Mauna Loa in Eruption^ i84g-i8^2 65 



the latter, steam, gases and hot stones were ejected. The angle of descent for the whole 

 distance is 6°, bnt in many places the stream was continnous at an inclination of 25°. 

 Kilauea was visited b}' Mr. Abner Wilcox during this eruption, but it showed no signs 

 of sympath}' with the summit crater. 



In May, 1849, there was seen for two or three weeks a brilliant and lofty 

 1849 column of light over the mountain. Mr. Coan, who furnishes this note, 



says nothing of any outflow of lava or earthquakes.'" In 185 1 a slight 

 1851 eruption occurred on the summit of Mauna Loa, described by Mr. Coan as 



follows:^** "On the 8th of August last a new eruption was seen on the western 

 slope of Mauna Loa, a few miles from its summit. All we could see at Hilo was 

 a white pillar of smoke b^^ day and a brilliant fiery pillar by night. . . .At Kau the 

 view was less obstructed. . . .The eruption continued but three or four days." This 

 eruption broke out about a thousand feet below the summit, or two hundred feet below 

 the bottom of the terminal crater. Some observers declare that the smoke proceeded 

 partly from Mokuaweoweo, but no one ascended the mountain. No jets were thrown 

 up and the fissure soon closed. From the portion of this stream that I visited in 1864, 

 I should estimate its dimensions at ten miles in length, but less than a mile in average 

 breadth, or in volume one hundred and sixt}- million cubic jards of lava. The greater 

 part of this lava is pahoehoe, although some aa occurs, and the whole flow bears marks 

 of rapid cooling. It followed very nearly tlie track of an eruption which broke down 

 the western rim of Mokuaweoweo and flowed through Kealakeakua. 



Februarv 17, 1852, onlv six months after the slight eruption just mentioned, 



1853 Mauna Loa again broke out and our faithful chronicler writes as follows:^'' 



Old Kilauea has been quite tame since I last wrote vou At lialf-past three on the 



morning of the 17th ult. a small beacon light was discovered on the summit of Mauna Loa. At first 

 it appeared like a solitary star resting on the apex of the mountain. In a few minutes its light 

 increased and shone like a rising moon. vSeamen keeping watch on deck in our port exclaimed, 

 "What is that? The moon is rising in the West!" In fifteen minutes the problem was solved. 

 A flood of fire burst out of the mountain, and soon began to flow in a brilliant current down its north- 

 ern slope. It was from the same point, and it flowed in the same line, as the great eruption which 

 I visited in March, 1.S43. In a short time immense columns of burning lava shot up heavenward to 

 the height of three or four hundred feet, flooding the summit of the mountain with light, and gilding 

 the firmament with its radiance. .Streams of light came pouring down the mountain, flashing 

 through our windows, and lighting up our apartments so that we could see to read large print. When 

 we first awoke, so dazzling was the glare on our windows that we supposed that some building near 

 us must be on fire: but as the light shone directly upon our couch and into our faces we soon per- 

 ceived the cause. In two hours the molten stream had rolled, as we judged, about fifteen miles down 

 the side of the mountain. This eruption was one of terrible activity and surpassing splendor, but it 

 wis short. In about twenty-four hours all traces of it seemed to be extinguished. 



■"American Journal of Science, 1851, xii, 82. Letter -"Ibid, xi, 395. A letter to Rev. C. S. Lyman, 



dated January, 1851. "Ibid, xii, 219. 



Memoirs B. P. B. Museum, vpi- II, No. 4—5. L443J 



