The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-07-08
Hawaiian SUGAR CROPSRUSH 70 PELES SHRINE
HEAVY BOOKINGS OK OUTGOING
STEAMERS.
Many People Want to See the Great
Wonder of the Islands-The outbreak
Described.

From all accounts the outbreak from
Mauna Loa occurred shortly after 3
o'clock on the morning of July 4. about
$40 or 3:15. That is the time the Off
GERS and crew of the w. g. Hall at Pu-
naluu who were loading sugar at the
time saw it, At this point no eXplo-
sion was heard. The beginnings as seen
at Punaluu are described as an i'm
mense column or volume of smoke ris-
ing slowly, pushed upward as it were,
by a great shaft of light. AS the vol
ume of smoke gained altitude, the shaft
of light spread out, lighting with its re-
Election, the whole heavens. To the
observers at this point, there was no APP
pearance of violence. The eruption
seemed to be from the crater of Mokua-
weoweo, and judged by the manner in
which the reflection spread, the lava
seemed to be flowing on the floor of the
crater Later in the day, the dense
clouds cut off the view from this point,
except some reflection of light high
above the mountain. The next morn
ing, July 5, at o'clock, the clouds
cleared away sufficiently to make WISH
BILE the summit of the mountain. At
this time it looked as though the fire
had changed its position and moved
about two miles in the direction or
Mauna Kea, and as if the lava were at
the extreme end of the crater.
At s o'clock on the morning of July 5,
there seemed to be a great quantity of
smoke coming from the summit of the
mountain, but shortly afterwards the
view was again obscured by clouds,
these giving way again next morning to
very bright glow, reflected over the
sky.
From the Volcano House the out
break is described as beginning with a
loud explosion followed by masses and
Gh of a mi @
of Mokuaweoweo, brilliantly reflected
from the clouds. During the day the
view of the summit was Unsecured by
dense clouds or as it seemed to some,
the fires ceased their activity until to-
wards evening, when a lava flow made
it's appearance at the edge of the ridge
about 5000 feet from the summit to-
ward the Volcano House, which would
correspond with the appearance of di-
rectiOn toward Mauna Kea, as describ-
ed by the observers at Punaluu.
Tuesday night the light was very
brilliant at the Volcano House, render
ing artificial lights unnecessary. The
flow seemed to be in the direction of the
Volcano House and fire fountains, some
of them described as throwing their
flame or molten lava 500 feet in the air,
were seen playing in several places,
two of them apparently about five
miles away from the flow, one on each
sue. lHeSe TWO fountains appeared 10
those who watched them, as being each
half a mile in diameter. Later Tues
day night, the view of the indescribably
magnificent scene was obscured by fog
and clouds.
By Thursday it could be made out
that the flow of lava had divided into
two streams. one, the smaller, going in
the direction of Hilo or Waiakea, and
the other, the larger, to the southwest
through Kau. The Kau stream is very
wide and its speed is estimated at ten
miles in twenty-four hours and it's di-
rection such as to bring it to the Gov
eminent road between the Volcano
House and Kapapala ranch.
Up to the time the w. G.. Hall passed
along the Kona coast on Thursday, the
sight had not been seen on account
the clouds and rain. At Kawalhae 1t
became visible as a bright reflection on
the sky. The same view was visible all
along the Kohala coast and at Homo
kaa. At Lahaina, the reflection was
plainly visible and continued to be this
side of Lahaina, as long as the night
lasted.
The outbreak of the volcano has
caused the greatest interest Large
numbers are booking on the steamers
going to Hawaii early next week. If
the Kinau brings word that the lava
flow still continues there will doubtless
be a great rush