The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-20
SEEMQN
9GEaR0
kILAuEA,s MIGHTY THRoEs.

The Present Eruption OF the Hawaiian VOL
eanO Is a COrIxer.
News from Hilo shows that the great
crater is in state of violent ebulltion.
From all accounts the action seems to
be more furious than for Is to 20 years.
The scene, from accounts of tourists who
have just returned, must be wonderfully
impressive. At night the raging fires
suggest the most lurid pictures Of the in
formal regions. No conception can be
formed from the most vivid word pic
lures of the wonderful reality. One must
see to understand and appreciate, and
there can be no real comprehension Of
anything SO vast and so tremendous even
from seeing.
The last eruption, when the 1avas were
drained away, was in March, 1891; but,
although very active up to the time the
lavas were drained away, all statements
show that nothing approaching the pres
ent activity was visible at that time.
When the break during 1891 occurred, a
large section of the floor of the great
ca1dera was plunged into the depths,
leaving hole 600 or 700 feet deep and
perhaps a half mile across. The fires
disappeared, and all was silent. The
fiery goddess appeared to be sleeping.
Some predicted that she had departed
for all time. But in q few months st
the bottom of the hideous abyss restless
movements began. Far off rumblings
and quivering of the sullen walls, with
further down plunges of the debris
piles, made it known that Pele was still
there and that she would soon resume
her imperial sway. Then a red eye
glared up from the depths. Then silent
ly a mouth opened, and sudden gush of
boiling lava surged into the upper world,
only to fall back into the unseen depths,
where muttering thunders threatened
coming storm. It came. With a start
Pele awoke and hurled her defiance out
into the world again.
From little pool at the bottom OF
the pit the burning lava filed up and
spread widely over the pit, till in year
there was little lake of fire. Then it
pushed up higher, and in two years, in
the summer of 1898, the pit had become
depression $50 feet deep, in the middle
of which was a magnificent lake of boil
ing and spouting lava. It was perhaps
200 feet across and nearly round and
represented an immense cone cut off 80
feet above the base. The enormous
pressure of the liquid mass within con-
stantly opened the walls, while con-
tinual overfiows built them up. Occa-
sionally section would burst open, and
q broad and splendid stream of burning
lava poured into the surrounding pit.
Sometimes dozen, often 20, fine foun-
tains played over the surface, toss
ing columns of fire many feet into the
air, and then the wind caught the CLASSY
liquid. and, spinning it into beautiful
filaments, long tresses of Pele's hair
foated away.
AT night the scene was one of rare
beauty, if anything SO imposing and aw-
full can be beautiful. The clouds of
steam, smoke and occasional fogs from
the cold mountains which rolled into the
crater would be lighted with vivid brill
iancy. At times, when very clear,
snow capped Mauna Loa, 30 miles away.
or the soft banks of feecy clouds over
it's summit, blushed rosy red. From
far at sea and on distant parts of the is
land the light of Kilauea glowed steady
beacon in the clouds. In the past six
months the mighty forces at her COM
mand have been summoned by the god
dess of Hawaiian volcanoes. She has
filed the pit til1it has overlooked. There
is no longer a pit. 1t has grown into q
towering hill of fire. Lava is spouted
far above the banks. Constant over
flows render the vicinity one of hazard
Gus excitement, if not of danger.-Pacifo
Commercial Advertiser.