The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-05-05
F. S. Dodge Writes from a
Surveyors Standpoint.
CHANGES WITH THE OUTBREAKS.
Various Stages During Ten Years Past.
Relation OF Mokuaweoweo TO XII
IaueR-Severe Earthquake shocks.
Unusual Sight for Our Visitors.

for the past ten years ndS piOFC lhSOA
esting TO the public. The writer has
kept in touch with the action Of Kilauea
since the early part of 1886, when the
great breakdown of that year occurred.
From June 1885, to March, 1886, the
old and new lakes in Halemaumau had
been very active and the level of the
lava had been constantly rising. On the
evening Of March 9th series of earth
quakes occurred, forty-three in number,
during which the lakes were drained
Of their contents, leaving immense pits
where there had formerly been boiling
and seething masses of liquid lava. The
result of that breakdown was an enor-
nous pit in the floor of Kilauea, 153
acres in extent and 900 feet below the
Volcano House at it's deepest point.
During March and April there was no
visible fire in the crater, and visitors
were able to descend to the bottom of
the chasm, though at considerable risk
from the falling walls, and also from the
sulphur fumes from numerous cracks
and crevices.
Mr.. Emerson of the Government Sur
vey made an accurate survey of the
lower part of Kilauea, in the immediate
vicinity of Halemaumau, and the writer
continued the work in greater detail in
September and October, after the fires
had returned.
On May 8th a bright light was seen
over the crater. The fire had evidently
returned, and from that date there was
a steady increase in the signs of return
ing activity until in July there was
quite display, especially at night
In the latter part of September the
writer spent twelve days in the neigh
bOrhood, making a survey of the crater
and studying the action going on in
Halemaumau. The great central pit
had filled up to considerable extent
and mounds of loose rock and debris
had been thrown up in the locality for
merly occupied by the deepest depres-
sion. The floor of the crater was then
rising at the rate of about one foot per
day.
In January and February, 1887, at the
time of the Kahuku flow, Kilauea con-
tinued it's state of activity with Hale
maumau, changing every day and
building upward, but nothing like a
lake" had yet appeared. In March
there was still further increase, and Wis
itOrs began to write of lake of fire
visible in Halemaumau, but it was evil
IDENTIFY small affair. In August there
was a small lake on the southwest side
of the central cone, and a number of
smoking and putting cones in various
parts of the pit.
By January, 1888, Dana Lake, as it
was then called, had developed into
circular lake nearly 800 feet in diane
ter, situated on the western side of the
pit and close under the walls of Hale
maumau. By July the Halemaumau
nit ha6 orITy 10
the central cone had risen far above the
general level of the floor of the crater,
having been pushed lp from below by
the rising column of lava.
Kilauea continued in various degrees
of activity until March, 1891, present
ing constant changes of scene to the
regular stream of visitors and tourists
most of whom seem to have been we'll
satisfied with the display of fire foun-
tains and boiling lakes. In January of
that year it is reported as being more
active than for many a year. From
September 10, 1890, to March 6, 1891,
there had been almost constant flows
from the lakes, over the old door of the
crater. On the latter date, just five
years from the time of the last great
breakdown, there were several severe
earthquake shocks, and other signs
of an approaching crisis, and by the
morning of the 8th the whole scene had
changed, the cones Of Halemaumau and
Dana and Maby lakes having disap-
peared from view, and not a sign of
fire was left-excepting smoke.
The area of subsistence was much less
than in 1886, but the depth of the new
pit was nearly as great, according to the
evidence of former visitors. BY May
there was return to some degree of
activity, with a new lake formed in the |
central part OF Halemaumau, which was
itself nearly circular in form and nearly |
one-half mile in diameter In Septem-
Der, 1891, the lake had grown quite ex-
tenslYe and the floor of the pit had |
risen about 200 feet in the last four |
months, with a constant increase in
activity In April, 1892, Mr.. Bishop
estimated the diameter of the Hale |
maumau pit at 2,400 feet, and its depth |
10 the level OF the lake at 300 feet.
The latter was very acti' e during the
whole of his visit, rising and falling a
few feet each day, but in the main gain |
ing slightly in elevation
In August, 1892, the writer made
new survey of Halemaumau, based up-
on the triangulation of former years. !
The area of Halemaumau was found to
be something over ninety acres in ex-
tent, and about 260 feet in depth The
lake was about $50 feet in diameter. |
and was elevated about 25 feet above
the floor of the pit 1t was nearly cir
cular in form, and very active at all |
times during my stay Visitors were
able to descend to the floor of the pit. |
by an easy trail, and to approach very
closely to the rim of the boiling lake. |
1t continued in great activity for
months, constantly rising. and by it's |
overflow filing Halemaumau, until in |