The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-06-26
ALL NIGHT At THE
BRINK OF FIERY PIT

All night on a volcano is an expert
ence which those who participated in
1t are unlikely to forget for the rest of
their lives. About s p. IN. a large
party of ladies and gentlemen mus
tered at the Volcano House to visit
the crater of Halemaumau. Headed
by a man carrying 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 ~ in places. Owing to this,
Mr.. Eaton of Honolulu got little off
the trail in the darkness and stepped
into 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 eStricated after some
difficulty, when 1t was found that he
had sustained a 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 weird scene. The eXcursionists
wonderful spectacle. The night was
cloudless. and the sky filled 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 1t.
About II p. m. the people began to
80
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 picture entertainment on Ma
ture's grandest scale. A great sea of
molten gold cleaning yellow, and
coruscating with rainbow hues, covered
| in places with 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 10 become engulfed
in whirling eddy of fire.
Near the cS'ter of the pit was a
small cone. froh which was ever and
anon elected fountain of cleaning
fire, which fell in a shower of scin-
| tillating sparks of great spiendor. 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
i between one and two a. m. Great
waves of yellow fire dashed against the
rocky sides of the crater and a glimpse
of Tartarus was revealed at the inlet
i 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.
suggest that the management
should provide a few berths in tbs
shelter house. and furnish coffee anc
sandwiches at moderate charge
! Many people would, like myself, prefe
to stay all night II they could gel
/ some refreshment and sleep for al
hour or two.
Sunrise on the crater was very fine
and we got back to the hotel viii
] excellent appetltes for breakfast.
4 --s-<-s---
STRUCK ROCK.