Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-15
Party Gains Top of MokuaWeo-
Weo and Sees Brilliant
4 Spectacle
TWO HAWAIIAN MINISTERS
TRY DIFFICULT ASCENT
Rev. A. C. BoWdish OF Maui
Reaches Summit With Guide
DIR. Baker of kona Once
Within so Feet of Rim, Then
Forced to Stay Below Snow
line by Sickness

IThe first personal detailed aeeounl
OF the ascent OF Mauna Loa and the
view Of MokuaWeoWeo since the era.
ter burst Into Its recent activity has
reached the star-Hulletln from = mem
Der Of the successful climbing party.
The ascent was made last week ~
Or. A. s. Baker, pastor Of Central
kona church, kealakekua, Hawaii, snd
Rev. A. c. Bowdisl, pastor Of Maka-
wac Union church, Pais, Maui. The
party took three and q half days for
the climb and return, getting back on
Saturday at noon. One OF the members
Of the party has written for the stee-
Bulletin the following vivid descrlP.
tive story Of 4 feat which stands -
one OF the best in Hawaiian rnountair-
climbing. II 10 interesting 70 pcte
that thts story Ii the first news Of the
party's aehievement.l
DR.. A. S. Baker Of Kealakekua and
Rev. A. C. Bowdish Of Paia have Just
made a successful ascent of Mauna
Loa. IN spite OF ths light and smoke
which proclaimed the faet that the
volcano was home again after an ABB
sence Of seven years, II was q decid-
|edIy chilly and forbiddfng reception
which awaited them as they came %
the top OF the once.more active noun
tain. The snow Is abundant one anu
a half miles down the sides from tlt
crater and the wind is saturated with
a cold and dampness which pcnc-
trates even heavy clothing.
The second day out the party came
within so feet OF the crater immedE
ateIy after sundown, struggling along
through the heavy snow, but they
were forced to descend at once below
the snow line to find camping place.
Even though they FASTENED back
down on the some trail, IL was fnr
tenseIy dark before they could pause.
Here during the night the thermorl-
eter registered q degrees. q temperar
ture which was made much worse BY
the strong north wind that swept
across the unbroken lava field.
Mr.. 5owdish Goes Up.
During the night Dr. Baker was
quite sick and incapable OF further
effort. But 1t was determined that an
early start for the top be made By
sIr. Bowdish and the younger guide.
The mules were quite exhausted
with their two days Of work. closing
with the supreme effort Of the light
before and were scarcely rested Tor
another effort when IL was by no
means sure that they could get
through to the rim OF the crater. 1t Is
constant rise to the very edge OF
the great cavity.
Mr.. Bowdish and the guide felt we'll
repaid for their daring attempt to
cross that barrier Of snow, for they
saw one cone still active, throwing
lava up $50 feet or more, while near
by was a bowl that was boiling,
splashing lava to the height Of 80 feet
or more. Just beyond these to the
south was narrow line or fire where
a stream of lava had not fully cooled
on the surface. There was smoke is
suing at dozen or more places IN
comparatively small volumes. but no
fire was visible or other cones In
sight The whole floor was vast
black surface with practically no I'M
evenness, barring the chilled walls OF
lava streams apparently no longer &C.
tive.
Spectacle 10 Splendid. -
/, The active cone was from 80 10 100
feet high and the display Of white
hot lava was like the illumination OF
a gigantic flower pot in fireworks.
The lava was thrown up three times
the distance Of the height Of the cone
above its crest The lava lost rs
color before ii reached the highest
point and became black against the
blanket OF snow which was on the
slope of the farther side OF the crater.
Except for this relatively small slope
all that the party could see from tIieir
location was perpendicular walls on
all sides
Without question the volcano is far