The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-18
SMOKE FROM
CRATERS
German Scientist
Quoted Savaii
Natives.
FIRE COULD BE
/ SEEN FROM FAR OFF
Natives OF New Britain Fear a
Volcanic Eruption From
Old Crater.

The Moana brought advices yester-.
day to the effect that there have been
no further eruptions of the volcanoes
of Savaii, Samoa, but that three craters
which had been regarded as extinct
have been emitting volumes of smoke.
Reports were also brought that ma
tives of New Britain were penic
stricken over rumblings that have been
heard there recently. They fear an
eruption from an old crater.
Sydney newspapers contain English
translations of story which appeared
in the Samoa Mische Zeitung, giving q
complete account of the trip made by
the Government schooner LIE Aeto,
having on board Dr. Trence, govern
ment astronomer, to Round Island
Savii, where the eruption recently
occurred. The account is as follows:
1.-THE mountains were covered in
clouds. but there was nothing else to
be seen until the approach of darkness,
when the volcano became visible.
From place on the mountain about
seventeen English miles southwest by
south from Matatutu a pillar of fire as
cended to considerable height.
Through a glass one could see dark
and brilliant streaks, sent up by the
eruptions, fall back on the volcano or
it's near surroundings. The eruption
was repeated several times in a min
ute, and sometimes at an interval of
few seconds. To the sideway of and
behind the pillar of fire sheet lightning
was noticed at night. In Matatutu a
slight earthquake was felt.
The LIE Aeto, with Captain Will
Jams aboard, made trip around Savaii
while the others went overland to Sa-
fune, where great number of the in
habitants of the west coast had taken
refuge. A panic had taken hold OF
the inhabitants Immediately after the
beginning of the eruptions. The viii
lage of Aopu, as well as the villages of
Letui and Sahina, were deserted, and
! large numbers of the Inhabitants OF
Safune had fed eastward. In all the
villages of the north coast the Samoans
had given up their ordinary occupa-
lions, and were holding almost contin-
nous prayer meetings.
| In HOY n q
of Samoans, Dr. Trence explained the
eruption and gave expression to the
opinion that there would be no danger
to the other villages.
"The acting governor gave orders
that the Samoan people should take III
their work again on their several sta
tons, explaining that otherwise they
would run short of the necessaries OF
life, but he gave them permission tc
sleep elsewhere in the evening after
having done their work.
"In the afternoon Safune was reach
ed, and was found to have been desert
ed by the greater part of its inhabit'
ants, and according to reports the
balance of the inhabitants had intend
ed to leave, but they remained on the
representation and the example of
trader named Nelson. Here the vol
cano was well seen in the daytime
A high. wide pillar of smoke broadenet
out at the top was visible. At the
under end of the pillar, close to the
volcano. visitors could at times see
black smoke and black patches elected
and the fire of the volcano was visible
In a somewhat northerly direction
from the volcano there was a place
where molten lava was visible, while
otherwise the probable run of the Laws
could be seen reflected between the
volcano and the clouds. Each eruption
was accompanied by dull thunder
sometimes a little stronger and some
times a little weaker. Natives wht
had been in the inland village o
Achopo the day before reported tina
they saw the fire previously, and tina
the noise was louder, but that they die
not notice any ashes. The party spen
the night in Safune, and the next dal
started on the return trip to Matautu
There also a meeting Of Sameans wa!
held. The natives had taken up thei,
work again. and otherwise the minds
of the people appeared to be more cal"
than before.
I'm the evening at Vaipoui, the sta
ton of DIR. Trence was visited. From
this point visitors could only see rel
fire shining near the volcano.
"On Thursday the party completed
the trip round Savaii. 1t was ascer
tanned that no loss OF life had takeI
place On the coast at Sataua. ant
round towards Salaelua, lot Of fin
black ashes were found. In most o
the places visited there was great ex
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