The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-08-20
VOLCANO FUMES
BL|NDING ALL
WATCHERS
KiIauea Proves Refractory OBJ
ieCt Of Study by the
Scientists.

Kilauea has been misbehaving afro.
ciousy Tor the past week, according TO
the reports received from the TechnOl-
ogy station. Vast, dun-colOred clouds
of vapor, fumes from the pit, circle,
swirl and eddy in dense masses over the
tace OF the crater, binding the obser.
vers and making it impossible for them
to make any accurate reports on the
changing conditions of the Volcano.
The full report follows:
Technology Station, Kilauea.
august 10, 1919.
"For the past week Kilauea has
proved refractory object of study.
Fumes have risen in copious volume
from the cracked and crumbling lodges
which rim the present lava pools in
Halemaumau, weaving almost contin-
uously dense curtain SO that only
brief glimpses of the pool have been at.
forded during the hours when the pit
the evening of August IL. A detailel
record of the behavior of the vent it
has been impossible to secure.
"During all this week only one reli.
able measurement of the depth of the
lava level has been secured-the result
of three hours of unremitting observa.
ton on the afternoon of August IL,
1912, at $3.50 pm. (approx.) AL feet
below Il. station.
Rough measures were made in
haste on the 10th and 18th, but when
compared with this reliable value these
appear inconsistent with il and with
each other. On other days no measure
ments could be made.
Of to Mauna Loa.
"Because of the unfavorable observ'
ing conditions, which promise to con-
tinue for time, Director Jaggar and
Mr.. Dodge have undertaken "A brief
reconnaissance trip to Mauna Loa, Hua-
lalai and the Kohala region, setting out
on Wednesday morning, August Ia.
SIN the evening of August the
| lava in Halemaumau was sinking, show
ing large stalactites and Overhanging
lodges on the west and southwest. AL.
SO there was slumping of the lodges
about the pools bringing down small
avalanches from neighboring walls.
Crust was forming on the surface in
greater amount than at any time since
the beginning of the recent period OF
remarkable ebullition. AT intervals tho
crust cracked, floated Off and foundered,
with streaming of the lava to westward
in the west pool and to eastward in
the east pool. In the darkness of even
ing glowing spots could be seen at con-
siderable heights on the south WALL
and also at the rear of the former 200
foot ledge under the southwest wall.
"Owing to copious fumes, no obser'
walton could be made August 10.
"For few minutes at time in the
evening of August IL the smoke
cleared, leaving the whole pool visible
At this time the evolution of fumes
seemed less and the glow of the lava
brighter. As seen from the east sta.
ton the area of the lake. was divided
, by bands of strong crust into large
pool on the west, in vigorous ebulli-
ton, and on the east two smaller pools
dotted with fountains playing continu-
ally. The streaming Of the lava was
west ward in the west pool and east
ward in the east pools. A rough meas
ure of the depth proved inconsistent
with a reliable measure made on the
Gain Brief Glimpses.
: "Brief glimpses of the lake in the
: afternoon of August IL disclosed no
( important changes A spatter rampant
seen Mt the southwest indicated q
< transient stand of the lava level at the
measured depth-441 feet below the
east station.
ono observations were possible Au
gust 10. On the evening of August Ia
only sudden glimpses could be had
No measure of depth could be made
The lava was. apparently in SINKING
phase, for stalactites could be seen
dimly. Also occasional falls of rock
took place from the walls. At inter
walls the ebullition was most vigoronsi
: occasionally there was an escape OF
gas with a shrill, sibilant sound like
that made by steam escaping froA "a
safety.valve. On the morning of the
18th of August the behavior was much
, as in the preceding evening except
that infalls from the walls were larger
! aud more frequent. No measure OF
: depth could be made.
, Discover Steam Jets.
. "a point of interest is the discovery
! at sunset, August 8, of two steam
! Jets rising from a region beyond the
; skyline on the northeast profile OF
Mauna Loa as seen from the Obser
, vatory. These are in the direction OF
! north seventy-seyen degrees west from
. the Observatory These steam jets
! have now been seen ON several occa
sions, not only by the Observatory
, staff but by several guests at the Vol
, CONTINUED on Page Tweive.)
, cano House. In size they are incon
! spicuous, and they can be seen with
certainty only for short time just
, before and after shutdown. Hence IL
rs uncertain how long they may have
been active before they were discov
cred. In view of their distance they
must be vapor outlets of considerable
magnitude.
r "a local earthquake, distinctly felt
at Wniohinu, was sharply indicted by
the seismographs at about 1907 p. m.
II. s. r., on August II. No seismogram
of tho shock was obtained because the
Instruments are not yet in final ad
@ lustmont. II Is possible that this earth
\ qunlye was perceived ms "A feeble sway
ing al the Volcano House. A. the OBJ
" soryat0ry Il was not aensiby per
ceiyod, Very respectfully,
a NH. ~. WOOD,