The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-09

break they are thankful that they do not
live on Hawai- However. Hawaii is
big Island. and the largest of its lava
flows covers only small part of the sun
face. Again. all of the recent lava flows
of Hawaii have flowed over waste re-
gions. with the exception of those OF
1868 and 1887. which covered the best of
the KGhuku pastures. Then, too, a lava
flow, after the rush OF the first outbreak.
moves slugeishly, giving one plenty of
time to get himself and his belongings
out Of its way. There is great danger,
however, from a flow which breaks low
down on the mountain side. houses
may be within reach of the first rush of
the lava. Such was the 1868 flow which
overwhelmed the home OF Captain
Brown, ne and his family barely escap-
ing with their lives. No lives have ever
been lost in a lava flow that we know
OF. Yet, why this fear of flows?
The truth is that in time past very
few persons have been able to go to
these lava flows: they have been in the
most inaccessible parts of Mauna Loa's
lava wastes. or hidden in the forest jun
giles back Of Hilo. So what we know Of
lava flows is what few people have
written of them. And, in reading those
accounts. perhaps we have taken the de-
scription of the fountain (where the lava
was first pouring from the mountain
side) as that for the flow. The first is a
fearful thing, the approach of it being
full OF danger; not the other.
The 1866 flow was in the woods a few
miles back of Hilo. The captain Of an
American warship in the harbor asked 10
go along with a party which Father Coan
was taking TO the flow. As they APP
preached the place IT was necessary to
leave the path and cut a way through
the thicker toward the flow. The flames
Of the burning forest could be seen, and,
at intervals. there was heard the crash
OF falling trees. The smoke and mist.
imprisoned among the tall trees. shroud-
ed all in gloom. BY and by there was
an opening by the edge of Il gulch where
the lava could be seen falling over a
precipice. Some one called to the captain
who was far in the rear; but he was no
where to be found. He had fed with his
followers to Hilo. And he left the har-
Dor the next day with his warship. Yet,
this same party spent two three days
In this very spot. cooking their food over
cracks in the flow. warming themselves
by it's heat. and walking upon it.
1 went TO the 1923 flow with entirely
wrong idea as TO the nature of such
flow. Under the same circumstances,
with an unseen lava flow burning its way
toward one through dark and tangled
forest, with no way of escape except by
that path which had been cut. 1 am sure
that | would have been as ready TO fly
as was that warships captain But now
should know better. Like myself, I'M
doubtedly. that captain had been told
stories and mad read accounts that could
hardly be true
MAUNA LOA'S WEAK SPOT.
Most OF the flows from Mauna Loa
have come from a place between 1000
and 12.OoO feet high on the northeast
slope of the mountain. being directly
back of Hilo. There is a sort of a ridge
or spur of the mountain here which runs
toward Hilo: IL is Mauna Loas weak
spot Nearly all of Hawaii's latest flows
have come from this place \ flow break
ing low down on this ridge would flow
directly toward Hilo, as did the 1852 flow.
Breaking higher it might run off on
either side: down past the Volcano
House to kau or down upon the plateau
between Mauna Loa and Mauna kea.
For some reason all of the flows have
gone toward the plateau, sending but
short branches toward Kau.r Reaching
this plateau the lava might simply pile
up here in front OF the Humuula Sheep
Station. as did the 1S43 flow. or it might
turn at right angles and flow toward Hiio
as did the 1855 and 1881 flows. or ii might
go the other way toward the sea between
Puako and Kiholo. You can now under
confusion about direction of a flew COM
ing from this place, as IL was with the
1899 flow. When that flow started it was
impossible TO ten which direction it would
finally take.
This weird region which has been call
ed NIauna Loa's weak spot. has a strange
fascination about it, for, one stands
here and gazes about him, he feels that
he is at the very door OF that great mys-
tery-the volcano This big cone with
the deep, gaping pit, marks the place OF
the 1855 outbreak: short distance be |
low this toward Hilo is the 1852 cone;
that long rent scarce stones throw be-
low is where the 1881 lava came out: this |
cone is an equal distance above that of !
the 1913 eruption. farther up are the |
cones of the last outbreak-that of 1899. |
The whole region is covered with tangled |
the widest fashion. So close together /
were the outbreaks that the lava OF one !
overlooked that OF the other; and IL is |
impossible now TO tell which Is which.
AN OUTBREAK.
When a column OF lava = lifted for an |
In Mokuaweoweo. on Mauna 1
Loa, the pressure is sometimes so great
hat the sides Of the mountain give way
As the lava thus finds "A new outlet low
r down the eruption in the crater ceases
So when there is an outbreak from the
side OF the mountain. Mokuaweoweo X
Usually active first.
Usually a long rent or crack is made
II the mountain side extending In a line .
rom the summit downwards. From
.ome part Of this crack the lava PUSHES
n a great fountain hundreds of feet
liSh.
As the. particles OF lava cool in falling
cone or crater * soon built within
which the fountain plays 1T "a fearful