The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-31
MAUNA LOA "A TERROR
Eight Craters Recently Examined and
the Flow of Lawn Already Miles
from the Summit.

SAN FRANCISCO, July so-The volcanic
eruptions on the island of Hawaii are still
in full blast and seem to be increasing in
violence. Advices received here by the
steamship Moana, which left Honolulu July
q, show that the entire island is covered
with dense cloud of smoke which extends
hundreds of miles TO sea. Many persons who
went from Honolulu to see the eruption had
returned before the Moana left, and they
are Of opinion that tho flow Will continue for
months and will be the largest and most
important ever known in the modern history
Of the islands 1t is wonderful sight, they
say, TO watch the lava in it's steady flow
of about half a mile a day 1t meets with an
obstruction, halts like train of ants to re-
gard it and then butts against it, swells up
into a gigantic cone from which bursts an
other flow which gradually surmounts the
barrier in its way fiinging broadcast fiery
tongues and heaving upward massive bullss
of rudy rocks which fall with frightful
splash into the never resting molten river.
Frank Davey, the photographer, one of
those who returned, had an interesting ex-
perIence. He assembled Mauna Loa on horse
back to the top, passed around the old big
crater at the summit, and then proceeded
on foot down the side. From the top of the
mountain 10 the head of the lava flow
Davey came upon and examined eight cones
of craters. They were in succession down
the side. All were of considerable size, be-
ing nearly as large as the cone OF the
famous Punch Bowl, with high walls all
around except on the lower sides. The first
five were dead. but appeared to have been
active quite recently. The sixth was smok-
ing In the seventh was some fire anc con-
siderable smoke. The eighth was the Won
der of the series. 1t was belching forth
smoke and fire as we'll as molten rocks or
great size 1.-The rocks were as big as a
horse" Davey declared, land went so high
in the air that they cooled before falling
again to the ground"
From this crater issued the flow that Is
making toward the town of Hilo. Davey
says that from above where he was 1t pre-
sented a grand spectacle coming down the
mountain side. He went to the very edge OF
the spouting crater and made several pic
lures of II.
1t took Davey and his party fifteen hours
to ascend the mountain from the active
crater TO the summit, where their horses
were left. Two men became delirlous on
the way for want of water. All around the
top of the mountain 1t was col9. Al Ins
caught on knoll high up on Mauna Loa,
on two sides of which the lava was lowing.
Inc sun was nearly uOWH ne uiu uot hAo"
which way to go and spent the night there,
with desperate chance, as he thought, or
life. He sat no all night and watched the
lava flow. When the fumes were blown MS
way he lay down on his face to keep from
suffocating. Next morning he found his
way out by following back down between
Davey was inclined to believe that the
Humuua sheep ranches were being burned
up by the flow. He says that the lava was
proceeding in that direction and there was
nothing to stop 1t.
Sheriff Andrews got near the source of
the flow from different direction He
started from Honokaa and followed the
road and trail from Waimea leading upward
to the top of Mauna kea. This brought
him above the source of the flow.
lone fow," he said, started about hall
way between the source of the now OF 1880
and that of 1855. and ran nearly due north
toward the table lands between Mauna Loa
and Mauna Kea, crossing the cd now or
1855. 1t ran along the side OF the ridge
which forms the divide between the Kona
side and the Hilo side, and so close to the
crest that from the direction of Lahaina II
could light up the outline OF the top or the
mountain as those who saw ii from that d.
rection describe IL as doing. After flowing
about twelve miles in this direction II
turned abruptly toward Hilo, SO that 1t
would again intersect the flow or 1880 IL II
continued but it had ceased.
THE other outbreak is further 10 the
south and the flow is in three streams,
which soon unite, going straight down the
mountain in the direction which shuts off
the view of the top of Mauna Loa from the
Volcano House. Then 1t makes a sharp
turn to the north and crosses the flow Of
1880 almost at right angles. This stream is
still flowing, apparently in as big volume
as ever"