The Watchman And Southron

Hawaiian Village Wiped Away By Lava from Mauna

Hilo, Hawaiian Islands, April 19 - (AP) - Leaving a village burned in its wake a stream of lava continued to shoot forth from the volcano Mauna Loa yesterday, leaving a fiery path from the 10,000 foot level of the crater down to the sea. Engulfed under feet of lava the community of Hoopuloa was covered by the molten mass. Fifteen buildings were destroyed. The postoffice was the last to go. It burst into flames at 2:30 p. m., then the raging mass caused a path to the sea, sending forth a charge of steam as it struck the water.

Kona, Territory of Hawaii, April 18. - (AP) - The village of Hoopuloa on the southeast shore of the island of Hawaii completely was wiped out this morning in an avalanche of lava that had flowed from the volcano, Mauna Loa. Ten to 16 hours it covered the distance of 16 miles to the sea. It is not known what time it came over the edge of the cliff or what time it reached the sea. A flood of molten rock poured from the crater side and at a total it came over the cliff in three hours. Fifteen buildings were destroyed. The postoffice was the last to go. It burst into flames at 2:30 p. m.

All inhabitants escaped in ample time.

As the streams of lava which flowed from an 8,000 foot level in approximately four days approached the ocean Saturday afternoon it split into two branches. Eight hundred feet from the water one stream turned toward Hoopuloa and the other started in the direction of Miloli.

Old Hawaiian Kahunas started hulas in the ancient form of appeal to Pele, Hawaiian goddess associated with the volcano Kilauea not to destroy their homes.

The appeal failed to stop the flow as a steady onrush of lava continued its course of destruction.

Army airplanes arrived a few hours after the village was wiped out but were unable to locate the flow definitely because of the dense steam and smoke. The aviators reported the heat was intense at an elevation of 3,000 feet. Huge clouds of steam hung over the ocean, rising to height of several hundred feet. As the lava struck the water tremendous rockets of steam shot to the air, showing the entire coast for miles.

So far as can be learned there were no casualties.

The head of the superheated flow had been hovering above the village for more than 36 hours. Last night heavy flow from the mountain fed the great pile of cooling lava into action and the giant mass moved forward over the village and into the sea.

The village of Miloli is believed safe.