The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-15
A RIVER OF FIRE.
Graphic Description Of Mauna Loa's
Eruption In 1880.

Oraphic Description OF MAuna Loes
Eruption in 1880.
Early Friday night, Nov. 0, 1880. q
bright light was reflected from the clouds
above Mauna Loa that increased in brilli-
ancy until morning. All day Saturday
great clouds OF smoke could be seen at
hilo. 90 miles away, rising from the
mountain as from q city that had been
swept by great contagration. Saturday
evening the mountain was wrapped in
clouds, but toward midnight they
scattered, revealing q spectacle that was
mangiticent beyond all description.
The summit crater was emitting q
dense smoke, lighted up by the molten
lake OF lava. Below oil tho mountain
side was an embrasure from which tie
lava was running down like river. Not
a break could be seen from the outlet to
the very head of the fery mass. IL was
continuous stream OF glowing lava,
heated to incsndescence, moving steadily
down the mountain side. 1t was like
living creature gliding out OF its fiery
prison house all agiow.
squirming and gliding in the mountains
blaze,
Like great serpent with q skin OF gold.
It's progress was rapid. cons idering the
distance OF the point Of view and sub
the flow proved that the velocity must
have besn tremendous.
Mr.. David Hitchcock, who was camp
ing on Macns Kea at the time OF this out
break, saw a spectacle that few human
eyes have ever beheld. 'We stood,
writes he, ''on the very edge OF that
flowing river OF rock. .---.
80, what a sight 1t was!-Not 20 feet
from US was this immense bed Of rock
slowly moving forward with irresistible
force, bearipg on its surface huge rocks
ana immense boulders OF tons weight as
water would carry toy. The whole front
edge was one bright red mass OF solid
rock incessantly breaking of from the
towering mass and rolling down to the
foot of 1t, to be again covered by another
avalanche of white hot rocks and sand.
The whole mass at it's front edge was
from IL to 80 feet In height. Along The
entire line of its advance Ii was one crash
OF rolling, sliding, tumbling red-hot rock.
"We could hear no explosions while we
were near the flow, only tremendous
roaring like 0.0O0 blast furnaces all at
work at once" This was the most extern
sive fiow OF recent years, and its progress
from the interior plain through the dense
forests above Hilo and out on to the open
levels close 10 the town was startling and
menacing enough. Through the WOODS
especially il was turbulent, eething
mass that toppled over mammoth trees,
aud licked up streams CT water, and day
ana night kept upan upintermitting cam
nonade of explosions.
The steam and imprisoned gases would
burst the congealing surface with loud
detonations that could be heard for many
miles. Ii was not an infrequent thing
for parties to camp out close TO the flow
over night. Ordinarily lava flow moves
sluggishly and congeals so rsdidiy that
what seems like fardihood IN the narrat-
ing is in reality calm judgment, for 1t is
perfectly safe to be in the close vicinity
Of n lava stream, and even to walk on its
surface as soon as ono would be inclined
to walk on cooling iron in foundry.
This notable fow finally ceased within
half mile OF Hiio, where RS black form
is a perpetual reminder OF marvellous
deiverance from Gestructlon.-Hon
Gazette.