The Somerset reporter., 1899-11-02
From Hawaii.

The following interesting letter was
recently received by Skowhegan friends
of the writer, who is well known to
many Somerset people and they will be
glad TO read 1t:
Hilo, Hawaii, Oct. 7, 1899.
Here am way out In the center of the
Pacific ocean, alone, a stranger In
strange land. It seems like dream.
arrived here to-day and am obliged to
stay eight days before returning to
Honolulu. go TO the volcano toner
row, 80 miles by stage--a days ride
through tropical scenery, three over
lava beds up to the very mouth OF the
inferno. How | wish you could accom-
pany me- | shall remain there two days,
probably. These islands are nothing but
volcanic upheavals, but time has pro-
duced soil to make them wonderfully
productive. have seen no end OF sugar
plantations. They are beautiful to look
at and bring their fortunate owners big
revenue.
Honolulu Is rich place and full OF
business life. Four thousand u. B.
soldiers were In there last week, while
the big transports were coaling They
were fine looking lot of men, many OF
them from New England. To one reared
In temperate zone this lie like being 10
another world. Everything Is exceed
ingly interesting to me. There Is hard-
ly plant, shrub or tree that can name
or ever saw before, with the exception
of the palm variety. 1t Is never cooler than
ZOE and never warmer than So. Ii Ia
liable to rain here in Hilo any minute
and clear off the next, the climate Is
rather warm for comfort but at times
perfectly delightful.
October 18th. Since writing you
have been to see the great volcano OF
Kilauea From Hilo 1t Is 33 miles over a
fine road and most of the way through
dense but beautiful tropical scenery,
cornfields, coffee plantations and by
banana trees, cocoanut, guavas, bread
fruit, pineapple and tropical shrubs too
numerous to mention. L. was trip
never to be forgotten. | had seat on
the outside of the coach with a genial
driver and of course | kept him busy
answering questions. The day was per-
feet and IL all the weather could be like
this, Hilo would be a paradise to live in.
went down into the hugh crater of
Klauea, which Is about three miles
the lava, which has all been Ia molten
state within the last twenty years. The
living lake or crater Is about one-half
mile in diameter. How deep this living
caldron Is at the present time no one
knows. went to the edge and partly
around it, but at no place could | see into
it on account of the dense steam and
smoke coming out of it. This lake OF
fire fills up occasionally and the red or
white hot lava flows over the edges and
makes the floor of the large crater, which
is gradually filling up. This floor, it Is
said, was over 1000 feet deep 60 years
ago, but it has filled up at times by
periodical overt flows Of the center crater
There are sulphur beds outside the large
crater and hot steam Is coming out in
manv places.
All these islands are of volcanic origin.
Old extinct craters large and small are
everywhere to be seen. Down the noun
tain aide YOU can plainly see the differ
ent lava flows. Yesterday | was out on
the end of a flow only a mile and half
from Hilo. This WAS in 1881. This lava
came out of the side of Mauna Loa, some
twenty-five or thirty miles distant.
have gathered some souvenirs and taken
many fine photo views that | know will
be very interesting to you.
This noon | take the steamer for
Honolulu, 175 miles distant. There |
expect to find the Klikitat half discharg-
ed. l have met many pleasant people
here. One Is reminded that this world
is very small after all. You may hear
from me again before leave.
WIN. WALKER.