Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-03

middle OF the west side OF the crater be-
ing their frequent battle-ground. ~
such times miniature whriwinds carried
up sand and paper into the air, ana,
the tent was open, its interior became
filed with dust On the north and east
sides the wind was usually northeast anc
easterly. On the south side II was soutf
and easterly, while on the west SIDE
north to northwest and southwest 70
south-southwcst. were the prevailing di-
roctions of the wind but the wind was
rarely strong at the camp. One morn
ing l left my tent at Z o'clock, with
light sontherly breeze blowing. but. after
proceeding about half a mile to the north.
found myself facing bitterly cold
northeast gale against which could
scarcely stand. SO that my purpose or
going around the crater had 10 Do
abandoned for that day. Returning 10
the tent. met the noftherly wind once
more.
My descent into the crater was made on
the northwest side. 1t was tedious ope-
ration. and one had to tread warily on tho
loose boulders, that are often Inclined to
roll down and crush the intruder on his
way. As soon as 1 reached near the CEN
tire Of the great pit the clouds began TO
pour in on all sides over the lips OF the
crater. In a few minutes was enveloped
i'm a dense mist. and any further observa-
tion was rendered impracticable. During
the prevailing dry, clear weather with a
cloudless sky. smoke" Is only evident
In two places In the crater one near tho
centre. and the other In the southwest
corner from the base OF yellowish c'in,
where there are apparently extensive de-
posits OF sulphur When. however. tho
sky is olouded., and especially when the
air is moist, white vapor may be seen aris-
ing from the greater part OF the surface
OF the crater. The change Is little
startling, the true explanation being that
large amount Of the yapor evolved Is
only visible in cloudy. murky weather.
1t Is, therefore, possible that the accounts
Of two observers may vary greatly as
to the oraters condition, and yet no dif-
ference In the condition actually exist
This especially applies to the district on
the south and southwest borders OF the
crater stretching about mile to
the southwark. In cloudy weather
white vspor arises from many places In
this area. Many of these cracks and rs
sures exhibit evidence of having ortsi-
nally given passage TO vapors at a very
high temperature. The red glaze that
coats their sides could never have been
produced by the comparatively cool va
pors now discharged from them. / should
Judge that the subterranean heat Is now
more actively displayed IN the district
extending mile to the south OF the big
crater than In the crater itself. A very
large amount of vapor is discharged from
the borders OF small crater lying near
Pohaku Hanalei. and this Is probably the
smoke sometimes observed from the Kona
coast. One may expect that the next
eruption will occur on this the south
southwest slope OF the mountain.
tpsn Of
descriptions are common on tho summit.
One species Of butterfly common at the
coast Is not at ell infrequent. The butt
terfiies were more often TO DO found
dead than alive. and those flying about
were I'm half-drowsy condition and
easily caught. There were aies Of dine
rent kinds, the house fly and the blue
bottle fly proving a great nuisance In my
tent. Besides these, here were moths,
bees. gnats, and an occasional dead
dragon fly while bugs and other insects
were collected as they fed upon the
bodies Of the dead butterflies. These In
seets were more common when the wind
Was southery. and no doubt they had
been brought up TO this absolutely
sterile region by the wind. Evidently
most. II not all, OF the butterflies and
moths. soon die, and probably the other
insects, 700 The whole matter Is. how
ever, very suggestive and shows how
readily insects. even the parasitical bug,
may find their way into the upper air
currents.
During the last few days OF my stay
on the summit I found myself getting
sensibly weaker. which attributed
partly 10 want OF sleep and partly 10
lack of appetite. The kerosene had got
mixed with the biscuit on the way up,
and the sugar was in the same condition
Fancy also gave the same flavor TO the
bacon and rice, and I swallowed ssy food
like so much sawdust. My face was IKE
that OF coal HEAVIER, Washing peing
rather risky at that altitude. On the
last day. however. made myself little
respectable and awaited the arrival OF
the relieving party. when. therefor
on the evening OF August seth. aeak
the sound Of voices and the clatter o
horses' feet outside the tent. I was no
long In giving the party a wslcorns-