Giant lava flow on the island of Hawaii reaches the ocean forty miles from the point of eruption

The volcanic eruption began on the island of Hawaii with a spectacular spray of lava from the north top of Mount Mauna Loa on January 23, 1859. There was no accompanying earthquake and no casualties were reported but the lava spurted to a height of 300 feet for several days. A week later, the heavy lava flow reached the Pacific Ocean, forty mile from where it erupted. (By John Osborne)