The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-03-10
Kilauea in Eruption.

The latest reports from Kilauea volcano
show great increase of activity. The
lava has Just entered upon new stage of
action, having at last, after three years
work, entirely filled the inner crater and
overtopped the main floor. 1t is now
overlooking the main floor of Kilauea in
copious foods of fire, and has destroyed
huts fitted up on the brink and obliterated
half mile of the trail
THE ERUPTIoNs OF A GREAT VOLCANO.
Mauna Loa, the greatest volcano in the
world. which is now in state of active
eruption, is 1000 feet high, rearing its
head 5000 feet above the line of vegeta-
ton. Instead of rising abruptly from the
sea level, as mountains Of great height
usually do, it slopes to the SUNNI with
such a gentle incline that the main axis is
about 10 miles long. The slope is so
gradual, indeed, that it is accessible from
almost all sides, and by the usual route to
the summit 20 miles must be traversed
before an altitude of $500 feet is reached
Besides this peculiar feature, Mauna
Loa differs from most volcanoes, the lava
is not projected from the summit, but is
poured from huge assures in its sides
sometimes several thousand feet from the
top, and, instead of the shape being conf
cal, is formed like huge dome.
Not only is Mauna Loa the largest
volcano in the world, but the amount of
material it elects is extraordinarily prodi-
gious. Captain C. Il. Dutton, of the
Ordnance Crops of the United States
army, estimates that moderate eruption
of this volcano represents more material
than Vesuvius has emitted since the de-
struction of Herculaneum and Pompeii.
As the average interval between the erup-
tions is but eight years, it can readily be
believed that Hawaii is gradually growing
progress in Mauna Loa is from Kilauea,
the largest and Oldest of the many outlets
for the lava flow. It is but 5000 feet
above the level Of the sea. and Is hnSc
depression or pit about three miles long,
two miles wide and some 300 feet to the
main floor with PERCEPTIONS and irregular
walls At the bottom of this pit and some
distance from the sides is second depres-
sion SURROUNDED by a hillock or curb
The floor of the main floor between the
eruptions is cold and hard, but the central
pit is a mass of motion lava, which bub-
bles like boiling water, and throws fiery
waves upon the curb about its edge. At
night the display in this molten lake is
said to be indescribably grand, and on one
occasion the lava rose and poured over the
curb in magnificent cascade of fire esti-
mated to be fifty or more feet wide.
Should the lava in the present eruption
continue to rise it will fill the main pit and
overflow the basin and run down the side
of the mountain. When the flow has
ceased the material may rest, or the bot.
tom may, so 10 speak, drop out, as it did
once before, and leave great yawn-
ing abyss As an illustration Of the
amount of lava thrown out in single
eruption Of Mauna Loa it might be
mentioned that in 1855 the flow of lava
extended forty FIVE miles towards the sea
in a river 100 feet deep and four and one
half miles wide, aud would have, If
gathered together in heap, made
mound nearly as big as Mount Vesuvius.
Great as this amount seems it was nearly
equalled four years later, and again in
1881. In 1887 the flow of lava reached
the sea, but one of the greatest and in
some respects the most dangerous eruption
occurred in 1881 In this year, for
months. the lava poured down the north
east slope, and advanced steadily over the
plains, some of them almost level to the
coast some 40 miles away, at the rate Of
300 yards and more a day. Directly
ahead was the village of Hilo, and the in
habitants daily expected their homes to be
overwhelmed. Just before the stream
reached the village, for some reason the
fiery stream divided and seemed about to |
encircle the settlement, but just as it
reached the outskirts the eruption and
flow suddenly ceased, and the hamlet was
shared