WADING THROUGH LAVA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 18 November 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

WADING THROUGH LAVA.

MOUNTAIXEER-S T IT R ILLING ADVENTURE NEAR THE SUMMIT OF AN ACTIVE VOLCANO.

Mr A. E. Wai son has just had one of the most thrilling experiences that ever befell a. mountaineer. He ascended the Mauna Loa volcano, in the Hawaiian Islands, while it was in a state of furious eruption. The party nurabered five, with guides, pack mule's, and a week's supply of provisions. By evening of the first day about a third of the hazardous climb had been achieved, and the men camped in a grove of palms and ferns. All through that palpitating night the great peak of Mauna Loa showed weird and wonderful beneath its crimson fire crown, and the sky above it, was flushed and evcr-clianging. Mr Watson spent much of the time watching with his telescope the fingers of flame reach out from crevices in the crest.

At noon on the succeeding day all the members of the party with the, exception of Mr Watson concluded 1o examine the north cone of the crater, while Mr Watson, filled with the idea that the southern cone was the most interesting, separated from his companions and guides, and moved in that direction. After a weary and dangerous climb he arrived at a promontory of rode and earth. Closeupon the far side of this knob a greai. river of lava was bounding in a SRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

while about SOOft above, on the slopb of the hill, tbe crater, like the mouth of some infernal monster, was pouring forth melted stone.

Mr Watson sat for a considerable time, probably a couple of hours, gazing upon the vast estnary of rolling, flowing, bursting fire, rushing down the mountain. Some thousand or raon» feet below this stream entered a thicket of trees which, Mr Watson observed through his glasses, seemed to have wonderful powers oi: resisting the attack of the flames.

Towards night he arose from his seat below the rocks to go over the> summit, down the hill and walk out between the lava on the side which he was to cross. He thought that his eyes had been resting too long on running lava and that he could see such a stream in whichever quarter he might look, so he went forward.

Bui he had npit been mistaken. While he hud been sitting with his back to the direction whence lie had cams and in which he must go. with his eyes on the flowing- stream, enchanted with it* marvels, there had broken from the lower edge of the crater, and somt» feet to the north of the. one he was watching, ti. second flow. He started on down, and had proceeded several hundred feet when, to his horror and amazement, he discovered that the new stream of lava ran directly into the earlier stream. The streams joined, and his retreat had been cut off. He wa.s hemmed in by running rivers of fire.

As he meditated on the best means of escape his eyes fell upon the singular forest at the bottom of the incline?, and he thought of the heat defying properties of that wood. If he could only turn the bunch which grew above him to his service. Ah! he had it: stilts! He had been an expert oi« stilts when a boy, and felt certain his skill had not forsaken him. Drawing a stout bladed knife from his pocket, he began hewing at the base of one of the smallest trees. The wood was of the species known as iron wood. When the blade grew dull he whetted it on the rocks. All through the night he worked, while the terrible furnace belched above him.

By daylight Ju» had the stilts made, and mounting- them, started off to the edge of the flow. The wood r.inouldered, but did not "blaze, as he waded through the lava/ The heat was frightfinl, blistering his, face and hands. As he arrived at the opposite edee of the river of fire one charred' stilt broke off; but eager hands grasped him and lifted the swooning man on to one of the mules,' in which manner he was taken to a rancher's house. Mr Watson is at present receiving- medical attontion, but is making- rapid progress.