The Washington herald., 1910-10-02
Eruption of Mount Pule De-
strOyS Samoan Villages.
EXPERIENCES OF A PARTY
Went Around the Crater at "a Time
of Its Most Furious Activity-Ten
Fertile Islands of Surpassi
Beauty-COraI Reefs Protect Them
from the OceHn-MetaI Piled I'D.


Polynesians and the darker Melanesians-
there is a group OF ten very fertile islands
Of surprising beauty. called Samoa They
art all volcanic. with rampant OF coral
reefs 10 protect them from the ocean.
II was in November. 1865. that the
writer and his party, with large number
OF native friends, eamped on Mount Pule.
About half a mile 10 the west OF US was
the volcano that we had come TO see. II
seemed incredible that where that noun
tain Of 1900 feet now stood disgorging It's
terrible load of ashes and molten lava,
there was. scarcely six months before. a
peaceful valley.
In August, 1905. the pent-up fires of
ages burst forth. Some idea of the enor-
nous energy Of the mighty forces we had
learned on our way thither. Some OF US
had ridden for a few miles on horseback
along a bush track through banana and
yam plantations: but about four miles
from the coast we halted at what looked
like huge mound OF Stag from an enOr-
nous iron smelling works.
Metal Piled ID.
Probably thousands OF tons of this
metal had piled up there. and had formed
for a time a barrier against tho further
progress OF the molten lava In the direc-
ton q; Saleaula. which had. however.
been diverted in an easterly direction,
finding a fresh course along a dry torrent
bed some 200 yards wide. This. our first
sight OF the lava, increased our eageTness
10 reach the volcano itself.
Beneath US 10 the northwest stretched
a deep valley; and beyond that and rising
out OF that valley was the volcano itself.
Due west Of US there was a forest of
dead trees which We uaYersed next morn
ing, literally wading a foot deep in fine
volcanic ashes. The forest had been OF
vastly greater extent: for enormous for
est trees were strewn in all directions
through the valley, or lay blackened on
the top Of the lava. To the northwest
was the forest through which he had
passed. still for the most part untouched
by the actual fire, but already conscious
OF the doom which so quickly fell upon il.
Volcano Vile Away.
That night was beyond all comparison
the most exciting and thrilling of my life
As the darkness fell we could see the vol
eanO. which was less than a mile from US.
outlining its lurid bulk before us. About
midnight. as though 20 demonstrate for
our special benefit how terrific those
forces were, we felt the mountain rock
10 and fro, and. with a mighty groan the
lava poured in stream from the side of
the crater into the valley beneath.
as the torrent bed determined its course.
flowed that awful stream toward the fair.
fat lands Of Lealatele The whole night
long We sat fascinated with this wonder
ful spectacle. Away toward the coast
the north coast Of the island we coul6
stil see the three large groups OF villages
The stream of lava flowed in the diTec-
ton of Lealatele and the natives. who
had watched with increasing anxiety the
course OF that stream. declared that all
their plantations. their beautiful cocoa
gardens. the pride Of the district. were
about TO be overwhelmed. We, who had
for the first time this vivid experience.
could only stand in awe and wonder. and
express the doubt that anything could
live within miles Of such forces.
A Weird Spectacle.
Devastating the land for a width OF
perhaps a quarter of a mile, the lava
destroyed all before II. The weird and
fascinating spectacle OF this red serpent
creeping through the valley on its course
10 the sea held us spellbound We watched
this fiery dragon as it swept away enor-
nous forest trees, encircIing their girth
and gnawing away at their vitals until
they fell with a crash on the top Of the
molten stream.
We watched the stream further as II
surrounded the house OF a trader, which
had been built on the banks of the river
bed: and then half a mile further a
wooden bridge built by the government al
the mouth Of the wet-season torrent was
swept away. The stream surrounded and
entered q substantial stone church. burn
ing up all that was combustible and
finally. after completing its work OF
destruction, fell with a Kissing sound into
tho sea.
AS the wave OF fire came on It leaped
over the lava which had cooled, and then
precipitated itself into the sea. In q
short time the lagoon was oblterated
and the lava stream then fell into twenty
fathoms OF water. sending up volumes OF
smoke and ashes. which were nodded intc
the shape OF small bullets by the action
Of the sea.
Lava Moves Onward.
This happened before our eyes at tn,
close of 1905. Since that time the lava Ia;
never ceased TO flow; but IT no longer
furnishes a spectacle for sightseers. Find
ing a channel beneath the enormous Laws
bed. 1t has gone on its invisible course 4
the sea; but down where it has precipi
tated itself into the water beyond III,
reef there may DO seen. especially on {
clear night. an enormous pillar Of clouC
and OF fire.
The five villages of Lealatele have beer
entirely destroyed. Following upon this. a.
the lava sought for channels 10 the sea, tn,
village OF Saleaula has also gone TIL,
government has allotted lands TO the peO
pie both OF Lealatele and Saleaula. on IN,
island of Upolu; but il was with extrem,
reluctance that these Samoans accepted
the generous offersof the government anC
vacated the lands and the tombs OF then
forefathers. now buried beneath IN,
newly formed rock,
So far Matautu has been spared. For
few months. while the lava stin fell with
in the lagoon west Of Lealatele, the sal
rain caused by the stream ascending from
the sea fell upon and destroyed the vege
tation and rendered the drinking wate
unpalatable. But now, as IN the places
to the west, the disaster which has robbed
some Of their ancestral lands has enriched
others; albeit there remains before tn,
eyes Of the survivors the constant re
minder of the dread years behind and III,
ever-present possibility Of future doom.