The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-11-01
A THRILLING TRIP
OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN THE HA.
WAIIAN ISLANDS.
Cut Off From His Friends by Fresh
River of Lava, he Built stills OF
Green Wood and Crossed the

Stream i'm Safety.
One of the most thrilling experiences
that ever befell traveller fell to the lot
of an English visitor, A. r. Watson by
name, to Mauna Los volcano in the Ha~
waiian Isles. The tale of his adventure is
told by the London Mail as follows:
MIR. Watson, filled with the idea that
the southern cone was the most interest
ing, separated from his companions and
guides and moved in that direction. Al
ter weary and dangerous climb he ar
rived at a promontory of rock and earth.
Close upon the far side of this knob
great river of lava was bounding in a
straight line down tie mountain, while
about 800 feet above, on the slope of the
hill. the crater, like the mouth of some
internal monster, was pouring forth
melted stone.
Mr.; Watson sat for a considerable time
gazing upon the vast estuary of rolling
fire rushing down the side of the noun
tain. Some thousand or more feet be-
low this stream entered thicket of trees
which he observed had wonderful pow
ers of resisting the attack of the flames.
Toward night he arose from his seat
below the rocks to go over the summit
down the hill and walk out between the
lava on the side which he was to cross.
He thought that his eyes had been rest
ing too long on running lava and that he
could see such stream in whichever
quarter he might look, SO he went for
ward.
But he had not been mistaken. While
he had been sitting with his back to the
direction from which he had come, and
in which he must go, there had br ken
from the lower edge of the crater and
some feet north of the one he was watch
ing, a second flow. He started on down
and had proceeded several hundred feet
when, to his horror and amazement, he
discovered that the new stream of lava
ran directly into the earlier stream. The
streams Joined and his retreat had been
cut off. He was hemmed in by running
rivers of fire.
AS he meditated on the best means of
escape his eyes fell upon the singular
forest at the bottom of the incline and he
thought of the heat>defying properties
of that wood If he could only turn the
bunch which grew above him to his serv-
ice. Ali he had it; stills! He had been
an expert on stills when boy, and felt
certain his skill had not fOrsaken him.
Drawing a stout@ bla1ed knife from his
pocket he began hewing at the base of
one of the smallest trees. The wood was
of the species known as iron wood.
When the blade grew dull he whetted it
on the rocks. Ali through the night he
worked, while the terrible furnace
belched above him.
By daylight he had the stills made,
and, mounting them, started off to the
edge of the flow. The wood smouldered
but did not blaze as he waded through
the lava The heat was frightful, blis-
tering his face and hands. AS he arrived
at the opposite edge of the river of fire
one charred silt broke off, but eager
hands grasped him and lifted the swoon-
ing man on to one of the mules, in
which manner he was taken to ranch
er's house. Mr.. Watson is at present
receiving medical attention, but is max
ing rapid progress.