The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-07-15
About the Danger Of Fire From
the Lava Overflow.
LOOKING UP THEIR INSURANCE
Inquiries From HIIo Merchants as
Co.'s from Erup1Ions.

In the mail brought from Hilu by the
kinau last Sunday were several letters
from Hilo people to insurance aEen-
cies here. inquiring as To- the liability
OF the insurance people in case OF fire
caused by lava overilows. In other
words suppose the present stream of
molten lava now pouring forth from
the side OF MOkuaweoweo i'm the direc-
ton OF HilO should reach that city and
/ enSuiT II or cause its destruction by
fire, would the insurance companies
have To pay the policies on the burned
buildings? To a layman this would
seem an easy question to- answer. but
of several insurance men to- whom IL
was put none cared to answer il of
hand. Some said il would he time to
think about it when a loss actually
took place. while others preferred to
make no definite answer until they had
looked the matter up.
| After some consideration OF the
question submitted to me. which
must confess is a novel as well rs an
important and interesting one" said
one of the leading insurance agents
last evening, my conclusion is that
there is no doubt of the liability of The
companies for any losses which may
Occur from the causes mentioned. Mind
you, this is only my personal opinion.
brit | base il on the following reasons:
Have you ever read your insurance
policies through. l thought not. Very
few people do. You will find that such
an event as 4 lava overflow is not pro-
vided against in any policy have ever
seen. IL fact, it is so uncommon an
Y
never thought OF providing against II.
In the general run of policies there Is
| only one clause which even remotely
suggests the liabilities arising out of
volcanic eruptions, and that is one
which provides that the company shall
rot be liable for loss caused directly
OF indirectly by explosions of any kind
earthquake or lightning, unless lire
ensues, and in that case for the dam
Iage by FIRE only. We insure against
damage from lightning occasionally.
but only ty specific agreement.
Now proceeded the agent. "the-e
is really nothing in that section that
covers the case. Many people would
say offhand that the companies would
not he liable because a volcanic erup-
ton is an act of God. as the insurance
term is, but you will find on reading
OJE HuiitltS lndl All ACT III Arpu II not
mentioned or provided against. All
bills of 1adinS provide against loss
from storms, hurricanes, typhoons and
acts OF God. but our marine policies
insure against loss on the very eXcep-
tons made by the bills OF lading.
Whether a volcanic eruption and sub
'sequent lava overflow is an act of God
or 4 freak of nature cuts no ice wi.h
Insurance companies. We insure
against fire and when the insured
property is destroyed by fire We have
to pay the policy. Now in the case OF
a lava overflow reaching Hilo. the in
tense heat which would precede Il |
would ignite the buildings and they
would be destroyed by fire before the |
lava reached them. III the flow should |
reach Hilo, that place would be de-
strOyed by fire before being buried |
under lava, and in that case we should |
have to pay every dollar of insurance |
on the place. If there should happen |
in the future to be an eruption of vol |
canic sand and ashes similar to those |
OF past ages of which we have abund- |
ant evidence here in Honolulu, ny |
which houses ard towns were buried |
instead Of burned, as occurred at Her |
culaneum and Pompeii, then the ques- |
ton OF liability would be very DOUBT |
ful and the insurance companies
would refuse payment"