Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-10-22

notable eruptions can be taken as a
measure of future events. another
great outpouring of lava is close at
hand Capt. Peter Lee, who has at
tanned almost world wide fame as thu
manager of the famous Volcano house,
which rests almost on the brink OF the
crater, in the shadow of Mount Mauno
Loa, whose summit is $4,000 feet above
the sea level, is willing to stake MS
reputation upon the prediction that HI
lauea will in the near future be in more
violent action than in 1892. when the
molten lava from her depths spread
over scores of acres of ground.
To those who viewed Madame Pele
in all her grandeur during the eruption
of 1891-94, the crater in its present
state might provide but scant enter
tainment, but to the uninitiated 1t Is
still the grandest and most awe-ln-
spring spectacle that the eye OF man
is permitted to gaze upon. during
the three years of comparative inacIlN-
ity that have elapsed since the last
great overflow of lava the crater ana
it's surroundings have undergone many
remarkable changes.
At the present time the rim OF the
active lake is on a level, almost, with
the bed of the great basin, but the lake
itself has sunk to a depth variously
estimated at from 500 to 700 feet below
the level of the great basin. The depth
may be even greater, for no one mas
even been able to measure. For weeks
past the pit has poured forth such an
enormous volume of smoke that 1t mas
been impossible to even gain a glimpse
into it's depths.
The sides of the pit are very precipl-
tous, and in many places indented by |
drifts and caves whose dark interiors |
are occasionally discernible through /
riffs of the smoke. The pit is gradually |
increasing in diameter through the cav
ing in of the walls.
Up to within a few weeks ago the .
lava bed in the vicinity of the crater
had grown quite cold, but 1t has OF
late become so hot as to be un-
under foot. At night dull
red glow can be seen in the cracks tnat
run back from the crater for a dis"
lance of several hundred feet, and DTS
of wood or paper thrown into the
cracks Immediately burst into flames.
A large cave under the lava, entered
through a well a full 100 yards back
from the edge of the deep pit, could be
entered and explored by visitors a few
weeks ago. but now it has become so
hot that meat can be roasted within
scarcely two feet from the surface.
The heating of the surrounding lava
bed has been very gradual, but steady
accompanying it have been unmistak-
lble signs of renewed activity within
he crater. A fortnight ago, for the
lrst time within two years, fire was
cen in the depths of the pit. party
f unbelieving tourists were doing
he crater at night, and were idly
angling over the north wall when sud
enlv fountain of burning lava burst
trough the smoke below them with a
nightly roar and continued in play for
alf an hour, presenting a magnificent
pectacle.
Since then the same fountain has
cen in play internationally, but the
noke has been so thick that only the
low of the molten lava could be seen.
dditional evidence of the mighty
,rces at work in the depths of the pit
as experienced, however, in several
savy explosions which were heard, the
etonation of each being sufficient To
lake the ground on which the parry