Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-11
IN ERUPTION.
Vast Column Of Smoke Being Emitted
by Hawaii Volcano.
Date of Disturbance May %, as Told
by Capt. Townsend.

Honolulu, May 81, via San Francisco,
Cal, June 10.-From Mokuoweoweo, a
crater of the volcano Mauna Loa, on
the island of Hawaii, there burst forth
on the night of May % vast column Of
fire and smoke, according to Capt.
Townsend, of the schooner Eclipse.
which arrived here two days ago. The
eruption, Capt. Townsend says, con-
tinued during the next day and night.
He sailed from the island of Hawaii on
May &c, but owing to the heavy clouds
and mists which shut off his view OF
that section of the island, he was I'M
able TO determine whether the volcano
was still emitting fire and smoke as at
first. Capt. Townsend saw the column
of fire while at sea on May "a. Natives
of the western coast Of Hawaii told him
on the following morning that the
flames he saw came from the old and
long dormant crater of Mokuaweoweo
Capt. Townsend has been sailing
about the islands for many years. has
seen various outbreaks of the volcano
and is familiar with its appearance.
1T was about $50 o'clock. on the night
OF May "a, Townsend says, when he saw
an immense column of fire in the di-
recuon of Mauna Loa, one of the two
he
fiery display for an hour, when heavy
mists and clouds shut off his view. a.
ne got in the lee of the island.
He surmised that the volcano of Kill
auea had burst forth, but when he
reached Hookena, on the west coat of
Hawaii, the next morning, he was in
formed by the natives that the crater
OF Mokuaweoweo, near the summit of
Mauna Loa, had begun to send forth
flames on the night of May 90.
Capt. Townsend then remembered
that on that night, while his vessel was
at anchor at Kihei, on the island of
Maui, about 100 miles from the vol
cano. he had seen a bright glow in the
heavens in that direction.
None of the natives at Hookena or
elsewhere along the coast had learned
any details of the eruption. 1t is
thought that if there had been any con-
siderable flow of lava additional news
would have been obtainable. The era
ter of Mokuaweoweo is within sight of
Hookeua, and the natives said they saw
the flames burst from the crater, and
mount rapidly to the summit of the
mountain.
Capt Bruhne of the steamer Kauai.
who arrived yesterday from the same
port in Hawaii, corroborated Capt.
Townsend's statements. and brought
fresh news Of an impending outbreak OF
Kilauea. He saw the same glow in the
heavens on the nights of May % and "a
as did Capt Townsend.
Manua Loa is in the southern part of
the island of Hawaii and is 1000 feet
high, the second highest volcano peak
in the Pacific. The highest is Mauna
Kea, in the northern part of the island.
1896 feet. The circular crater Of
Mauna Loa is 5000 feet in diameter 1t
was in eruption in 1877. when stream
of lava flowed for six hours, and again
in eruption in 1887.
Kilauea, IS miles southeast of Mauna
Loa, has an elevation of 4400 feet and
its crater is the largest active one in
the world. 1t is nine miles in circum-
ference, with vertical sides 1000 feet
deep. the bottom covered with a lake of
liquid lava, at one end red and boiling.
Around the edge of the fiery lake 81
conical craters send forth jets of lava.
There was great outburst from a
crater eight miles from the summit of
Kilauea in $780, when a stream of lava
half a mile wide flowed 40 miles 70 the
sea.
Mauna Loa again became active in
1899 and continued in eruption for sew
eral days. At that time Kilauea gave
signs of activity, although scientists
declare there is no connection between
the two volcanoes. The Mokuaweoweo.
crater is near the summit of Mauna
Loa.