said Pill.
"In the morning" replied.
Without word the old native arose from
hts mat on the floor and departed. Hs was
gone all night. He returned by sunrise,
bearing on his shoulders q bundle When
we reached the canyon be stopped and IN
packed his load. saw a stone idol, curious
In shape; he placed it on the ground and
then took a small pig from his bundle.
Making fire he sprtnkled something in the
flames, muttered strange sounds, aud 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 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,
aud then, IL | did not come back, he would
vail for me as did his fathers long, long ago
when son fell in battle. Then he sat
down, covered up his head, and was client
All this made me feel uncomfortable
The natives of the Hawaiian Islands are
- Nkn1.A - a
danger or trouble macy often turn to the
discarded gods OF their fathers. l knew
PHI believed that great danger awaited
any one who assembled the ravine But /
went / had gone about mile, when over
the tops of the tree ferns / saw a waving
mass OF sea-gresn foliage uudulating In the
wind. The object looked like huge bunch
of thiok-leayed ssaweed, and the peculiar
motion of the same arrested my attention.
l was over 800 feet away from she curious
object and hurried to obtain a closer view
A wall OF fera-covered lava about ten feet
high stopped my course. Climbing up SO
that just could see over the edge, saw an
object such as the eyes OF civilized man
never before beheld. Imagine bunch OF
sea weed about twelve feet high; the edge
Of each piece lined with fine streamers
which radiated in all directions and trembled
like fine wire spirals; the whole object NOV
ing like the fringes of a sea anemone.
l was wearing heavy felt hat with
wide brim, and pushed it back from my
forehead to get better view. AS moved
my arm the strange objecs ceased culver
ing, and every vibrating antenna or
steamer pointed directly at me- Just then
my foot slipped from jutting rock on
which l was standing and fell, but not be-
fore something cleaved the air with hor-
rible Kissing noise and struck on my hat
crown. felt the force Of q blow as fell,
and know no more for time. | regained
consciousness after short time, and lay in
q partial stupor. Ths wall above me was
stripped Of it's verdure, and | saw a long
SNOWY, snekelike object writhing. twist
ing and curling on the rocks. 1t had missed
its prey. and low. angry hum filed the
air.