The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-10

Nothing could exceed the grandeur
Of the surroundings, but it was terrific
grandeur Nature in magnificent rest
and in one of her mightiest mood of
action. The village was gone, and We
could not learn that any of its residents,
except two, had escaped. All had
been swept into the sea, or bur ed be-
meath a flood of lava that could not
have been less than a mile in width.
Although it had been several days
reaching the village the inhabitants had
not realized their danger till too late.
1t was midnight when the food broke
upon them. Even now, as we Looked
at the river of lava it was to all appear
ance tranquil
The surface was cooled to a fixed
crust. But break it, and underneath
is seen the current f molten rock,
still of rose red color, sweeping on
with resistess force to the seething
waters of the bay. So it had been to
the simple minded people of the vii
lage. The stream had flowed down
till checked by barrier of rocks and
its power Tor mischief thus apparently
stopped. But instead it was only
gathering strength below the surface,
till suddenly, in the middle Of the
night, it burst its bounds and with re-
sistless fury carried the people to their
fate. 1t swept over the village, not as
a torrent of water would have done,
wildly and savagely, but in a steady
wave, whose very calm betrayed It's
might and made the scene the more
sublime.
The kissing waters, the vapor-laden
atmosphere, the heavy sulphurous
fumes, the absolute desolation that
marked the fiery rivers course, the
unceasing roar of escaping steam, OF
thunderings underground, of the great
volcano near by and Of the sea waves
as they dashed over the red-hot shore,
made Up a contrast for the peaceful
village that had rested there but fuity-
eight hours earlier, such as the OOtusest
mind could hardly fall to contemplate
with wonder and awe. Pompeil was
smothered, but Wainanalii, like Her
cuaneum, was drowned in flood OF
liquid lava.
IN ERUPTION NEARLY TWO MONTHS
This great eruption lasted nearly
two months, but after the first thrt
weeks it lost much of its energy, anc
by that time we had returned and were
considering an excursion in the noun.
tain to the vicinity of the crater. The
question was not whether to d. it, bu
how to do it. AT first the natives die
not fall at all readily into our plans
but when they saw we were in earnest
and that it would be to their advantage
to help, we had plenty of volunteers
AS on as one consented ii seemed as
though the entire population Of the
district was dying to be Of the party
Fifteen were accepted, but six of these
soon changed their minds and decided
that they would Be more comfortable
at home.
1t soon became evident that W,
should have to be our own guides
everything being changed. Formel
tracks and paths were obiterated, arc
what had once been known as choice
spots for camping on were now, per
haps, beds of sCorie or pools of hct
lava. s. we had to discover a way fol
ourselves, and thus three days and
more were spent Def re we reached a
destination. 1t was excellent camping
ground aud afforded fine view. By
a strange piece Of fatuity nobody had
foreseen scarcity of water, and duritg
the first part Of our journey we had hac
none.
This had something to do witt
retarding our progress, and 1t was only
very nefhcentiy remeded at consider
able trouble. 1t was, nevertheless, c
pleasant picnic that we had up there
five thousand feet or more on Mauna
Loa, although | confess / have neve
been quite sure that the game wa
worth the candle. 1t had been az
ugly tramp, and my belief since ha
been that a volcano in action is bette
seen from below than from above.
ON THE CRATER's BORDER.
We were higher than, though il
comparatively close proximity to, thu
great crater All ,jtction Of lava haC
ceased, but from what appeared to b'
three vast openings deep down in th'
abyss smoke and fiery vapors were stii
being thrown out many hundred feet
Ashes and solid rocks we're also anon,
the elected matter, but they fell ia
away. Over the lips Of the crater man,
streams of red hot lava poured con
tinually, rolling down the sides Of thu
mountain, leaping at first from crag t.
crag ard scattering fiery spray where
ever their progress became impeded.
Over every side numberless smalle
openings gave vent to steam and sui