The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-08-23
VERY BUSY
VOLCANOES
REMARKABLE PHENOMENA IN
SAMOA AND AT SEA NEAR THE
TONGA ISLANDS.

SUVA, Fiji, July 16.-The volcano
at Savaii, Samoa, is now one of the
show sights of the South Sea Island
tours of the Union S. s.. Co. Although
the volcano has now been in active
operation for some two years it is stin
as lively as ever. On the last trip of
the steamer Navua to Fiji, the steamer
passed the spot about 4 o'clock in the
morning, Captain Mclean, always
thoughtful for the comfort and pleas
ure of his passengers, had them
aroused from their slumbers, and ran
in as close to the land as safety per-
mitted, being about two miles off the
lava. The tourists were thus given a
splendid view of the brilliant specta-
Gle. The cone of the volcano now
high up on the sky line was fiery red,
and at intervals there were great out
bursts of molten lava and flame. illum-
mating the country for miles around.
Then the lava would flow down over
the old beds to the sea, which was
boiling hot at the edge of the bank,
and from which dense masses of steam
were constantly rising. The passengers
were very grateful to the genial cap
tain for giving them an opportunity
to inspect this wonder of the South
Seas so closely. By the way, Captain
Mclean was the first to carry the
news of this eruption to the outside
world in the first instance
NUKUALOFA, June 2S-Early last
week, whilst some native women were
fishing on the southwest coast of To-
gatabu, which is the largest island in
the Tongan or Friendly Group, the.
observed in the distance a huge coz
umn of smoke issuing apparently from
the sea. Curiosity prompted them to
venture nearer to this remarkable
phenomena, and the story was told in
Nukualofa a few days later that an
eruption of some importance had oc-
Cured to the southwest of their ISL
and. Smoke and steam were seen is
suing from the sea and carried to an
enormous height, and it was noticed
that large stones would appear to fall
from the dense mass of smoke
Upon the news being received at the
Government offices, the Premier caus.
ed the following notice to appear in
the Government Gazette:
Masters of vessels and others are
hereby informed that an eruption has
occurred thirty miles, more or less
southwest from the western point o
Togatabu (Niuanofo) Steam an,
smoke are visible at daytime, fire Wis
ible at night, and land is ,formin
round the eruption"
On, Saturday afternoon last the Pre-
mier and small party put to sea /
one of the Government cutters to en-
deavor to locate the eruption and t
report upon it, However, with a sti
breeze and heavy sea running and a
night was coming on, it was deeme
advisable to make back to port, bI
the cutter kept on her way till tn
lookout at the masthead sighted tn
smoke. So far as was possible, tn
position of the eruption was noted, an
the cutter returned to port.
On Monday afternoon last the Pr,
mieT again set out on his quest, an
the next day got within close touch (
the eruption. His report is to the e
feet that at intervals a dense colum
of smoke and steam accompanied b
showers of red-hot pumice stone emf
ted from the surface of the sea, wit
noise like thunder. This gigant
fiery column would rise up to fully q
feet, when the red-hot pumice woul
fall to the sea. the smoke and steal
floating skyward. The effect of I'll
deposit in the sea of such prodigiou
quantity of almost molten matter wa
to Immediately set up a loud sizzlin
noise as it underwent the process {
cooling. From where this mass wa
thrown up appeared to be verftab
hole in the sea. As the smoke an
pumice were elected a vacuum We
created, which, after the explosion ha
spent itself, was filled with the Sc
water which rushed in at an alarmin
rate and with irresistible fury, maxim
dismal and most deafening nois
] mi. hnV int
mittently during the period the Pr
, mier was standing by, the only diffe
ence being that sometimes the expl
sion was greater than at others.
far as could be seen, no land WI
forming around the eruption, as r
ported, but it is more than likely tn
if the present violent state continue
an island must be formed of the acc
INFLATED scOriaceous matter elect