The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-02
HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES ARE
FRIENDLY AND HARMLESS
The UnsensationaI Truth About the Old Volcan'
ic Apertures Which Have Grown
Ferns for Centuries.

THE following letter to tb4 Wash
ington Star, in which its Homo
lulu correspondent. Rev. DR.. s.
E. Bishop. writes of the harmless
hal bits of Hawaiian volcanoes. is good
matter to cut out and send TO appre-
hensive friends abroad:
HONOLULU, June 2o.-The object of
the present letter is to present facts Wen
known in Hawaii which may tend to aliay
the entirely unfounded fears or many
tourists who we learn have lately been
deferred from enjoying the many great
attractions OF our lovely islands by the
presence of our volcanoes. The fearfui
explosion of Mount Pelee al Martinique
destroying in moment an entire city OF
10 900 people, has naturally enough KIN
died a horror of volcanic action Oh
course IL is not strange. nor absurd. II
such a horror should become almost hys-
teric in some persons Probably We have
( no cause to be surprised. although we are
so. that as we hear, very extensive
dread has infected the stream of tourists
about visiting volcanic islands
These fears have taken two directions,
as indicated by the San Francisco papers,
both of which 1 would discuss. one re-
lates to a fancied danger to the city OF
Honolulu as being located at the base OF
alleged terribly rnenacing action OF our
very tame and friendly volcano, kilauea.
which we count upon the most inter
esting of our attractions for tourists. III
treating of these matters ! may De IN
9ulged in claiming some title TO hear
ing, as being by no means a tyro, pui
having studied and written for many
wears past on volcanic subjects. Among
the writings are two small pamphlets
one a prize essay on the Red CLOVIS from
/ Krakatoa, the other an article on the
geology of Oahu, with an appendix on
1.-The Rrevity of Tuff-cone Eruptions,
which last was just published in the Am
erican Geologist January, 1901
| HONOLULU NOT DANGEROUS.
To begin with the alleged dangerous
neighborhood of Honolulu. Diamond Head
city. are not properly volcanoes at all, but
t.'tIrf-cones'' produced by volcanic eN-
iplosions long ago, lasting only fe"
minutes, as l demonstrated In the iasi
named appendix. The accurately circular
rims of these two bowls proves that tht
whole of their explosions of hot mud
shot miles aloft, lasted for a very briel
space. and then ceased entirely and for
ever, having piled up their huge and
stately mounds. Their presence Furnished
no ground Of apprehension, any more
than would the pit left by an abandoned
powder magazine after blowing up
But one may ask. How do you kno"
that similar volcanic explosions are MOI
likely to occur AGAIN." I answer. we
know It simply on very strong grounds OF
probability. This island of Oahu is com
posed of two extremely ancient volcanic
ranges, both having been originally huge
ldomes. such as the still active Mauna Loo
now is, 200 miles away. All volcanic &C
ton ceased on Oahu probably one miilloI
Years ago. since when atmospheric erosion
has gnawed out and weathered away
Ithree-fourths of their bulk, leaving only
1.-THE skeleton ribs Of their once comel1
shapes. During the same lapse or age:
these mountains have slowly subsidized In
to the ocean depths some thousands OF
feet. This is proved by artesian well Dor
Iings through both lava and coral Tar be
low sea level. In one instance, near Dia
rond Head, continuous strata OF cora
were found at the depth of 1850 feet
And coral grows only near the surface o
the sea. The island had sunk at 4eas
1.5Go feet.
During all that million years there wa
left no trace of volcanic activity until