A BOILING VOLCANO.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2154, 20 January 1881, Page 3

A BOILING VOLCANO.

Prom the " Hawaiian Gazette " we take the following—The great excitement of the week on Hawaii has been the new and wonderful volcanic display on Mauna Loa. It was first seen at Hilo, between the hours of 12 midnight and 2 a.m. on Saturday, November 6th. It appears to be at or near the summit crater, and the lava could be distinctly seen leaping liko a fiery fountain into the Bky. Daring" Saturday the mountain was clear most of the day, and the flow was watched with great interest. At first a stream of liquid fire was seen running directly toward Mauna Kea. At nine o'clock Saturday morning a second flow appeared, making a straight course for Hilo. Before it reachod half the distance to the line of woods it turned at an almost right angle bo the north of the flat land

between Muurm Loa and Mauna Kea. The clouds obscured the vista at night, and during Sunday, but on Monday morning between the hoars of 2 and 5 o'clock, it was again plainly visible. It then appeared to be moving in a northerly course along the ridge of the mountain for about half of the distance toward Mauna Kea, and then to disappear behind the ridge toward Kona, the light from the whole length of its course being plainly visible, and the broken stream of molten lava showing that a vast quantity of material was being thrown out. The clouds again obscured the view, but early on Wednesday morning it was again seen, this time in two distinct flows, one of which, to all appearance, was making rapid strides towards Kau On Wednesday evening the cloud display was most gorgeous. The flow towards Mauna Kea had evidently covered a vast tract of the almost level table land lying between the two mountains, but it had lost the vivid color of a couple of days previous, showing that its fores in that direction was nearly spent. The stream towards Kau was increasing in brilliancy, and making rapid headway. It was reported to have reached a point not 10 miles distant from the crater of Kilauea. On Thursday morning it was seen but for a short time, whon the clouds and rain shut out all view of the mountain. At times during tho evening the clouds would lift a little and a glimpao of light appear. At 2 a.m. on Friday the mountain was nearly clear, and a bright light was seen shooting up from near the summit crater high into the olouds abovo, and the flow toward Kilauea and Kau was traceable by the reflection on the clouds. There was no reflection over the flow toward Mauna Kea, and no fire to be seen in that direction. Gradually the clouds lowered, and by seven o'clook shut out all view. Another account says, under date of November 13th :—Tho flow of lava from Mauna Loa still continues, and tho scene presented from the sea beggars description. On Wednesday night the flow could be seen distinctly from Hilo, winding its way toward Puna, with a small branch stream running toward Hilo. Tho stream running toward Puna is about thirty miles in length, and from 100 to 200 yards in width, with a depth of abouty twenty feet. On the same night the two streams ran parallel for some distance and presented a very beautiful sight. Columns of smoke and steam ascended from both streams and united in an arch overhead, forming an avenue through which could be Been for mile? the molten mass boiling and seething, here and there throwing up immenso cones, to be as suddenly burnt asunder, and in other places immense columns of lava would be thrown to the height of 200 feet or more. Mr Oohn, who was sent to the scene of eruption by Mr Severance, to ascertain the direction of the flow, states that on Thursday afternoon the main stream was within ten miles of the Volcano House and running towards Puna, while the smaller stream was within fifteen miles of Hilo ; but he apprehended no danger to Hilo, as the stream was very sluggish, and would havo to fill up an intervening guich before it could get to the town. At its present rate it would take many months to even fill the guloh. There is an immense lake of molten lava on the plateau between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, nearly fifteen miles in circumference, which feeds the streams, and in turn ij fed from the crater, which is still throwing out immense quantities of lave. On Friday night the sight was not as brilliant as it has been, probably on account of the surface lava having to a certain extent cooled.