The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-01-17

law business. On their arrival at
that city the reporters pounced on
Mr.. Thurston and clamored for an
interview of some kind.
Mr.. Thurston would not talk
about political affairs in this King
dom, and compromised the matter
by giving some information about
Mauna Loa, which showed signs of
an outbreak just previous to the
departure of the Australia.
The interview was trite tame
for the reporter, and he afterwards
doctored the story to the extent
that when it appeared in print Mr..
Thurston was surprised man.
Appended viii be found the re-
porter's sensational story:
BIG MAUNA LoA IN ERUPTION.
The Great Crater of Hawaii Vom-
iting Forth Moulten Fire.
PERms OF HILo AND wAIAKEA.
These Villages Being Near By and
in the Path of Old Over
flows Are Liable to be
Swallowed Up.
''Those who have been living in
the vicinity of Maunaloa," said Mr..
Thurston last night at the Occiden-
tai, have for some time been
expecting one of the periodical out
breaks and flows. 1t may have
ruined the country, but nobody as
vet can tell with certainty. Each
succeeding outbreak has come
closer to the towns of Hilo and
Waiakea. The indications and the
past actions of the volcano justify
the belief that the lava may fall
upon them. A stream of lava has
been more than once also directed
towards the village of Waimea.
"Hilo is thirty five miles away to
the east. In 1852 the lava rose to
a height of 701 feet over the crater,
continued for twenty days, and
came to within ten miles of Hilo.
In 1862 there occurred the most ter
rible earthquake in human know
ledge. The side of the mountain
slid off three miles in as many
minutes, overwhelmed village
and burned thirty-three people and
400 cattle, besides opening assures
twenty miles in length. Lava was
thrown up 1000 feet, and rocks
weighing as much as 100 tons
apiece were tossed up SO numerous
ly that they seemed lot of balls
in the air.
"Another flow brought the lava
still closer than in 1852, and in
1880 the lava rose 500 feet high.
Pele's hair, a fine glass, spun by
the wind from the lava, fell in the
streets of Hilo. The flow stopped,
but speedily started again, and
continued for nine months over the
old lava track toward Hilo. Its
deadly flow stopped in the very
outskirts of the town, and within
half mile of the harbor.
eff it had continued few days |
longer it would have overwhelmed |
the town. buried the sugar planta
tons of Waiakea and destroyed the /
harbor front. The lava stream was
twelve to thirty feet in height.
seTbe next news from the islands /
will arrive by the Alameda, week
from tomorrow. l am apprehen
siye as to its character. 1t is
barely impossible that no further
word will be received meantime at
Honolulu, for it is 200 miles from
Mauna Loa and vessels do not run
very regularly. In that case full
particulars may not be received here
till the Australia goes to the Islands
and gets back, month hence"
Beautiful sugar plantations sur
round the towns of Hilo and Waia-
kea. Splendid groves of cocoanuts
and plantations of bananas also
dot the country here and there.
Beautiful residences are also to be
seen thereabout. The plantations
are very valuable, so it is stated,
and should the food anticipated
sweep upon them, immense sums
would be lost.
The people of the towns, it is
+bouoht will be safe from harm
unless bursts of lava should be as
sudden and terrific as in the case
alluded to, one of several, by the
way. when death to large numbers