New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
MAUNA L0A'S DISPLAY.
Magnificent Spectacle attended by
Little or No Danger.

Honolulu. Jan. 16, via San Francisco. Jan. pa
Az midnight on Wednesday January Q. the peo-
rle Of nearly all parts os Hawaii awoke to tba
realization that the splendid spectacle Of an out
break of Mauna Loa was before rhcna. In
Hawaii volcanic activity is never dreaded. If is
always welcomed. 1t means spectacle. as long
ss Il lasts. magnificent and-so far as the ex-
perienoe OF the hundred years of island history
Eoes-without danger to life almost without
danger 10 property.
From the summit Of Mauna Loa, a vast cone
which rears itself from a base hftv miles IN
diameter and includes almost half Of the Isle Of
Eawaii. 10 a height OF 1865 feet above sea
level. great glow began TO be seen It rose in
Al immense column of light rejecting from the
pVerhanging clouds, and seeming TO spread ont
syer & large area of the zenith Where rbe
column left the mountain il seemed almost white
in the intensity or light As 1t rose and spread
out IN reflection on the clouds It assumed .
deeper, redoer tinge.
The great column Of light did not burst sud
denly into view. shaft at first. it grew in size
and brightness for several hours. To those who
have seen eTupions OF Mauna Loa II told its
OWE story. Somewhere near the summit of the
great mountain the molten lava had broken out
in a fiery stream. forming first a cone and
then. bursting through the side OF this. started
as q river Of fire and lava down the gently sion
ing soe Of the mountain.
Then began its descent TO the sea as 2
stream OF liquid fire. forming its hanks as n
noved, the lava on the outer edges cooling more
rapQoly Lhan IN the middle of the stream hut
ever forced on by the weight of the molten mass
behind hurled from the underworld by titanic
force.
In the distance it IS a spectacle only. Near by
there is the deep sUrging OF the molten mass
tossed In great pillows from the depths below
This wonderful spectacle was visible il has
now been learned. for a distance of a hundred
miles in every direction except where great cloud
banks piled by the trade winds on some parts
or The mountains shoulder. intercepted the
view Where not thus intercepted II remained
pillar OF glory until the first light Of the dawn
began 10 pale its splendorS. TO turn them as the
light IN the East strengthened, into pillar Of
smoke by day.
AS Yet 10 one has gone up 10 the source OF the
outbreak, which is distant from human habi-
tation The way 70 il leads up through jungle
snd forest, covering incredibly rough and
broken country, until the timber line is
reached, and then over desolate and barren lava
fields, rough and broken, full OF holes and pit
falls, the remains OF ancient outbreaks. The
dangers OF these upper regions are now doubled
by snow, which covers the upper portion Of the
mountain and hides the treacherous spots OF
the trail from view.
-Four days after the outbreak the stream OF
lava found its way TO the sea In brilliant
cataract Of fire. il plunged a cliff into the
waters OF the Pacific, at first hiding itself in a
great mass OF steam and killing every living
fhing in the waters. which 81 set boiling. But as
the area Of the water heated by the molten lava
increased. there seemed 10 be less intense steam
If the actual point Of contact between water and
molten lava, though there IS a greater area from
where the steam arises.
The point which the stream Of lava reached
the IS the southerly coast OF the island
Of Hawaii near the boundary between the dis
fTiCts OF kona and hau.