The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-20


cred from a cable 1900 feet long, and
when it was drawn up It registered
1910 degrees centigrade or about 1900
degrees Fahrenheit The pyrometer
was sunk into the very heart of "Old
Faithful" and after allowing it to re-
main for a certain length of time be-
low the level OF the boiling lava it
was hoisted and the temperature read.
The result was Immediately communi-
Gated to the Pacific Commercial Ad-
vertiser by Prof Perret and Prof.
Shepherd, the two scientists at work
on the volcano at the time. During
this time the volcano continued to be
very active, the floating island FIRE.
quently changing its position. The
lake was sinking gradually at this
time, going down about twenty feet,
and the walls of the lake fell in as
the surface of the lava was lowered
The instrument which registered the
exact temperature of the lava was
made especially for the occasion. 1t is
ten feet long, and the platinum wire
which records the temperature is in
cased in a triple protecting shield
The outer casing is of iron, the middle
of nickel and the inner tubing is of
quartz. The recording of the tempera-
ture of the lava for the first time was
not judged to be of such tremendous
importance, of itself, but it marked
the beginning of a scientific study of
volcanoes, which may in time lead to
far greater results.
Up-to-Date Automobiling.
Strange to say the chief danger in
which Prof. Perret has been while
working at Kilauea has not been from
the boiling lava or the possibility of
an eruption of unusual force while he
was at the crater, but it has originated
from such a 2Oth-century factor as
the autombile. Mr.. Ferret was being
taken down to the crater in a ma
chine and was just alighting when the
chauffeur started the car and the vol
canologist was thrown heavily to the
ground, almost breaking his neck. The
darkness of the tunnel was held ac-
countable for the accident.
The interest of the people Of Hawaii
in Mt. Kilauea was fully awakened by
the discovery of the exact temperature
Of the boiling lava in the pit of Hale
maumau and the other scientific data
which Prof Perret and his colleague
Prof. Shepherd, were able to put before
them, and from this time on the re
| ports which were sent by the two vol
canologists to the newspapers of the
islands were eagerly read by all. In
the middle of August, 1911, Prof Per
doings at the volcano from June 20
the date of his departure from Homo
lulu for Hilo, up to the middle of the
months of August The report Of the
expedition is being given DAY ny day
and besides being of great value to the
scientific world, it contains ma eria
which cannot but be fascinating tc
anyone interested in the wonGers OF
the natural world.
An Island in a Lava Lake.
Prof. Perret and DR.. Shepherd ar
rived at Hilo, the nearest city to the
crater of Mt. Kilauee, July 2, ant
proceeded directly to the volcano. A
this time the lake of lava was fairl!
active, although it did not evince tn,
great disturbance which was NANTES
later in the month. Just east of thu
center of the crater lake foated al
island of two unequal parts joined to
gether by an isthmus. The most re
markable feature of the island was al
arched opening under the isthmu
leading to a cavity unuder the island
p into which the surface lava from tn
lake was pouring in cascades. TIL
fountains of lava caused by these cas-
e cades We're clear red in broad dayligh
and formed display which the mos
ambitious electrical engineer coul
never hope to equal for grandeur. Dun
3 ing the days following the advent @
the two yolcanologists the grotto III
der the island was enlarged and
freer flow of lava took place.
On July II the island moved dul
ing the night to the eastern side of tn
lake, and the remarkable cascade c
lava ceased it's flow. The "Old Faitl
, fur lava fountain, one of the mos
famous sights of the volcano, was nc
In action during the last days of tn
How of 'he cascades, but resumed a
soon as they ceased. The vol anolol
i list Immediately began a thoroug
scientific study of the crater, keepin
t Photographic records of everythin
= that occurred by day and by night, tn
special telephone camera being used to
t this work was being found inyaluabl,
t On July sites were selected for tn
D cable anchorages and the obseryatio