Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19
NOTED A TIDAL WAVE
Record of the Tide Gauge in
Honolulu Harbor.
GRAFT IN LEGISLATURE
SENSATIONAL REVELATIONS RE-
GARDING VOUCHERS.
Apparently Not Much Prospect of the
Criminals Suffering Due Punish
ment-Future of Pearl Harbor.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HONOLULU, December 4, 1903.
First to be mentioned is a matter of scien-
tific interest, to which | would like, through
your paper, to call the attention of Wash
ington scientists.
On November 20 the tide gauge in this
har-bor recorded those peculiar oscillations
of the sea level occasionally known here,
where several high and low tides in success
sion occur only few minutes apart. These
are known to be tidal waves propagated
several thousand miles across the Pacific.
They have come from Peru from Japan,
and in 1888 from Krakatao, in the Straits
of Sunda.
The direction of the source of these last
waves is determined by the fact of slightly
damaging foundations along the north
shore of this Island of Oahu, and also along
the north shore of Molokai, including the
leper settlement, the same day. The
track of the Oahu railway was consider
ably damaged. although out of the reach OF
ordinary surf.
Rev. Dr. S. E. Bishop of Honolulu, who is
reputed to have some knowledge of such
matters, has given out the opinion that the
source of these tidal waves is probably In
the volcanic region of the Aleut1an Islands
or of western Alaska, which are IN tne dl-
rection indica ted.
. The seismograph at the United States
magnetic station, some twenty miles from
town, also recorded n very distinct convul-
sion of the earth at about the same time.
But while volcanoes in other regions OF
the globe rage with destructive violence
and send their furious connections across
the great oceans, we in Hawaii rejoice In
two splendid volcanoes of vastly greater
dimensions, which exhibit their grand pow
ers in the most quiet and gentlemanly
free from destructive or terri
flying fury as any ordinary exhibition of
fireworks giving only delight to the spec
tators Both Mauna Loa and kilauea are
now in great ard increasing activity, and
dra wing numbers of fascinated visitors.
These craterS are somewhat remote from
Honolulu. about 1870 miles in direct line,
too far for their fires ever to be seen or
their severest convulsons more than slight
ly felt, although their smoke once in many
years slightly obscures our atmosphere
Kilauea, which is twenty-five miles east of
Mauna Loa, and less than one-third of the
latter's 1900 feet altitude, is extremely
accessible in four hours car and stage ride
from the port of IIilo. This port is twenty
four hours steaming from Honolulu by
good passenger boats. Fifty dollars covers
all fares and hotel expenses, including
day and two nights at the crater, where is
excellent hotel. This Volcano House is
a favorite resort for summer boarders, at
tracted by it's elevated and healthy location
For about ten years visitors there have
failed to be entertained by the usual dis
plays of broad fire lakes and dancing fire
fountains; but for the past three weeks the
fires have been in active play, and the lava
lake is steadily rising in the old inner pit
of Haleamaumau 1t already covers two
acres or more with molten rock, and prom
iSeS soon to reach its old dimensions of sew
eral acres of boiling and letting lava. Wis
itors descend on horseback some 500 feet to
the floor of the main Caldero pit; then
cross about two miles over the rough lava
floor with go feet gradual ascent to the
edge of the inner pit, where the spectacle
is on exhibition perhaps 400 feet below
them. The first sensation of a stranger is
one of terror at the awful fires and moan
ing roars of the boiling rock and dashing
surf. This fear soon abates, and one gazes
with unending fascination. The writer has
spent, by day and night scores of rant
hours in that stupendous presence. with
which no Niagara or Yosemite can compare
for terrible grannellr