The Oskaloosa herald., 1893-02-09

from south to north, showing that the
whole crater must be underlaid with
molten lava. The strangest thing is the
unearthly noises. There is putting,
whistling and screaming as if a dozen
locomotives were blowing off steam;
while deep below the raging pillows
could be heard awful groans andmoans,
which, like Pollock's description of hell,
was long, loud, dark, deep, dolorous,
immense. But why multiply words try
ing to describe the indescribable None
can ever appreciate Kilsuea who have
not seen it. The scene would last
perhaps fifteen minutes then the raging
would cease, the lake freeze over and
remain quiet for short time; thus it
continued all night long but grew worse
as day approached. tried to sleep and
took few, cat maps, but about as soon
as would get into doze some rocks
would fall, or the fires would break out
and Startle me. 1t seemed to be about
the poorest place in the world to sleep.
Although no one has ever been hurt,
yet there have been many narrow
escapes in Kilauea.
In 1888 Mr.. Lee Merriwether, noted
American traveller, was standing with
party Of tourists on the edge of the
lake, when an acre off the opposite side,
over which they had just passed, fell
in. Mr.. Mabe, who keeps the Volcano
house, said he had seen the whole sur
face of the lake rise four hundred feet
higher than it then was and sink away
five hundred feet deeper. He was once
guiding party when a large section
near them dropped down seventy five
feet. During my stay saw some of
the changes that are constantly going
on. A tunnel commenced forming un-
der the bank of the lake and in two
hours time it had extended back sixty
or eighty feet. Great flames would dart
out mingled with noises as if all the
forces of hell were at work. The rocks
above melted and poured down, and
soon twenty feet of the arch was con-
oOAuou anu Udu Idll6n III.
AS soon as it was light bade fare
well to the physical sheol and retraced
my steps to the upper world. I soon
lost the trail and in hunting for ways
around the frightful chasms lost the
directions also. My only chance now
was to wait until the sun rose high
enough to penetrate the smoke and fol.
low it out. This lead me over many
hard places, some too hot to pass over
Others, where the under current of lava
had run out leaving thin crust, would
break in and let me fall down foot OF
two. This was trying to ones nerves
finally found the trail, but discovered
that my troubles had only just begun
when started up the steep ascent of
five hundred feet. / had eaten nothing
for twenty-four hours except parched
corn and dried beef, which did not work
as well as had hoped; but after good
many rests and eating the last of the
corn l stood once more on the banks OF
the crater. Looking back to those hills
and canOns which l had just crossed
all had vanished into one level plain, so
deceiving is the human eye among
mountains.
1t was very foolish, but 1 still deter
mined not to pay the monopoly dollar
for meal. started in company with
the batch intending to walk to a cattle
ranch, twenty miles away, before break
fast. If l had had nothing to carry, as
my companion had, could have kept
up with him all day, but un1er bur
den Of twenty three pounds began tt
lag. My frequent stopping to rest wor
ried the batch, and he chided me for not
getting breakfast. l told him it was
sleep that needed most, but had nc
doubt that little food would do me
good. So seeing grass hut off the
road we went over. There was no one
at home and nothing in the hut but q
jar of water. This was sore disap
pointment, as the batch said there were
no more signs of habitation nearer thar
the halfway house nine miles distance
told him was going to have nal
and he could go on if he chose. H,
thought he had better as it looked lik'
rain. The sleep refreshed me and
hurried on. But it was of short dura
tiop and I had to sleep again. Thus tn
day wore away, walking half mile an
sleeping few minutes until about thre,
o'clock arrived at the tavern. A grea
change had come over my mind abou
paying dollar for dinner, since was
out trying to see the world l ought tt
eat one such meal, and I would neve
be in better shape to do it justice.
sat down and watched the culinar.
preparations as did the Squire of Do
| Quixote, when they attended a grea
feast, and Sancho slipped into tn,
kitchen before dinner and ate coupl
Of geese and two or three chickens. Tn
landlord was yankee who had com
here in an early day and married na
tive woman, he knew great deal an
could tell great deal more than b
knew, so he sat down to feast my min,
| while filled my stomach, but before
got through he had lost his mind an
sat there completely dumbf oundeC
For the benefit of people of small mean
who would like to travel if they onl
knew how, l will give an invoice Q
what disappeared from the table: Fiv
hot biscuits, two fried eggs, larg
slice of ham, several slices of boile
beef, three potatoes, one pie, dish Q
berries, two sweet cakes, very larg
hole in dish of butter, that is at
the butter and left the hole for th
landlord, one cup of coffee, glass c
milk and two glasses of rain water.
i 1t is wonderful how q square mes
will revive the spirits of hungr
tramp; walked till ten o'clock ths
night with no more feeling of languol
If there are any doctors present n
doubt they are horrifed at such vic
lation of hygiene, regular hours and
three pint stomach. Your pet theorie
may be all right for delicate womel
and bandbox dudes, but they are nj
worth straw to fellow who is cas-
, out penniless to battle with friendles
world. Now little advice to youn
men who are blameless as touching on
, modern theories of health. It is we
for you to go west and grow up wit
: the country, but until you are convint
, ed that your stomach win hold at lea