Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-02-20
No. 81
PICTURESQUE HAWAII.
Great Streams OF Lava Which Occa-
slonalIy Flow on the Island.

Great Streams OF Lava Which 0ccn-
sionalIy Flow on the island.
Lava flows from the top Of Mauna
Loa have taken place from time to
time, says a writer in Paradise Of
the Pacific" Rivers of FIRE have
flowed down the steep mountain side,
sometimes moving slowly, lasting
several months; and, again, dashing
down with great speed, destroying
everything in their path. OF one Of
these eruptions it is related that
river OF fire, after travelling for many
miles under ground, burst through
the earth twelve miles from the coast,
running from this point to the sea,
tearing up forests, destroying hanlets
and running many thousands of acres
Of valuable land. A new promontory
was added to the coast Of Hawaii
formed by this lava flow. The last
great eruption from Mauua Loa took
place in 1887, stream Of molten lava
breaking through fissure $500 feet
above the sea level and reaching the
coast in six days, flowing over dis
lance Of twenty miles, 1t extended
the shore outward from three to five
hundred feet.
One Of the recent improvements o.
Hawaii is the road from Hilo to the
volcano Of Kilauea, extending over a
distance OF thirty miles. For part of
the way this road passes through a
forest Of dense descriptions. left un-
disturbed by many generations.
There ar" palms OF many kinds, barn-
boos, acacias, banana, pandanus trees,
and great tree ferns growing In wild
luxuriance. Vines climb over the
highest trees and hang in graceful
festoons from their branches, forming
an impossible network of green,
starred with brilliant blossoms of all
colors. The air is filled with the
moist fragrance Of a hot-house. Ferns
Of every species and velvety MOSES
cover the earth and fallen tree trunks,
with their delicate loneliness. Az
every step new beauties Of nature
meet the eye No botanist has vet
been able to penetrate through this
tropical Jungle to classify its unknown
wonders.
Two parallel ranges ofhills traverse
Oahu from southeast to northwest,
separated by low plain. The high
est point is Kaula, 1000 feet, in the
west range The east range is much
longer than the other, and its ridge is
very broken. Lateral spurs extend
from many rayines on the land side,
but for thirty miles on the side the
range presents to the sea nearly
vertical wall without break. There
are few craters in the loftier heights.
Volcanic activity seems to have ceas-
ed, but several groups OF small cones
with craters, some Of lava. some OF
tufa, exist. Valleys are numerous,
with lateral ravines. in which water
courses and cascades are found.
1t is said that the crater Of Kilauea
is the only one that is always accessi-
BILE; that, even when ready for its
most violent eruption, it is safe to
stand on the brink OF the boiling lake
and watch it's fiery wonders. This
great chaldron, filled with molten
lava, is constantly changing, at one
moment covered with black, leaden-
looking crust, the next seething.
glowing mass, throwing its fountains
Of liquid FIRE high in the air; great
blocks Of lava are thrown up and red
flames and Jets Of steam break from
beneath the surrounding rocks. The
sound is like the waves of the ocean.
washing against rocky shore. Be-
fore each fresh outburst there is heard
loud internal roaring as the i'm
prisoned gases. seek an outlet. The
red glare of the ascending vapors can
he seen for many miles.