Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-21

lions the south point Of the island projects
broadly but sharply into the southern
ocean. 1t has been con5ectured to have
given the name to the whole district, which
is Ka-u (Kah-oo), 1.-The teat" There is
nothing to protect any part of Kau from an
outpour of lava from the southern TANKS
of Mauna Loa.
1t is satisfaction, however to know
from observation of former lava flows that
no single locality is thus invaded oftener
than probably once on an average in three
or four hundred years. 1t may thas be
calculated that fire insurance against lava
ought to be effected anywhere around the
lower base of the mountain at very small
percentage. AS a matter of fact, very little
productive land has been devastated since
the discovery Of Hawaii in 1879. Some val
liable fish ponds were filled up at l<ihola.
in Kona, by an outflow on the west flank of
Mt. Hualalai. At Wainanalii in 1859, flf-
teen miles north, other fish ponds were OBJ
liberated by the stream from Mauna Loa.
In 1868. as above related. valuable cattle
ranch in kahuku was ruined And in 1881,
at the end of a nine months flow. the edge
OF sugar plantation was invaded In the
outskirts of Hilo village. This covers all
such damage done within the historical
period OF lis years. Still, somebody may
be catching 1t hot this time
While wait for tomorrow to report later
and. 1t Is hoped, more definite intelligence
from the seat of action, 1 am moved to
descant little on the question so much
discussed, What is the cause of volcanic
activity? What is the precise force which
e)ects these tremendous explosions of fiery
mater from the interior Of our globe ?"
Having personally observed our remark
apie volcanic phenomena for many years
having read many learned and ingenious
discussions of the above question, with
much personal conference with eminent
Seoioslsts VINO nave visited our craters,
nave at length been enabled to form my
own theory on the subject. will venture
to PROFOUND it very briefly, as follows:
ne sloDe under our feet is composed of
n
Iense neat OF several thousand degrees
tahrenheit. This Is incased in a crust of
twenty-five miles or more in thickness.
winch subjects the molten interior to an
eHormous pressure by it's superintendent
weight At various points in this crust a re
mes or assure, through which any violent
thter1or pressure outward may be able to
Icrce an exit.
What Causes Eruptfons,
NOW, the interior molten fluid is not mere
stone. 1t is powerfully charged with gases.
1t Is in the condition Of the water in a
soda bottle, which is quiet until the stop
pie is removed, and then bursts out ex-
plosively. Whenever an opening is made
by any cause in the crust of the globe. the
molten magma below begins to effervesce,
ana push upward, finally escaping IN the
terrific explosions of volcanoes That the
magma Is thus charged with gases mi
nutely dlnused throug 1out it's moecu es,
Is proved py the elections from volcanoes,
Whlch are infinitely vascular Take the
eJecuons from krakatoa, which mainly
consisted OF pumice. that is glass, entirely
permeated by minute bubbles of gas Nc
such intimate admiXture of gas or steam
win the magma could have been pro-
auced by the contact with the waters of
the ocean The gases were originally com
Dlned with the heavier material and oc-
Guided In its molecules when the original
condensation took place
In the lnscrutable aeons of the past,
when this globe slowly gathered itself to-
sether out of the chaotic nebula, the gas
eous ana tne heavier metallic elements
were intimately commingied. AS the con-
densation took place into the LIQUID form
the lighter materials were so held in by
the enormous superintendent pressure as
e. 70 De unable to escape and We're reduced
70 liquid form in combination with the
rocky materials. Thus every molecule of
rock In the earth's molten interior is as
ISOLATED with molecule Of some gas, as
completely as the water molecules in a
soda bottle are combined with molecules
OF carbonic acid in liquid form, but ready
to explode into gas
Accordingly we are to conceive ourselves
as all living over not only an ocean Of
molten fire. twenty-five miles below our
leet, but also over such an ocean tremen-
douSly charged with explosive gases Were
the enormous combining pressure of the
crust removed, the entire surface Of this
interior molten ocean would at once eff
1erVesce explosively into miles aloft of
merry form. AS 1t is, only here and there Is
the pressure removed in a narrow 1ssure,
and there results, as today, the colossal
explosion of Mauna Lon, driving its scoria
and gases tens of thousands of feet aloft
nave not room here to discuss the two
e etne competing theories one. that Of
steam pressure developed by contact of
ocean waters with the interior magma;
the other. that of the pressure of the
heavier crust forcing out the fluid inter
Tor by Its weight. Both of these have
been carefully Cd
My own theory of originally occluded
gases in the magma as the source Of ejec-
tive force seems to accord with the views
of Prof. Judd, who is the chief specialist
on the subject Of volcanoes.
Latest Account.
April 3O-Writing later. I have little that
is new to report. The steamer Hall came
in from Kau on the 2Sth with reports of no
outflow of lava up to the morning of the
9th. The eruption continued in much activ-
ity. presenting a brilliant spectacle A large
party were preparing to ascend the noun
tain from the kapapala cattle ranch, which
Is 1000 feet up It's south flank and Is the
usual point OF departure. The manager Of
the ranch. Julian Mousarrat, will conduct
the party and supply the animals. OF the
party will be Peter Lee of Volcano House
DR.. Ollie Dan Logan, editor Of the Homo
lulu Bulletin, and Frank Dodge of the gov
eminent survey. 1t is stiff climb of thirty
miles and 1900 feet ascent, taking from
three to four days up and return. The usual
charge for parties including animals and
guides, is $50 apiece. The ascent Is not often
made. This party will probably be rewarded
by close view Of a sublime and terrific
spectacle. There may or may not be serious
danger encountered.
Probably there will be no danger what
ever in going to the brink of the great Dit
and observing the fountain of lava pouring
up. The accounts received indicate that the
first explosive violence has abated. The ac-
emulation of gases has largely blown off
but the glow on the clouds above indica ties
a copious discharge of lava pouring up into
the great caldera pit Al the outset specta-
tors would have been impossible perhaps
great peril from falling stones and other
OBJECTS driven aloft by the fiery column of
gas and cnders. Now the visitors will suf-
fer only from cold and mountain sickness
Should the lava have found an outlet down
the mountain side they may be able to visit
the point Of emission, which will itself be
a fearful place of plutonic violence
KAMEHAMEHA
Compulsory Vaccination.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
thn mt IT,