The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-07-17
Special correspondence of The Star.

Special correspondence of The Star.
ON BOARD THE KINAU OFF La
HAMA, July 1.-THE hundred and odd
passengers on board the Kinau mad
their first view of the burning mountain
of Mauna Loa a little after 8 o'clock tc-
night. Notwithstanding there were Il
good many clouds in the sky and the
atmosphere was hazy the volcanic ac-
ton was plainly seen at a distance Gsti-
mated by Captain Freemen at los mill
es. 1t appeared to the unassisted eye as
line of fire outlining the top of the
intervening mountains. Above this
clear and distinct line of fire was
duller glow as the light was refle3ted
from the overhanging clouds. At TIM
es this glow would brighten and spre ad
lighting up larger field on the hofi-
zOn
With glasses a much more distinct
idea of the volcanic action can be Se-
cured Under powerful binoculars, even
at this distance, something of the proJ-
ectile action of the fires from the vol
cano can be seen.
The greatest interest was manifested
among the passengers when the word
passed that the volcano could be seen.
There are q number of people aboard or
scientific attainments, who are going 10
make scientifically conducted observa-
tions but their interest does not exceed
the interest of other passengers.
DEFINITE NEWS.
HILO. July 14.--Considerable definite
information of the lava flow has now
| been secured. Several parties have been
to the source of the flow and returned
| One of these, consisting of Georgn Ly-
| curgns, William Vannatta and Profess
sor Edgar Wood, left from the Volcano
House Monday morning with pack
train of seven mules. They proceeded
almost directly up the mountain as fai
as il was possible for the mules to go,
and then went on afoot over the old
! lava flows. They reached the place
where the lava is being elected from
| the bowels of the earth and could trace
| the flow for several miles off toward
Mauna Kea.
A DISTANT ROAR.
Several miles before we reached the
source of the flow," said George Lycur-
| gus, 1--WE could hear the noise of its Nlo-
| lence At first it sounded like the dis
| tant roar of the ocean, as the ocean
! sounds at night when heard on a high
| mountain. AS we got nearer we coulc
| detect variations in it's sound. Now II
was louder and more explosive and
again there would be sort of rumbline
as though it came from the inside OF
| the earth. We came on one place where
a new flow had covered up an old one
The new flow had cooled and hardened
on top, sufficiently to support oul
weight, though it was still hot. In fac
II was by the heat that we first knew Il
was a new flow and not an old one, fol
it had just the same appearance as ar
old one. We followed 1t down for
way and saw where the flowing lave
broke from under this crust and start
ed a new wave of advancing flow.
LAVA FOUNTAINS.
1--WE reached a point where we saw
the lava thrown out of the earth anC
went as near it as we thought 1t pru
dent, A cone had been formed here
about the size and height, as near al
we could judge, of Diamond Head
From the top of this the lava was be
ing thrown in intermittent jets. | cal
only compare the action to that o
breakers dashing on a rocky coast
There seemed to be a succession o
waves or explosions inside the cone
each little more violent and throwing
the lava a little higher than the on
preceding 1t, the fifth or sixth throw
} ing it the highest. Then the next woul'
not be so violent and the process of In
creasing force would be gone owe
again.
| THE FIERY CONE.
This cone was up the side of Maun
Loa we judged about 10000 feet. 1t wa
considerably below the crater of Mo
kuaweoweo We were able to get reall
a little higher up the mountain tina
r this cone. The lava flowed almost dl
rectly toward the Volcano House for
considerable distance and then turne