The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-12-04

- I6DGJlL1Oh Va HN@-
nomena that have preceded previous
notable eruptions can be taken as
measure of future events. anotner
great outpouring of lava is close at
hand. Capt Peter Lee, who mas at
tanned almost world wide fame as the
manager of the famous Volcano mousse
which rests almost on the brink OF Fhe
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 nj
lauea will in the near future be IN more
violent action than in 1892, when the
molten lava from her depths spreau
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 II Is
still the grandest and most aWe-in-
spring spectacle that the eye of man
is permitted to gaze upon. During
the three years of comparative lnacIlV-
ity that have elapsed since the last
great overflow of lava the crater anu
its surroundings have undergone many
remarkable changes.
At the present time the rim OF the
active lake is on level. almost, with
the bed of the great basin, but the lake
itself has sunk to depth varlously
estimated at from 500 to TOO 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 glimpse
into it's depths.
The sides of the pit are very preclpl-
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 few weeks ago the
lava bed in the vicinity of the crater
had grown quite cold, but it has OF
late become so hot as to be un-
comfortable under foot. At night dull
red glow can be seen in the cracks that
run back from the crater for dis
lance of several hundred feet, and bits
of wood or paper thrown into the
cracks Immediately burst into flames.
A large cave under the lava, entered
through a we'll 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-
able signs of renewed activity within
the crater. A fortnight ago, for the
first time within two years, fire was
seen in the depths of the pit. A party
of unbelieving tourists were doing"
the crater at night, and were idly
hanging over the north wall when sud
denly a fountain of burning lava burst
through the smoke below them with
mighty roar and continued in play for
half an hour, presenting a magnificent
spectacle.
Since then the same fountain has
been in play internationally, but the
smoke has been so thick that only the
glow of the molten lava could be seen.
Additional evidence of the mighty
forces at work in the depths of the pit
was experienced, however, in several
heavy explosions which were heard, the
defamation of each being sufficient to
shake the ground on which the party