The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-05-26

Scientist OF world VIDE 1amc, VINO ar
rived here from japan on the Steamer
Shinyo Maru yesterday morning. lie
spent some time III Kagoshima and Sa.
Aurajinu, southern japan, scenes Of
che recent Volcanic .ernpuons. IL WINS
there. that he met with the experience
which nearly cost him his life. IL was
only by seeking partial shelter beneath
a huge boulder that he escaped so luck.
ily. ,,a a.. y.... t' '..a
WIN Visit Klauea.
Professor Perret, wao is with the
Volcanic Research Society OF Massa-
chnsetts, has been stationed at Posilli.
20, Italy. lie was sent to Japan at the
beginning Of the volcanic activity iii
the southern part of that country. He
Will spend but brief time In Honolulu,
proceeding from here TO the Volcano
House, where he will spend some time
with PrVfessors Jaggac and Wood in
investigating conditions at Kilauea.
From there he will proceed TO the main.
land. -'"
When asked as TO the reports cabled
to the United States regarding a Sc
rious accident to himself while inyes-
tigating the Japanese eruption, Doctor
on the subject. He regards such things
as inevitable occurrences in the career
of any real, volcanologist and does not
believe that any special credit is due
in the case of an investigation which
may involve the element Of danger. II
is in thesNery nature of things that
the investigator Of volcanic phenomena
should, at Dimes, find himself in posi-
tion of great peril. ......a'.G-. I
When told, however, that false re-
ports Of the occurrence were likely to
be in circulation aud that his personal
experience would be Of value as well as
OF interest to others, he consented to
make the following statement: .s
Tells of Experience. 81 W.
"After making number of 'exchr-
sions on the side Of the Volcano, i had
at last located the source Of the main
lava streaml--the principal feeder Of the
great submarine lava flows and Of ths
overland lava which was still pouring
into and still further blocking the fifty
fathom channel which had formerly
separated the island volcano from the
mainland OF osumi ! determined there
fore to Visit the spot on the following
day IN order TO make photographs and
obtain specimens of the fresh lava as
well as to study at close range the me.
ehanism Of its eruption.
HOn arriving at the place, ! did not
like the appearance of things. The lava
was flowing majestically in broad
stream, bright red in clear daylight but
blaekened over a part Of the surface by
the contact with air. The surface vel
ocity was not over three feet per min
ute, although this was much greater
below. But this lava stream did not
have the look of innocence. it did NOT
radiate enough heat and there was not
enough gas escaping from its surface.
This was because Of the fact that the
lava, being of the rather infusible va
riety, cooled rapidly or rather CONSOLE.
dated quickly In contact with air and
thus, formed thick, tough skin or crust
which prevented the escape of the gases
which constantly Issue from the active
lava. 1.Et..,..s, 49,.
III Over ridden Crater.
Some hundred yards further down
Stream, however, there was a large cir.
cular opening in the crust from which
these imprisoned gases issued cOntinu,
maintaining a tall, vaporous column in
which, from time to time, large masses
of rock were carried to considerable
height by the force Of the ascending
gases. ! therefore judged that this
vent formed nm avenue of escape for
the gas Of this portion OF the lava, and
! still believe this to be the cnse. But
what ] was not aware Of Is that there
existed a hidden explosion.cratcr actu.
ally under the lava stream and not
fifty yards from where was standing.
"This crater was simply prolonga.
ton of the eruptive assure and, being
covered and blocked by the overlying
mantle of flowing lava, its gases were
retained until Of sufficient tension to
explode, with great violence, directly
through the mass of lava, which was
thrown into the air TO great height
in cloud Of fragments Of all sizes.
"The obstruction Of the crater CAUSED
these explosions to take place only at
intervals Of from fonr to FIVE hours.
= Caught In Explosion.
at was while | was preparing to col.
lect sOiue gas from nearby fuInaroIc
by means of glass vacuum bulbs that
this crater, without the least warning,
exploded with such Violence that some
of the larger masses of lava were
thrown to distance Of more than half
a mile. Ia an instant the sky was
black and there was barely time to
dive under large rock, proyidontially
rear, when The bombartment of the
falling masses began. The rock, which
afforded only partial shelter, shook
continually undor the impact of the pro,
jcctilCs and it was not long before, in
spite Of every effort at eoncealment,
one of these struck my left knee while
NY lett hand was burned by a fmall bit
Of the red hot lava, Possibly the OK