The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-08-04
GREAT ACTIVITY
IN THE VOLCANO
THE FLOW OF LAVA AND PLAY
OF FOUNTAIN IN PIT OF HALE
MAUMAU.

At a depth OF but little less than
two hundred feet below the pit, Hale
maumau was giving an exhibition last
week that can hardly be surpassed.
On Friday night the fire was intensely
active covering fully three-fourtns
of the entire surface below. For an
hour there we're eight large fountains
playing each of them to a height OF
from thirty to forty feet. Around the
pit, close to the craters walls is a
black surface and, at both the east
and west ends, the fire overlooked this,
clearly showing that the bottom of the
pit was rising.
On Saturday night Surveyor Bald
win gave his opinion that the depth.
from the rim Of the crater was not
more than 100 feet, and his is an ex-
perienced eye in regard to measure
ments. 1t is no wonder that visitors
keep focking to the Volcano House.
last Saturday seeing fully fifty there
while large party came by the Mauna
Kea, some leaving yesterday. others
going up this morning.
On Friday evening. at six o'clock.
| the fire was decidedly active with as
many as nine to eleven fountains play
ing though many of them were small.
AS darkness came on the heat grew
greater. the fountains of fire assembled
higher and the extent of activity
spread over a wider surface. Near the
center there was always one fountain
playing necessarily, a large one. This
was followed by a second and a third,
all close together and all of equal
size. from time to time merging into
one and dashing against the black sur
face on the north side of the pit. right
under the bench placed for visitors
This fire play lasted for long time,
the activity continually increasing till
the lights on the southern ana western
sides began to attract attention, and
soon there were large fountains on the
south, while the red hot lava was ris-
ing to the west. till it crept over black
ened borders that had previously en-
circled the fire, The same thing hap
pened at the eastern end though not
so actively. On the south two fire
fountains started. seemingly determin-
ed to outrival those In the center and
to the north. till there were eight
| large fountains necessarily shooting
their fire upward
Meantime the blackened surface in
the center of the pit was gradually be.
ing diminished as it was dragged into
the fiery furnace by the liquid flames
that were dashing to and fro, gam.
bling with and chasing each other as
the waves toss upon the ocean. The
cracks, the few that were left, grew
wider and the REDEEMED surface be-
meath became more vivid through
them. Had this activity continued FOL
an hour or two hours longer, the Who'll,
pit would have been alive with fire
But 1t gradually quieted down appar
entity being exhausted by the fury int
which it had dashed itself. The hea
at the side of the pit Is intense 81
much so that all visitors should taxi
masks to protect their faces. At time
the fumes of sulphur are hellish, ant
then the masks come into use as fan
but this unpleasantness while ofteI
repeated, does not last for any grea
length OF time. Perhaps the stronges
sulphur fumes come from the Devil
Kitchen, some little distance from tn
pit, which is belching forth the yelloy
mineral till the surrounding surface /
colored with it, and the lava is gapin
open suggestive Of possible outbrea
should the activity at Halemauma
continue and increase Herald.