The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-12-19
SMOKE FROM
CRATERS
German Scientist
Quoted Savaii
Natives.

day TO the effect that there have been
no further eruptions Of the volcanoes
Of Sayaii, Samoa. but that three craters
which had been regarded as extinct
have been emitting volumes OF smoke.
Reports were also brought that ma
tiyes OF New Britain were panic
stricken over rumblings that have been
heard there recently. They fear an
eruption from an old crater.
Sydney newspapers contain English
TRANSACTIONS OF story which appeared
in the Samoa Mische Zeitung, giving 1
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:
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 a 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
its near surroundings. The eruption
was repeated several times in a min
ute, and sometimes at an interval of
a 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 a great number of the in
habitants of the west coast had take !
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
tons, and were holding almost contin-
uous prayer meetings.
I'm Safune, addressing a gathering
of Samoans, DR.. TrenCo 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 up
1. 10. IL T.. Iaf, ct
tons, explaining that otherwise they
would run short Of the necessaries OF
life, but he gave them permission to
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 a
trader named Nelson. Here the vol
cano was well seen in the daytime,
A high, wide pillar OF smoke broadened
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 lava
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 wis
had been in the inland village OF
AchopO the day before reported that
they saw the fire previously, and that
the noise was louder, but that they did
a.. not notice any ashes. The party spent
the night I'm Safune, and the next day
started on the return trip 10 Matautu
There also a meeting Of Samoans WA
held The natives had taken mp their
work again, and otherwise the minds
Of the people appeared 20 be more calm
than before.
In the evening az Yaipoui, the sta
ton Of Dr. Irrn,e was visited. From
this point visitors could only see RED
fre shining near the volcano
ron Thursday The party completed
the trlp round SaYaU. lt Was ascer
tained that mo- loss ~ life had takfr
place. ON The coast at saiaua. and
round towards salhslun. lot ~ hn,
black ashes were found Boa most o
the places visited thfre Nas great "a
.oitemrnt among tho uaNyrs Prom
500 four places ~ eruption Hrro no
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