TERRIBLE CONVULSION OF NATURE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Southland Times, Issue 983, 10 July 1868, Page 3

TERRIBLE CONVULSION OF NATURE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Honolulu, Hawaii, April 15. _ Via San Ebancisco, May 8T The barque Comet, from the Sandwich Islands, brings accounts of a terrible volcano eruption by Mauna Loa, which began its demonstrations on the 27th March. On the 28th, one hundred earthquake shocks were felt, and, during the two weeks following, to April 13th, 2000 earthquake shocks occurred. At "Waischina the earth opened in many places, and a tidal wave, sixty feet high, rose over the tops of the cocoa trees a quarter-of-a-mile inland, sweeping human beings, houses, and everything movable before it. A terrible shock prostrated churches and houses, and killed many persons ; in all, 100 lives were lost, besides 1000 horses and cattle. The crater vomited fire, rock, and lava ; and a river of red-hot lava, five or six miles long, flowed to the sea at the rate of ten miles an hour, destroying everything before it, and forming an island in the sea. A new crater, two miles wide, opened, and threw rocks and streams of fire a thousand feet into the air, and from it streams of lava rolled to the sea. i A column of smoke seven and fourfifths miles in altitude, was thrown out of Mauna Loa, obscuring everything for miles around, save where the bright spiral pillars of fire flashed upwards from the mouth of the volcano. The sight was one of the grandest and most appalling ever witnessed, and almost defies description. At one time, the illumination was visible at night fifty miles distant. The lava has pushed out from the shore one mile. At Waisehina, three miles from the shore, a conical island rose suddenly, emitting a column of steam and smoke, while the Kono packet was passing, spattering mud on the vessel. The greatest

shock occurred ou April 2, with a great shower of ashes and pumice. During the great shock the swinging motion of the earth was so dreadful, so violent, that no person could stand. In the midst of this tremendous shock an eruption of red earth poure<l down the mountain, rushing across, the plain three miles iv three miautes, and then ceased. Then came the gruat tidal wave, and then the streams of lava. The villages on shore were all destroyed by this wave. The earth opened under the sea and reddened the water. The earth emotion swallowed thirty persons, and the sea many more. Dreadful suffering and terror prevailed in the district, and the whole region was affected. The sloop Live Yankee has been despatched with provisions, &c, to rescue and relieve.