The times., 1899-10-29
THROUGH LAVA ON sTILTs.
Thrilling Experience of an English
Traveller in Hawaii.
!

Mr.. A. R. Watson has just had one of
the most thrilling experiences that ever
befell mountaineer. He ascended the
Mauna Loa volcano, in the Hawaiian ISL
ands, while it was in a state of furious
eruption. The party numbered five with
guides pack mules, and a weeks supply
of provisions By evening of the first day
about third of the hazardous climb had
been achieved and the men camped in
grove of palms and ferns.
At poon on the succeeding day all the
members of the party, with the exception
of Mr.. Watson concluded to examine the
north cone Of the crater, while Mr. Wat
son. filled with the idea that the southern
cone was the most interesting, separated
from his companions and guides and moved
in that direction. After a weary and dan
gerous climb he arrived at promontory
of rock and earth. Close upon the far
side of this point great river of lava was
bounding in straight line down the
mountain. while about 500 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,
probably a couple of hours, gazing upon
the vast estuary OF rolling, flowing, burst
ing fire rushing down the side of the
mountain. Some thousand or more feet
trees which, Mr.. Watson observed through
his glasses, seemed to have wonderful
power 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 a stream in whichever quar-
ter he might look; so he went forward.
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, with his eyes on the
flowing stream, enchanted with its mar
yels, there had bEoken from the lower
edge of the craterS and some feet to the
north of the one he was watching, a sec
ond 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 eye 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 into service
Ahi he had it-stilts He had been an ex-
pert on stilts when a boy, and felt certain
his skill had not forsaken him Drawing
stout baded knife from his pocket, he
began hewing at the base of one OF the
smallest trees. The wood was of the spe-
cies known as iron wood. When the blade
grew dull he whetted II on the rocks All
through the night he worked. while the
terrible furnace belched above him
BY daylight he had the sti'ts 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, blistering his face
and hands. AS he arrived at the opposite
edge of the river of fire one charred stilt
broke of. but eager hands gTasped him an /
lifted the swooning man on to one of the
mules. in which manner he was taken to a
rancher's house Mr.. Watson is at present
receiving medical attention, bat is making
rapid progress.