The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-30

Wonderful Volcanos OF tho Hawaiian
islands, Fire God, Etc.


Probably nine-tenths of the numerous
tourists to Hawaii 60 there Sor the exprese
purpose OF seeing the famous volcano OF
sented, Pert Five OF "Picturssqus Hawaii'
will have a special attraction. Indeed,
this number Is OF more than usual interest
because OF the present unwonted activity
OF this remarkable Volcano, as well - be-
cause OF the very complete and accurate
representation in the illustrations OF
every phase OF volcanic action. Here we
are given a view into the great pit that Is
well termed q lake OF fire. Another view
brings us to the very brink of the lake
itself, within the towering black walls OF
that enormous pit. In another illustra-
tion we have an example of boiling lava
flowing on the service OF the country, and
falling over a precipice into q body OF
water. All the strange contortjons Of q
lava flow are shown wildly in these illus
trations. IT is not surprising that the
%aniessstions e Of tRe Siddsn fopess
Of the interior of the earth. The serpen-
tine and twisted arms OF lava shown in
these illustrations are uncanny and sug-
gestiyc 10 minds less ignorant and debased.
The Goddess Peie, who was the deity Of
the volcanic fires, was hideous old hag
who paralyzed those who defed her. Ter
ror-stricken natives fed at the signs OF
her approach. Even to the present day
the old superstitio~s cling, and notable
instances have been given - he tenacious
hold they have on the c&p ity Of royal
personages.
Thus, II was Princess Ruth who sought
to placate Pele on the occasion OF the
memorable lava flow of 1880 by holding q
series OF incantations for two weeks on q
neighboring hill, and by Offering the
furious and implacable goddess red silk
handkerchiefs and bottles OF brandyi IL
was the present celebrated Liliuokalani
who, 1891, on the occasion OF q visit TO
Kilauea, sacrificed to the same goddess, and
sought her favor by casting a small white
pig, alive, on the surface OF Halemanman
where, in spite of its outcry and futile
efforts, it quickly roasted to the satisfac-
tion of the royal devotee.
The singular thing about Kilauea Is the
accessibility IL offers to the observation In
comparative safety of some OF the strangest
phenomena in nature. One can stand at
the very edge Of the boiling lake, where
fountains of fire are dancing all over
the constantly changing surface. Small
cones Sumble and tremble with ominous
suggestiveness as one investigates the
floor OF the immense pit. To US il seems
almost foolhardy for sane people to APP
proach so near to such mercisss
and terrible forces. We ap as
sured in the description of such ex-
periences that the real danger is slight,
because OF the ample warnings that are
given from below when an outbreak or q
change - imminent. IL IL remarkable
that OF all the thousands or people who
have visited this marvel of nature, none
have been overtaken with serious mis- hap.
Inasmuch as these people have defied the
superstitious precautions of Hawaiians by
neglecting to cast into the fiery lake tho
talismanic chelo berries, IL would appear
that this remark immunity from dan,
ger would be destructive OF faith in tho
old traditions.
We have in the text a fascinating de-
scription OF unique event, being moth
ing more nor less than the absolute Drop
ping out of the bottom and the total dis
appearance of the lava In Halemanmant
the most active lake in Kilauea. This oc-
Cured in 1856. 1t was not many months
after, however, before the lava returned,
and the activity has steadily increased,
until now 1t 10 greater than at any time in
the past Is years. :.
Much OF the narrative in this number 10
written IN the racy, graphic style of one
who is personally competent to guide. We
almost see with our own eyes as he .hur-
ries us from one wonder TO another, act
ually making Us participants in his own
experience in the wierd and awful pit. and
beside those lava flows from the terrible
MokuaweOweo at the summit of the lofty
Aiauna Loa. We are brought face to face
with the actual operation OF worid-build-
ing. Elsewhere this cannot be seen with
such particularty. Here we have tho
raising of the land, both by the
depression OF the surrounding seabed
and by the out-pouring of lava over
enormous areas and at great depths.
Here is the rapid encroachment OF vegeta-
tion and the wrapping of black, disinI
tegrating scorise with a garment OF green.
We can see the ocean out of which these
islands have risen, the liquid lava that
has built them $p, the abundant rains
that have eroded and disintegrated the
congealed lava, and the triumphant
march OF the forest following the skirmsn
line of ferns in subduing the land to he
uses and abode of man. III is out of chaos
into Paradise, and Hawaii well has won
the name of the Inferno of the world and
the Paradise OF the Pacific.