The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-04-10
HUMBOLDT LADY
VISITS K|LAUEA

with the electric wireless fast ap-
preaching communication half way
around the globe; with airships pierre
ing the very heavens, as it were; with
automobiles landing passengers within
a few feet of the crater of an active
volcano, we may well say we are Iv-
ing in wonderful age; and travelling
IS reduced TO a minimum as to time
and space
1t was our pleasure short time ago
to visit the now active volcano of
kilauea, on the island of Hawaii.
making the trip from Hilo, a distance
of some thirty miles, by automobile.
Leaving the town of Hilo at sea
level, we travelled over fine road.
through wilderness of tropical trees
and plants, on through miles and
miles OF sugar cane. reaching an ele-
walton of some fifteen hundred feet
where we entered a primeval forest of
gigantic tree-ferns and ohia trees, the
latter being one of the hardest woods
known. The road continued at an easy
grade for miles through this vast for
NNtf pViN'itu On tIlUtT Sluc DIV Dpan-
tiful wild flowers and clinging vines;
the morning glory of varied hue grow
ing in great profusion. climbing in and
out through the tangle Of near by tree
and shrub, its beauty excelled only bv
that of the wild rose, which here at
tains the acme of perfection; climbing
in many places TO the height of ten
feet or more, Towering most pro
fusely in double blossoms instead of
the single flower we are accustomed to
see; filing the air about us with de-
licious fragrance.
After miles of this beautiful drive
the scene changes; the tropical growth
becomes less luxuriant; small assures
In the earth appear and lava beds
meet the eye; small streams of vapor
issue from the earth in many places as
we reach the Volcano House hotel at
an elevation of almost four thousand
feet, where we alight getting our first
view of kilauea pronounced Kilaweal
in great clouds of vapor rising well |
into the horizon some three miles dis |
tant by trail and seven bv automobile. /
After luncheon and few hours rest /
we quickly finished our journey, lead /
ing along one side of the lava beds /
the whole extent of which covers an
area of over twenty-five hundred |
acres; passing now and again great |
ehasms hundreds of feet deep we ar
rived almost at the very edge of the |
crater as a great mass of vapor arises
almost obseuring the late afternoon |
sun. Time passed in walking about the |
lava beds, seorching postal cards on /
hot rocks which were later sent to !
distant friends; watching the clouds /
of vapor growing deeper and deeper |
until as the sun sank behind the 1
mountain the sky seemed a mass of |
flames. A light wind arose, blowing |
the vapor well aside and we approach !
ed the active crater of Kilauea, called |
Halemauman or "The House of Eter
nal Fire. to within few feet of its |
very edge; standing on the brink we
gazed down upon one of natures I
grandest, most wonderful speetacles |
few hundred feet below there ap. I
reared two active eenters in close /
proximity; one burst forth in rivers of
molten gold outlining figures of great
extent. then subsiding until the entire /
mass of hardened crust seemed |
threaded with streak of light, weav- /
ing a delicate tracery through the
darkness, only to burst forth again in /
glowing splendor.
The other active expanse as we
gazed upon il with awe and admira
tion. seemed a lake of molten gold,
seething and writhing in tortuous
shapes, bursting forth in geyser-like !
fashion great masses of molten lava I
many feet into the air, falling back |
upon itself into the liquid lake of fire
with such terrific force as to cause
the whole region to reverberate with |
the sound; truly a most aweinspiring, /
magnificent and o-be-forgotten
sight.
Filled with awe at the wonder AMI
ma aiesty of creation We rode in silence,
under the silvery light of fun eastern
moon. back to the Volcano House /
hotel. where we spent the night
Leaving next morning we arrived at
Hilo. where we embarked on the
steamer Wilhelmina bound for the
coast via Honolulu. Literally speak
ing, il was the sweetest trip ever, for /
the good ship carried cargo of over |
four thousand tons of sugar for San
Francisco.
Incidentally, / may mention the ho- /
tel which entertained us at Hilo was
presided over by a former Winnie
muccan. M. M. M.
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