The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-06-10

ashes since it annihilated the army that
was marching against kamehameha
almost Il hundred and fifty years ago
1t retains its lava within it's own cra-
ter. which is not shaped like an in
verified cone. The sides are from 100
to TOO feet high and I IS miles i'll cir
conference, and the floor covers $3.50
acres. The volcano seldom makes ter
rifying noises-at least of the kind
| heard in Imagination by Il schoOlboy
Thousands of people descend into the
! crater annually. and not one has ever
been injured.
| The walk across the floor of the era
ter. about two and one-half miles. Is
over Il hard lava bed. more or less up
and down. since lava hardens quickly
and remains as it flowed. i'll great ropes
and ripples. A few yards from shore
-one comes naturally to call the bank
"shore''-a ragged crack is crossed by
u wooden bridge. At the time this
crack opened, large party was In the
crater. They stayed long because they
; We're delighted with the unusual ac-
| tivity of the lake and had no idea
that this activity extended beyond the
pit of fire until at last they started to
go back to the hotel.
1t was night, and as they approached
the northern bank Of the crater their
lanterns suddenly revealed huge ifs
sure directly across their path. Al
ready molten lava was bubbing up at
the bottom. They followed the edge
of the crack. keenly conscious. I'M
doubtedly. as they turned to keep
parallel with the crater wall. that they
were On the inner edge. At last they
found a spot where the lava had split
unevenly. leaving Il projecting ledge on
which 1t was possible to stand, and so
to jump to the other side. The whole
experience. with the thought Of sink
ing to the fires beneath or of being
overwhelmed by the lava slowly rising
In the tissure and the utter helpless
ness of their situation. was enough to
test the most fearless.
Kilalea is really an enormous qui-
eScent crater with an active inner pit.
This cavity is. perhaps. LOGO feet
across. and its precipitous sides lead
down to lake of molten lava several
acres in extent, sometimes higher,
sometimes lower in the pit This Is
Halemaumau. which Is commonly
translated although incorrectly. "the
house of everlasting fire. 1t is GER
tainly the house of the goddess Pele.
I By daylight the lake of fire is a
greenish yellow. cut with ragged
cracks OF red that look like pale strealls
Of stationary lightning across its sur
face. 1t is restless. breathing rapidly
bubbling up at one point and sinking
down ut another; throwing up sudden
fountains of scarlet molten lava that
play Il few minutes and subside. Eeav-
ing shimmering mounds that gradually
settle to the level surface of the lake
turning brown and yellow as they sink.
AS darkness comes. the colors on the
lake grow so intense that they almost
hurt the eyes. The fire is not only red
, 1t is blue and purple and orange and
green. Blue flames simmer and dar1
about the edges Of the pit. back and
forth across the surface of the restless
mass. Sudden fountains paint bloot
red the great plume Of sulphur smoke
that rises constantly.
Sometimes the spurts of lava are S;
violent so exaggerated by the night
that one draws back terrified lest some
r atom Of their molten substance SHOULD
spatter over the edge of the precipice
,, Sometimes the whole lake is in motion
! Waves of fire toss and battle with eacl
other and dash in clouds of bright yer
million spray against the black sides O.
j the pit Sometimes one Of these side!
falls In with roar that echoes bacl
and forth. and mighty rocks are swal
lowed in the liquid mass of fire tina
closes over them in n whirlpool. lik,
/ water over Il sinking ship
Again everything is quiet; a thicl
scum forms over the surface of tn,
lake. dead. like the scum On the surface
of a lonely forest pool. Then it shiv
ers. Flashes Of fire dart from side t,
side. The center bursts open. and
, huge fountain of lava twenty fee
: thick and fifty feet high streams int
4 the air and plays for several minutes
n waves of binding fire flowing on
K from it. dashing against the sides unit
the black rocks are starred all owe
n with bits of scarlet. All sensation
are submerged in sense of awe. Thi
u vision Of the earth building forces a
work is n picture so overpowering tina
!, it is burned into the memory for al
;. time.-"Hnwaii, Past and Present.
q