Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-03
LIKE LIVING ON THE MOON.
A Naturalists sojourn I'm the Crater
of Mnuna Loa.

When at noon on August Sth 1 stood
alone at the edge OF the crater Of Moku-
aweeoweo, my feelings were OF some
what mixed character. l had Just said
good-by to Mr.. John Gaspar, who had
brought me up, and before me lay
period of solitude of three weeks or more.
From previous ascent made on April LIST
l gathered that 1t would be very cold, but
beyond this 1 knew nothing of the ell
matte conditions to which l would be ex-
posed. However, / set TO work at once
to arrange the interior Of my tent. got
out my meteorological instruments, anu
planned my examination of the crater.
Before many days had passed II be-
came apparent that the conditions OF my
existence were not unlike some OF those
10 be found in the moon. In the complete
sterillty of the surface. I'm the very ex-
istence of the grim old crater at the
edge of which | had pitched my tent, in
the ratification of the atmosphere, in the
intense dryness OF the air, as Indicated
by observations on the relative Humidity;
In the prevailing cloudless sky by day.
and in the clear, star-lit calm and dew
less nights; in the severe cold at night,
and in the scorching OF the sun In the
day, there were reproduced many of the
conditions we would look for In that
planet. Then, again, the air at first was
highly electrified. My red blanket cracked
under my hands at night and ! coulu
trace on fits surface In phosphorescent
hues with my fnger-nail the letter as
/ lay completely enveloped I'm its folds.
The detached wings OF dead butterfiies,
picked up from the ground, adhered pro-
vokingly TO my fingers, and | began TO
imagine myself an electric battery. Inc
effects of these meteorological conditions
I'm the cessation
of the action of the skin, in severe head
aches, and sore throat; In tendency TO
palpitation and dyspnoea, and In sleep
lessness. general lassitude, and loss OF
appetite, most of which symptoms 1 at
tributed TO the great lack of moisture IN
the air. [ began seriously to think that
Mr. Gaspar would find a mummy on MS
return, when a short spell OF damp
weather interviewed, and, most OF the un-
pleasant symptoms having disappeared, 1
began to take more interest In my sur
roundngs.
And soon found that I had regular
visitor twice day In the shadow or the
long mountain. For about twenty MN
utes after sunrise and before sunset the
shadow of the mountain was thrown back
against the sky of the opposite horizon.
IL seemed ASH some Titanic brush hud
been at work on the sky far away, ana
had worked in the profile OF the noun
tain with a very uncanny blue. Most
evenings [ used to light my pipe anu
watch the arrival and disappearance or
the old mountains shade. The. peak was
the last TO go, and that was the slSndi
for my retiring for the night. j was III
the habit OF getting up three or four times
I'm the night to make observation OF the
wind and weather. At l A. NJ. on August
9th there was most beautiful lunar
halo, displaying most OF the RAINBOW
hues. the purple inside and the orange
outside being most conspicuous ms was
repeated In less marked degree III ihe
following night, and after that the phe-
nomenon disappeared.
During my Sojourn on the mountain top
there was very little rain, only about
3O-lOO of an inch. Most OF the rain on
the summit fell during the night OF Au-
gust 12-l3th, and in that night l had on
uncomfortable time of II. The wind was
very gusty and was apparently disposed
to nj I'D my tent and carry II bodily
into the crater. Ii was bitterly cold, and
I lay down with my boots on, III my
pipe, ana prepared for the worst. Inc
canvas was reeiing with the wet, fhu
every fresh gust of the biting mortimer
seemed to deprive me Of my shelter. Ma
ture, however, came TO my aid. After
sunset IL began TO freeze hard, and be-
tore long the canvas OF my tent was as
stiff as a board and no longer swayed 10
and fro with each gust OF WIND. l then
fell asleep fof an hour or two, and WOKE
up to find the wind blowing strong from
the south. A rapid thaw had set IN, ana
the canvas was again soaking with wet,
the water running down on my stores.
This was repeated during the night, and
20 vary the entertainment there were two
earth tremors, lasting In each case a rev
seconds My tent. however, held brave
ly on. Sleep came to me In the carry
morning, and when / woke the sun was
high up and there was genial warntn
In the tent. -
The cloud effects were often magnin.
cent. The snow-white sea or cumuh
that gathered in the forenoon around the
mountain slopes usually concealed the
KohaIa Mountains, but, as rule, IAN
ed 10 hide the summit OF Hualalai, and
probably the level OF its upper hinit IS
on the average between 600 and I,V0
feet Except on the few occasions wnen
there were rain clouds about, the SUBMITS
~ HaIeakala and Mauna Kea were always
visible. ON the forms and movements
M the clouds made regular observations.
Perhaps the most striking phenomenon
was that OF the evanescent cirrus. In
enc minute the observer may be gazing
AT a cloudIess sky overhead; In the next
there appears as IL by magic large white
cloud. which, being at no great elevation.
Is carried rapidly across the zenith snd
dlssolves away In the course OF few
minutes. The history OF one Of these
clouds may thus be traced: The specta-
tor looking we win say. 10 the east. sees
only the clear blue OF eioudlsss sky.
Then suddenly n tiny white speck appears
and In a few minutes the speck becomes
ronsplcuo,is cloud. In less than half q
minute Il has attained considerable di-
mensions. and as II Is borne rapidly west-
ward II exhibits violent commotion In 'ts
interior. frequently changing its form ana
In q few minutes melting away altogether.
when there were number
Of these cirr visible, the heavens pre-
sented quite bewildering spectacle ID
quick appearance and disappearance OK me
clouds. and IN their frequent change OF
form.
There was continual stiusxis between
a. 81. ..aI.4. Il F.rxI -