The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-03-27

4 or volcano on approaching the mouse.
Steam was issuing from the seams in the
lava-crusted earth along the roadside, and
when we gained the higher ground we
could see for miles about us. There were a
thousand assures in the earth from which
hot steam and smoke were issuing, while
far off to the west the smoke from the eter-
nal fires of Kilauea gave it the appearance
of DOre's paintings of Dante's Inferno.
Below the Volcano House, not three hun
bred PAGES away, are vast sulphur banks
from which issues vapor in continuous
stream. Mr.. Lee, the proprietor, has built
bath house, and conveys the sulphur va
por to it, the healing properties of which
he declares are unequaled.
The Volcano House is a large, cOmmOdi-
GUS country inn with accommodations equal
to such places in the United States. 1t is a
great pleasure resort, and patropiZed eXten
sively by invalids. Alth0 it would seem
that one could almost stand on It's porch
and throw stone into the crater, it is three
miles away.
My guide, whose name was Albert, was a
strange mixture of natiOnaltieS. He was
born in Japan, his mother was a native of
the Gilbert Island, and his father French
man. He had been reared in California and
was only temporarily in Hawaii. Tho a
very intelligent fellow he was unable to
solve the problem of his nationality.
tried to but soon gave it up.
lily nOTS6 Ill the Ill lIOHl
of the house we began the descent. By a
zigzag course we wound our way down the
cliff into the first crater which is over three
miles across, our path sometimes leading
along the side af the cliff, and the project
ing rocks almost grazing our knees as we
passed. We gained the second plain or
great crater at last. This plain is covered
looks like CONCEALED quagmire.
Once upon this plain we entered path
made across the lava. In places ferns were
growing out from the seams in the crust.
AS we pressed on over the chasm-riven sur
face we came upon wider, deeper crack
spanned by bridge. There is story con-
nected with this chasm, the guide said.
One day party of tourists left the Volcano
House and went to see the crater. which was
then active. While they were there the is
land was convulSed with an earthquake.
Mr.. Lee, fearing some harm had befallen
his guests, ran to the lava flow to find this
awful chasm from thirty to fifty feet deep.
He was very much alarmed for his guests
until he saw them coming across the lava
flow. They had scarcely felt the earthquake
at all, but they had to go about mile above
to cross the chasm.
Half mile from the Lake Of Fire, as the
second crater, is called, we came upon
small corral made of lava, in which we left
the horses, and, armed with stout sticks,
proceeded over the plain Of hard, glazing
lava, through the seams of which sulphur
Gus steam constantly Kissed.
At last we gained the side of the lake.
The crater was inactive, and had been so
for year, since Mr.. Musick's visit this
volcano has been in eruption. According
to newspaper reports, the flow of lava began
on January 9th but far down into its hol-
low depths the faint glow of fires or heated
stones could be seen while the rumbling of
Subterranean thunderS reached our ears.
The fires were thousand feet below us
and almost hidden by dense clouds of sui
phurous smoke. From the tissues of stone
on the side, the quivering air bore evidences
of heat. There the guide lighted his pipe
by the fire of the volcano, and L thrust my
walking staff a few inches into the apper-
ture. Tho the stick was of green wood, in
a few moments it was ablaze; the heat was
so intense that one could not long remain
at this place.
Going around to the north side we found
great flow holes, where the lava was piled
up in thousand fantastic shapes. One
of these cones looked like an elephant rear
ed on its hind legs, the the trunk and head
being quite well formed. .-........
When active the volcano of Kilauea is one
Of the earth's greatest natural wonders.
In the lake or second crater the lava is con-
tinually boiling in furious manner, throw
ing up jets and fountains. sometimes to the
height OF seventy-five feet. dashing against
the banks in fiery waves and throwing up
clouds OF molten spray, making one of the
most awe-inspiring sights imagi- |
nable.
From the lake went to the great sulphur |
cave. Tho the thermometer stands at over |
)ne hundred in Ibis cave, we entered it, |
our way through the boiling |
Kissing steam. Stalactites of sulphur and |
alum hang like golden and silver icicles |
from the dome of the cavern. 1t was too /
not to remain long, so we FASTENED out, |
mounted our horses and returned to the 1
Volcano House.
Next day, with guide and horses, set |
nut from the Volcano for the great Kona
district, the land of stone and coffee. Hour /
litter hour we trudged on over the stony
Earth, relieved occasionally by groves OF
rees, and now and then evidences OF cIvilI-
.atiOn and former occupancy in the form of |
IN empty beer bottle at the roadside.
That night we reached Pahala which is
/ village plantation of between eight hun
lred and thousand inhabitants OF these
wO at least are white, the others being Jap
lnese, Chinese and natives; 1 saw but one
white man and one white boy. The great
whistle at the plantation mill blew shortly |
Ifter arrival, and an army of japanese men
Ind women, came IN from the fields with
lOes on their shoulders, and went to their
miserable little huts.
These Japs are II brought 10 the islands
m the contract labor system. They are
allied coolies and are but little better than