Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-05

lava on the end Of a pole. fashioning II into
cups, or embedding into IL coins or buttons
while soft. Here and there, however, on
the great floor OF the main caldron, seven
square miles In area. were vast black rag
ged floods OF new lava, which had evident
ly surged out Of the lake in a resistless
torrent
Cause Of Safety.
This entire safety OF Kilauea is due TO
the fact that for more than a century this
volcano has remained in what may be
termed a tame condition-that is non-ex-
piosive- Eruptions are OF two general
classes. explosive and non-explosive. Our
Hawaiian eruptions, both from Kilauea and
Mauna Loa, are habitually of the latter
ciass- The lava simply wells up from its
oeep piutonic sources, and flows abroad
with little violence or commotion The
eruptions OF krakatao and Martiniuue on
the contrary were violently explosive and
consequently destructive. The greater part
OF their elections were shot violently aloft
TO height OF many miles. falling with alb
soiute ruin over the surrounding country.
sucn eruptions appear to have been eN-
tremely rare in Hawaii In the huge ra-
vines which expose the inner structure OF
our mountains We see them to have been
punt up almost entirely OF floods OF flow
ing lava The proportion is extremely small
or cinders flung out by explosions.
MY studies OF this subject have led TO
"
ploSions of volcanoes usually follow very
proiracted periods OF Quiescence. during
winch the outlets become thoroughly scaled
anu orten large bodies Of water accumulate
IN the ancient craters When the time Of
eruption arrives the fiery column encoun-
ters the water, and a violent explosion
lolloWs. Such was the case at Mt Pelee
AT hrakatao in 1883 a succession of ex-
plosions blew the island to pieces finally
admitting the ocean into the chasm in
enormous force. and the final explosion
followed. which hurled billions of cubic
feet OF matter from forty To eighty miles
aloft.
Our kilauea, until last month had been
qnlescent for more than six years Con-
sequently when this crater resumed ac-Ion
month ago there was A very slight ex-
plosve action. No doubt cousf,Iarat,Ia
moisture had accumulated I'm the debris in
the bottom OF the old pit and The rising
lava encountering IT, generated force of
steam which drove up a considerable body
OF ashes and cinders. Since that first com
motion. a very slight one the lava has
been yelling up steadily and quietly. after
us oid-ume custom There seems every
reason 10 expect a repetition OF the very
satisfactory exhibitions of former years
we feel entirely confident I'm inviting tho
travelling public TO see our unique show
with an absolute sense of security There
are no explosions on the program. These
belong wholly 10 the preliminary exercises
which are through with.
Process of Eruptions
My own observations and reflections have
convinced me that the generation OF steam
by the rising lava enoountering surface
water is only attendant circumstance
o. eruptions, and not the cause Of them
The primary impelling force which drives
the lava or magma up from the interior
depths is the expansion Of the gases origi-
nally occluded in the interior matter of the
globe The fiery interior of the earth is
weighted down by the pressure Of twenty
or thirty miles In depth OF solid rock
mat enormous pressure holds the gaseous
constituents of the fiery interior magma
completely compressed and condo nsed. IL
any cause removes that pressure I'm any
locality those gases instantly foam up.
Just as the carhonic acid does when the
stopper is removed from a soda bottle
Long and frequent observations Of the very
uniform play of the fire fountains in Hale
amaumau lake has made IL evident that
no steam was present, but gases which
escaped without condensing into visible
vapor.
What conditions occur to remove pressure
from the surface of the interior magma i'm
any locality can perhaps only be coniec-
tured. We may well suppose it to be due
to flaws or faults in the crust and slippings
of the crust upon itself along the fractures
The mighty upward pressure of the i'm
prisOned gases. expanded by the enormous
heat which fills the earth's interior. eagerly
and Instantly seiZes upon the slightest flaw
in the crust, and forces its way with ter
rifle throes. Hence the volcanoes OF all
lands and all ages.
One should fairly tell the whole story.
Nearly l12 years ago an explosive eruption
did occur in Kilauea, in November. 1870.
1t blew ont an enormous bulk Of rocks and
gravel. which latter strewed the surround
ing country. detachment of an army
going to war, who were encamped near the
brink, was destroyed. Nothing Of the kind
has since occurred. One could doubtless be
insured against any such danger a an ex-
tremely low premium. The owners of the
Volcano Hotel have fears. They cheer
fully offer the travelling public the greatest
show in the world visited with case and
comfort. EAMEHAMEHA