Lava erupts on Mauna Loa.

With the arrival of the schooner Nettie Merrill yesterday, heard from the captain was that they had seen the burning of Lava on top the summit of Mauna Loa this past Thursday. On the following Wednesday, seen was the spreading solid of the smoke. It is said that this is an exceptionally huge eruption. It is believed it will flow to Kau .

(Kuokoa 1/11/1873, p. 3)

It is believed that the beauty and the terror of this eruption at Mauna Loa will be greater than that of the earlier eruptions witnessed by those who are living. The lava will perhaps flow for a number of month more. In a letter to the Gazette newspaper from H. M. Whitney, it was said that the lava first appeared in the evening on the fifth of this month. It is thought that the crater from which the lava erupted was a little to the north of Mokuaweoweo, and it is about six miles from it. At times the lava shot up two hundred feet and crackled a bit, falling like burning charcoal. It is something remarkable to see. The night is overcome by the light of the fires. The lava flowed on the side of Mauna Loa facing Mauna Kea, and the unobstructed land lying between the two mountains is fifteen full miles in circumference is like a lake of blazing fire. It is something incomparably fierce to see. From this great lake of fire there appeared two lava flows. One that went down to the Puna and Kau side, and the second down the eastern side. According to the latest news, it is said that the lava nearly reached Volcano House [ka hale hookipa ma Kilauea]; it is only 10 miles away; as for the flow headed east, it is 15 miles from Hilo. But it is not believed that Hilo will face disaster. The kamaaina from there perhaps will not have forgotten the lava flows in the years 1855, 1859, and 1868, when people were anxious that their lives were in danger. But according to the old saying, “Aole i haawi ia o Hilo no Pele.” [Hilo shall not be given to Pele.]

[Found under: “Nu Hou Kuloko.”]

The fire of the woman.–We have heard, “Nalohia Kilauea po i ka uwahi, Po i ke awa ka uka o Puna,” [Kilauea has vanished, obscured by smoke, Obscured by the mist is the upland of Puna.] that risen is the red-heat of the fiery stone-melting oven of Madame Pele. The glow can be seen from very far off. Her activity at Mokuaweoweo has paused, and she is increasing her work at her own place. Perhaps that island of hers will recover.

(Kuokoa, 8/14/1875, p. 3)