The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-06-24
ALL NIGHT At THE
BRINK Of FIERY PIT

J All night on a volcano is an expert
ence which those who participated in
it are unlikely to forget for the rest OF
| their lives. About 5 p. m. a large
party of ladies and gentlemen mus
tered at the Volcano House to visit
the crater of Halemaumau. Headed
by "a man carrying a lantern, they de-
scended the steep trail into the lava
field. The night was very dark and
the track over the bare lava is difficult
to pick up in places. Owing to this,
Mr. Eaton of Honolulu got a little off
the trail in the darkness and stepped
into a chasm in the lava about fifteen
feet deep. He fortunately alighted on
some pieces of timber lying in the
crevasse, which broke his fall, and
saved him from death or serious in
jury. He was extricated after some
difficulty, when ii was found that he
had sustained badly-sprained ankle
and some bruises. 1t was a miracu-
lous escape.
The crater was reached at last, and
many acres of glowing fire lay palpi-
tating in the misty light about $50 feet
below the lip of the circular pit. 1t
was a weird scene. The excursionists
sat on the lava lodges and watched the
wonderful spectacle. The night was
cIoudless, and the sky filed with gilt
tering stars, while the air was clear
and cold. Smoke and sulphur fumes
rose from the burning fiery furnace,
but the fresh breeze waited the pun
gent vapors away and we were not in
convenienced by it.
About II p. m. the people began to
return to the hotel, but a party Of
eleven, consisting of four ladies and
seven gentlemen, decided to remain
until daylight and enjoy the varied
phases of the wonderful panorama dis
played before them by Madame Pele.
As the night wore on the volcanic ac
tivity became enhanced. 1t was a
moving pidture entertainment on Ma
lures grandest scale. A great sea of
molten gold cleaning yellow, and
coruscating with rainbow hues, covered
in places with a dark shroud of cool
ing lava, through which zigzag cracks
would suddenly open like flashes of
yellow lightning. displaying the living
fire beneath. The portion broken off
would float along to become engulfed
in a whirlng eddy of fire.
Near the center of the pit was
small cone, from which was ever and
anon elected a fountain of cleaning
fire. which fell in shower of scin-
sparks of great splendor. The
southeast corner seemed to be the
inlet of the fiery flood, which moved |
steadily and majestically towards the
north.
The whole expanse of lava seemed |
to be in a state of violent ebullition |
between one and two a. m. Great |
waves of yellow fire dashed against the |
rocky sides of the crater and glimpse |
of Tartarus was revealed at the inlet |
previously referred to, which became |
a cave of white-hot fire, studded with |
points like flaming icicles.
We became sleepy in the small |
hours. but the lava was too rugged |
to rest upon. The heat from the vol
cano was very pleasant, though one |
side roasted while the other froZe. |
Seats are provided in the shelter shed, |
but it was too cold in there to stay |
long.
I suggest that the management /
should provide few berths in the |
shelter house, and furnish coffee and |
sandwiches at moderate charge.
Many people would, like myself. prefer |
to stay all night if they could get /
some refreshment and sleep for an /
hour or two.
Sunrise on the crater was very fine
and I've got back to the hotel with |
excellent appetites for breakfast.
VIATOR.