New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
CENTLEST VOLCANO
CROWNS HAWAII
No Noise and Explosion
When Brilliant Mauna
LOa EruptS.

The lofty volcanoes Of the Hawaiian
Islands, rising above the ocean from
5000 70 nearly 1900 feet. are only the
SUBMITS Of gigantic mountain masses
that rise abruptly from the bottom OF
the Pacific. Msuna Loa, on the Island
Of Hawaii. stands 1855 feet above sea
level, according 70 the United states
Geological Survey, but its slopes de-
scend beneath the sea, as shown By
deep sea soundings. with q grade fully
equal 20 II not greater than that Of the
visible slopes. The same is generally
true OF the submarine slopes Of the
other islands, and the depths attained
by these continuous slopes, within thir-
~ 70 fifty miles If the shores, vary
from 1900 20 1900 feet.
Mauna Loa and Mama kea, IL their
true bases are considered 70 be az the
bottom Of the Pacific, are therefore
mountains Of as great an altitude aS
Mount Everest, or approximately 10000
feet. On the Island Of Hawaii the vol
canic forces are still in operation.
The one continuously active volcanic
vent Of the island is kilauea. far down
on the eastern flank Of Mauna Los--
"the great mountain No other vol
cano in the world approaches Nauna
the magnitude Of is eruptive activity.
Mauna Kea I"the white mountain"-is
also a colossus among volcanoes It's
summit-l3,s25 feet-is a trife higher
than that OF Mauna Loa. out its slopes
are sleeper and is base II therefore
much smaller The magnitude OF
Nauna Loa is due chiefly 20 the great
area Of its base. wnicn is nearly clip
teal IN shape. with a major diameter
Of seventy-four miles and a miner d-
ameter Of fifty-three miles. measured
at sea level
In the aggregate 81 its eruptions
Mauna Loa Is also unrivalled. Some o.
the volcanoes Of Iceland have been
known 20 disgorge at a SINCE prtbreak
masses Of lava fully equal 20 those OF
Mama Loa. But such outbursts arr
infreauent IN Iceland. and a century has
elapsed since any of such magnitude
have occurred, though there have been
several minor erJpti1ns. The erup-
tons OF MaUna Loa are all d great
volume and Occur irregularly, az an
average interval OF about eight years.
| In view OF the total quantity o. mate
! rial il has disgorged during the last
century, no other volcano il at all COM
parable 20 IL.
Mauna Loa and Kilauea are in many
respects abnormal volcanoes. The
| most notable feature is the singular
quietness Of their eruptions. Rarely
/ are these events attended by any 81
! that extremely explosive action witch
lis Characteristic OF nearly all other
Volcanoes. Only once or twice within
Fthe historic period have they been lc-
} companied by earthquakes or subter-
/ ranean rumblings.
The vast Jets Of steam blown miles
I high, hurting stones. einders aud lap
| iii far and wide, filing the heavens
with vapor and smoke and hailing
down ashes and fragments over the
surrounding regions, have never been
/ observed here. Some action of this
! sort is indeed represented, but only IN
! a feeble way. The lava wells forth
| like water from a hot, bUbbling spring.
} but so mild arc the explosive forces
/ that the observer may stand 90 the
windward Of the grandest eruption, so
near the source that the heat will
make his face tingle, yet without dan
| ger.
Ordinarily the outbreak takes place
without warning and without the
! knowledge Of the inhabitants. who frst
! become aware OF IL az uightfall, when
the sky is aglow and the fiery foun-
tains are seen playing. AZ the news
| spreads, hundreds % people flock Co
! witness the sublime spectacle, display
ing almost as much eagerness 20 ap-
proach the scene OF an eruption IS the
people Of other countries shcw % get
away from one.