The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-20

GOOD FORTUNE OF THE VISITING
CONGRESSNIEN.
Much Pleased With Their Trip Over
the Coffee and Sugar Plantations
Reception at Hilo.

By the best of good fortune the
Congressman who were the guests ol
President {. l.. Wight of the Wilder
steamship Company on IA trip through
the coffee region OF Hawaii and to tnt
Volcano were treated to the finest eN
hibition of Madam pele's wrath that
has occurred for many months. They
witnessed the fiery lake of Kilauea m
violent action, with fountains playing
and flames of vivid intensity. There
is no doubt that the old volcano will
in the near future give another grand
display of her might forces.
The Claudine returned home with
the party of distinguished sightseers
last Saturday night, after a remark
ably fast round trip.
Everywhere they were accorded an
enthusiastic reception by the people,
and were entertained with that open
handed hospitality for which the Is
lands are famous. No efforts were
spared by Mr.. Wight to make their
trip both pleasant and profitable, and
how well he succeeded is attested by
the glowing description of the tril,
given by his guests.
The party was composed of Con-
gressmen Berry, Tawney, Cannon ana
Loudenslager, Professor Alexander,
Attorney General Smith, Chief Stew
ard Seely of the Australia and c. L..
Wight. They sailed on the steamer
Claudine last Tuesday, arriving at
Spreckelsville on the following morn.
ing. There they became the guests
of Manager Boote of the Spreckels-
vile plantation, and lunched with him
after spending four hours in going
over the plantation. Leaving there in
the afternoon, the party arrived in Hi
10 early next morning. Four hours Ia
ter they set off for the volcano, leav-
ing Mr.. Wight behind. The Volcano
House was reached before nightfall,
and the surroundings thoroughly ex-
plored.
AS the volcano did not show much
signs of activity, the members of the
party did not plan to go down at first,
but at the earnest solicitation of At
torney General Smith, Congressman
Berry and Loudenslager and Mr.. Seely
decided to accompany him to the
brink of the crater. just as they had
reached the great well, about $3.50
p. m, the fiery display commenced.
The entire lake was a mass of restless
lava. One fountain was spouting to
a height of 200 feet or more. and sew
eral smailerones disturbed the surface
of the lake. At times the light was SO
intense as to light up the surround
ing landscape. The guides said it was
the most violent action witnessed in
the crater since the last great erup-
ton.
On the way back to Hilo. frequent
stops were made at the various coffae
in order to give the vsl-
tors an opportunity of seeing the ex-
tent and value of the coffee industry.
Berry was especially
charmed with the prospect, and is al
ready talking of purchasing a plan
tation. Some of the other members
of the party were equally enthusas- |
tic over the prospect.
Returning to Hilo on Friday even
ing the distinguished visitors were en-
tertained at a genuine native luau.
which they enjoyed immensely. Later
in the evening they were rendered a
reception at the Hilo hotel to which |
the whole district turned out The
band was in attendance, and a native
orchestra and quartette ran-
dered Hawaiian airs.
Early Saturday morning the party |
boarded the Claudne and started on
the return journey, arriving here on
saturday night before bed time.