Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 779 



men, was driving cattle across the liill toward Hilo, when suddenly 

 the earth shook violently, and a great detonation was heard behind 

 them. Horses and cattle turned round involuntarily. The whole 

 atmosphere before them was red and black. In a very short, time 

 this subsided, some say in one minute, others in live minutes ; but a 

 black cloud continued to hover over the scene for some time. A 

 native who resided less than half a mile from the scene, and who had 

 friends living on the hill, found courage enough to run to it half an 

 hour after the occurrence. He thrust his hand in tlie mud and found 

 it cold. 



From that Thursday to Sunday the earth constantly rocked and 

 swayed, the hills seemed to alternately approach and recede. Most 

 people became seasick. Strange roaring and surging noises were 

 heard under the ground. When the ear was applied to the earth it 

 would often receive a distinct impression as if a subterranean wave 

 struck against the earth's crust. 



Mr. Jornander writes as follows regarding the tidal wave : 

 At Keauhou, the following results of the earthquake on Thursday 

 have been reported. Mr. Stackpole, who had charge of the place, 

 had been up to the Volcano house during the day, and was returning 

 Ib the afternoon. While descending the pali to Keauhou, the lirst 

 shock occurred, precipitating an immense amount of earth, stones, 

 and boulders down the pali after him. Escaping these, he arrived on 

 the plateau below the pali, and looked in the direction of the village 

 of Apua, but not a house was to be seen ! He then rode down to the 

 edge of the plateau, from whence Keauhou ougjit to have been in 

 sight, but nothing of. it could be seen. Descending to Pahoehoe, he 

 met the men working at Keauhou running up mauka, who reported 

 that nothing was left of Keauhou ; that immediately after the earth- 

 quake the sea had rushed in and swept off every dwelling and store 

 house and all their contents, and that they had barely escaped with 

 their lives. There were some 167 bales of pulu in store, ready for 

 shipment, all of which was swept away. They represent that the sea 

 went up as far as the two basaltic columns indicating the road down 

 to Keauhou, a depth of wave at least forty to fifty feet. 



At Punaluu, at the moment of the shock, it seemed as if an 

 immense quantity of lava had been discharged into the sea some dis- 

 tance from the shore, for almost instantly a terrible commotion arose, 

 the water boiling and tossing furiously. Shortly afterwards a tre- 

 mendous wave was sweeping up on the shore, and when it receded 



