Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-13

This crater is about three miles in
diameter and from 500 feet to 1000 feet
deep The walls of solid rock, stand
perfectly sheer except at the place we
made the descent. We had climb
of three -fourths of mile to reach the
bottom, the trail having to wind
about SO. Then a walk of two miles
over the rough lava crossing steam
cracks, over which the heat shimmered
in the air so thick lit was like cur
tain and the lava was so warm 1t al
most SCorched our shoes. When we
reached the brink of the Pit of Hal
amauman. we simply stood spellbound,
no one daring to speak for a time. The
scene upon which We gazed Is hides
cribable, but l am going to do the best
can for you. The pit is 1900 feet in
diameter. We stood looking down 220
feet into a lake of fiery liquid 500
feet long and 400 feet wide. 1t was
lashing and surging, like the. ocean In
a storm. The waves would strike
| against the lava rim which had been
formed sendinE the fiery spray into
the air. Fountains shooting up into
the air would follow each other in
rapid succession from different parts
of the lake. There was a continual
roar like that of the ocean. Occasion
ally the whole lake would rise and
overflow its confines, only to recede
again and drop several feet. The col
oring was more vivid and deeper than
that of fire. At first we had to pro-
tect our faces from the heat, and the
sulphur fumes caused us to cough
and strangle, but we soon became ac-
customed to both and we experienced
little discomfort. We sat fascinated
by that pit until nine o'clock that night
at which time we reluctantly started
out and the glow from the pit lighted
our entire way. The climb out of the
| crater is indescribablr but not for it's
beauty and sublinity. We reached
| home footsore, weary but happy. 1
felt that it was worth all the home
given that view of the wonders of ma
ture. If there is lake of fire and
birthstone awaiting some people in the
next world it must be just like the one
we witnessed New Years night.
"a tourist who visited this volcano
this winter s,.ys that Vesuvius is a
tea5ettle compared with Kilauea."
Other Bloomfield News.
The Ladies Aid society Of the
! Christian church met in the church
| Immediately at the close of the after
noon service. They decided to hold an
Easter dinner and sale.
Mrs. Emma Simpson left Monday
for a short visit with relatives in Mil
ton, enroute to Minneapolis, Mimi,
Merrick Harris died at his home in
the southwest part of Bloomfield al
1926 Thursday afternoon. He was "a
years old and had been sufferer from
cancer Of the stomach a number OF
years. The funeral occurred at the
residence Friday afternoon. Rev. F. D
| Ferrall conducting the services. Inter.
ment made in the Pollard cemetery.
Mrs. Lloyd Spring of South Ottum-
wa visited Miss Goldie Goode from
Wednesday until Friday morning. Mr.
and Mrs. Spring left Sunday for Oska-
loosa, where the former has a position
Mrs. Cal Lain of Ottumwa, was
called here by the serious illness of hel
sister Mrs. L. C. Warthen.
Mr.. and Mrs. James McCustian. who
have been visiting in Hebron Neb., a
the home of their son John and thei1
daughter Mrs. Caroline Hendershott
have returned home.