The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-08-10
KILAUEA VOLCANO
/. CONTINUES ACTIVE
Past Week Has Been Marked BY
Some Extremely Specta-
cular Events b..

some extremely spectacular events, the
net level of the lava lake has remained
approximately the same as before, only
o very slight fall towards the end Of
the period now under review having
been hscertainable by careful measure.
ment. p.. '.N"'tt"I' geo Z. itlR
The widening of the southeast cove
by collapse alluded TO in the last re-
port has continued, and on July % this
was very marked, although thes thick.
ness of the fumes prevented anything
in the nature Of clear observation.
However, there was great activity in
this cove, in which many fountains
were playing, although the remaining
sections of the lake appeared to be
almost stagnant, save in the region of
the northwest cragmass, where two
fountaining grottoes were In evidence.
Very little change had taken place
by the following day, and with the ex.
ception of very violent fountaining in
the north arm, in the southeast pool
and cove and in the northwest grotto,
the lake remained comparatively quiet,
but on July 30 the lake was rising
steadily and a strong rise of the south
mass had developed its wall over the
southeast pool being fully twenty-five
feet high. High squirting of lava was
taking place from the southeast pool,
but except for Old Faithful which
broke through the surface at intervals,
the lake was quiet, as is usual during
rising periods. ",:'. u. g."
At three p. m. on the following day
rising was again in progress and the
bank of the east cove was only six
feet above the lake, where very rapid
streaming poured down to ehurning
grOttoes in the southeast cove. This
activity continued on August !, but de-
creased during the evening, except for
gtotto building a spatter heap under
the southeast shelf. 'Ta.--. :.
Spectacular Collapse d .. !. v-a
Upon the following day, August 9, a
spectacular collapse of the east island
commenced at twO,forty-fve p. M, fully
half of its table crashing down into
the southeast pool. A few seconds later
the roof of the central cavern fell in
with a resounding roar, followed quick.
ly by huge portions Of the adjacent
south bench. The lake began to seethe
with many hundreds of fountains, and
these were presently greatly increased
by the total collapse of the eastern
half of the great bank around the
southeast cove, while at the same time
an enormous section of the northwest
crag mass became detached and tum-
bled heavily into the lake. beneath. The
central peaks adjacent to the collapsed
cavern rose bodily about ten feet and
then split asunder, so that sharp pin
nacle shaped like a steeple separated
M rnnnatnaI nntntinar "a nm
the eastern side of the mass.
A few moments later the remainder
of the roof of the central cavern dis.
appeared, falling away clear through to
the southwest cove, and leaving a great
canyon hoored with broken blocks
which were soon partially flooded by
the thrush of the molten lake into the
breach.
The raised bench clinging precarious,
ly to the central peaks was now fully
forty feet in height and the south
bench was thirty feet above the lake.
. The mass of the east island crags sub.
sided to a certain extent, q channel of
collapse forming over the submerged
tunnel east of them. During this spec.
tacular cataclysm there was no appare Mt
change in the height of the lake, which
appeared to remain absolutely station.
airy.
The whole movement may be cOnsid-
cred as a readjustment of the craggy
crusts of the bench magma undermined
by the various tunnels which had pre-
viOusly formed in various directions
Previous reference has been made to the
cracks which had developed above these
t,,u
mel where there had been a flaming
chimney. The hot gases being forced
through these chimneys finally ate
through, and instantly the weight of
the newly separated crust blocks was
differently disposed on the pasty under
lava. and this paste, flowing away to
ward the center away from the broad
and heavy floors caused the lifting of
the smaller and much lighter central
peaks. The general REIMBURSEMENT due
to this movement caused the other col
lapses..
Measurements were taken on August
3, as follows:
Level of lake below rim of pit 1909 feet
Height of central peak above lake "A
feet.
Height Of south crag above lake 50 feet
Height of east crag above lake 40 feet
; Height of northwest crag mass above
lake 46 feet. H. i ~. ~. r., D.. g..
Height Of northeast floor above lake %
feet.
Height of south valley above lake l.
feet.
On this day the north side of the east
| island mass was seen to be heavily frac
tured and tumbled. There was much
fume and few fountains in action; tn.
grottor under the south bench was very
active and great dome had been built
| in this section. This dome collapsed
with heavy roar at five p. m. and
violent fountaining took place for &
| few minutes. The floor of the east
cove appeared to be appraised and an in
ner bench only FIVE feet high had beer
formed under the remnant of the east
| island.
Six local earthquakes were register
ed during the week, one, in the even
ing, being felt by many people, ant
another, in the very early morning
awakening the sleepers at the hotel an(
causing some excitement. A third may
have been felt in buildings qualified II
increase the effect of the vibrations
But no outside reports of this have beer
obtained. Strong pen shifts in the sense