The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-07-08
DRAWS
HER Veil.
The Halemaumau
Fires Covered
by Rocks.

EKii.o. July b.-Greys and blacks
II have taken The place of the red
which for the past month show
cd away down the east side Of
the great chimney Of Iialemaumsu. In
place OF the small lake which was In
the process OF formation since June Q,
az some COZ feet down. there Is now
only mass OF broken rocks and cr1m-
BLEED lava. for the fire has been covered.
whether or not smothered must wait
until subsequent events prove.
Monday saw the eclipse OF the small
fire hole. the extinguishing OF the glow
which has led many kamaalnas and
new visitors alike 10 believe that there
Vas in course OF preparation "A great
pyrotechnic exhibition by Mime. Pele In
honor Of the holiday OF her new nation
al but instead OF preparing for the
event, the bright eye OF the crater was
hidden. veil drawn by the goddess.
so that she might neither see nor be
seen by those who came during the
festivities Of the city at the mountains
foot
The covering up OF the fires came
some time Monday morning. The fire
in its fifteen foot opening had been
seen Sunday the motion Of the lava
had been clearly apparent TO both eye
and ear and there was no evidence
other than that there would be greater
activity in the heart Of the crater. But
on Monday 1t was noticed by the guide,
Alex, who knows the crater and pit
better than most others, for he daily
cousults its grim face for new evi-
dences OF activity. that a. the only
point from which there could be a fall
Of rocks from above to eclipse the fires
OF the volcano there had come a down
| pour OF rocks, shutting out the blaze
! and turning the scene from one OF
brilliance heightened by the presence
Of the glowing lava, TO a grim and gray
view.
The fail OF rock was something enor-
nous. The length OF the breaking away
of the top OF the wall was something
over 100 feet, and at spots the width
of the fall was Az great az fifteen feet
This mass OF lava and ashes extended
down as far as 400 feet, and the slip
ping away made a great incline which
not only hid from view the opening
through which glowed the red lights Of
Pele, but formed a plane down almost
to the floor at the wall on the opposite
side.
The wind had been from the north
east for some days and the best pos
sible view has been had OF the bottom
OF the pit, establishing clearly the new
wall surface as made by the slipping
down OF the walls. The sulphur fumes
still arise from the banks on the south
side and the slip was only n few hun
dred yards away from the opening
there. There has been no increase in
the smoke, the heat nor the gases; the
cracks do not show any further evil
dences OF great action; the crater
seems TO be Just what IT has been for
| ears past, TO the eye.
| Intlmates OF Nine Pele are an much
/ in doubt as to her future performances
as they can well be. They say that
there is no way to get a line upon the
old lady's plans; that there are no evil
dences as to what she may have on
her mind. That there Is no subsIdence
OF the internal action OF the volcano Is
shown by the sounds which come from
.
awhile will hear from the interior OF
the mountain the signing OF the NOV
ing food. The sound Is that OF the
surf much like the swish of the waves
and the beating upon the shores. but
It Il not regular. There seems n pc
riod OF Quiescence when the mountain
Is still; then there will be for q few
moments the restless movement Of the
waves OF molten rock, and after ths
ebullitions. similar, as shown in the re.
cent opening, to the movements OF boil
ing water, there will be q time OF res,
and quiet, when the waves are still
and no sound breaks the eerie quiet OF
the great black plain and the greater
bl3eker pit.
II would surprise ne one. II the grea,
fires beneath tnke hold or~the old lava
eat out the heart OF the slip and show
again et the same spot where they be-
came apparent lately. This would seer
to be the natural course OF events II
the internal fires are not dying out
4 That II purely a matter'of conjecture
though IL il the opinion Of Manager
Waldron. OF the Volcano House. who
knows more about the volcano than anS
man else. perhaps, that tho continuous
noises which come from .the center u'
the mountain, show that the heat there
Is not Jess.
Meanwhile the heat as shown in the
red cracks II just as great, the sui
phur smoke rs thick, and the appear
0nces of the existence OF fire within al
pronounced
Everything else about the mountaiI
IS pretticr now than ever. The scene
f. even more beautiful than at any 9th
or time OF the year; the weather i
perfect. and the outlook IL for n con
tnuauce Of H. There are a number %
visitors at the Volcano House. Colonc
Parker and party, Mrs. Noonan, Mrs
Herbert and party. Mrs. George Beck
ley ana family, ]. O. Carter. Jr.. anC
Frank Armstrong being among tn
many who are making a stay at tn