MOKUAWEOWEO IN 1903.
Professor Edgar Wood gave a brief account of a display from the summit in October. On Monday the 5th instant the British ship Ormsery noticed a boiling of the sea off the Kona coast of Hawaii. The temperature rose and the ship received a shock as if from a tidal wave. October 6th a column of smoke was ob served rising from Mokuaweoweo—said to be two miles high and three-fourths of a mile wide. Soon there seemed to be a stream of lava flowing down the Kona side of the mountain.
Surveyors Baldwin and Dodge reported what seemed to be a flow on the west side of the mountain towards Kahuku. "The smoke from the summit rose in three columns, two small and one large. The columns were aligned almost due east and west. The larger column was on the east towards Hamakua. The columns as they rose, united to form one great column that rose to a great height, and in some cases spread out like a great umbrella, the under part reflecting the dull glow of the fires beneath. * * * The lava in the crater showed along a line running through the crater northwest to southeast. There were three principal fire fountains from which the lava flowed over the crater floor." Steam issued from a multitude of points over the whole floor, It is said that the floor rose three hundred feet and then settled back again. The last glow was seen December 7th at io P. M.— American Geologist, Vol. 34, 1904.
In the record book of the Volcano House under the date of October 13th, T. C. Ridgeway has given rough sketches of the appearances in the floor of the caldera corresponding to the state ments above. The lake was said to be half a mile in diameter,
and the number of fire-fountains from twenty-five to thirty, play ing to the height of five hundred feet. The flow extended for two miles upon the northwestern part of the floor of the crater. Plate 22 represents this eruption.
The editor of the Hilo. Tribune reported the following condi tions upon Wednesday, October 21st: There was a large foun tain in the center hurling to great heights much molten lava and hot boulders : smaller masses were accumulating upon both sides. In the night the large central cone exploded and fell to pieces, and was replaced the next day by a dozen lively geysers. A new pyramid was built up from them, from which there emanated sprays of fire, compared to a group of sportive mermaids from an ocean. Their lithe, bright forms bowed and bent themselves, and disappeared in the darkness only to be followed by dozens and scores of other fairies who kept up the fire dance all night." The scene was also compared to a cathedral of many spires ; soon re placed by a single lofty spire, which would fade in its turn and be replaced by others.
Upon November 24th the sea was disturbed at Punaluu, unac countable waves rising suddenly where it had been smooth before and lasting for ten minutes. At the same moment a black column of unusual size arose from Mokuaweoweo.
December 31, M. A. Hauschild reported that the only signs of activity were a few clouds of steam rising from the eastern and southern parts of the caldera.