The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-10-19
Fifteenth Animal Fair OF the American In
stitute At Niblo's Garden-Is42.


ceremonies of the evening.
Fifteenth Animal Fair OF the American In
stitute At Niblo's Garden-Is42.
TUESDAY, 18TH OcToBER
Yesterday asthe day set down by the Institute
in the annual programme OF arrangements, for the
Nautical Exhibition. As they were all appointed
to take place at Castle Garden, we proceeded Thu
Their at an early hour.
DoINGs AT CASTLE GARDEN.-As the Explosion of
the brig Volta of Eden, together with the incidents
attending it, were the leading features of the day,
shall pass over other matters and first give
some account OF
The GRAND ExrLosIoN.-The brig was anchored,
not directly between Castle Garden and the North
Carolina, where in justice to the American Insti-
tute, and to Messrs. French IL Heiser who bore the
expense, she ought to have been anchored but con-
siderably down the harbor towards Governors
Island, In order, as we suppose, 10 give the people
on the Battery gratultOus view of the EXPLOSION
We regret that Mr.. Coltsh have obstinatey per
sisted in thus anchoring the brig against the urgent
solicitations of the American Institute. Even the
u. 5. brig Washington, on board which Mr. Colt
had his galvanc battery (and not on board the
have it, was obliged to shift her moorings and slip
further down the bay, to ger out of the way of the
explosion.
the navy, Com. Perry Capt. Sands, and Others that
they extended every courtesy and attention during
the whole day to the committee OF the Institute.
They kept four of the North Cardinals boats in at
tendance upon them at the Garden all day long. In
one of these boats, at about half past B p. NJ, in
company with the Nautical Committee and Mr.
Colt, we proceeded to visit the doomed Volta. She
clambering on her deck. Her nasts, however,
were left standing, upon the top of one of which
was the efigy of man. After taking last tire ad
upon her decks, we left her and went on board the
Moveh hv foftn AfC c. dc
witness the explosion
While there the ship was visited by the Secretary
Of War, Mr.; Spencer, who arrived at the Astor
Minister, who has Just arrived in town; General
Wool, Gen. Worth, Com. Ridgely, Col. Bankhead
Adjutant Gen. Jones, Gen. Talmadge, of the Anne
rican Institute, Com. De Kay, Mr. Navy Agent
and naval officers, high and low, whose names we
really have not room TO mention
They were all received with the usual courtesies
by Commodore Perry; and on the arrival of Mr.
Secretary Spencer, the old North doomed off the
usual salute of seventeen guns. After the sa-
lutte, these officers took their position upon the
quarter deck to view the explosion, the time for
which was rapidly approaching. Presently gun
from the North Carolina announced that it was now
just fifteen minutes TO the explosion, which would
be at four precisely. This interval we spent in
taking look at some of the handsomest ladies',
married and unmarried, whom we have seen for a
long time. They did take the arms of the delight
ed officers, and march the quarter deck with such
a bewitching grace that several old bachelors pre-
sent nearly went into compton fits. We particu-
larly noticed some southern ladies, and celebrated
Countess, whose name we could not get with sui
fcent accuracy to venture spelling it. We
never saw people look so happy and feel delight
ed with one another.
learn whether the powder magazine, in the case of
Mr. Colts submarine battery, were anchored be-
meath the Volta, was attached to her bottom,
remarking that at Washington 1t was anchored,
H. 81 t~,~,lx,
tach the powder to the vessels bottom Commo-
dore Perry stated it his opinion that regard to
the mode of expending the Congressional appropria-
ton of $l5O $780, one thousand dollars Of it should be
taken to purchase vessel, and the balance be d.
vided between one party who should volunteer to
go aboard the vessel and sail her. and another party
who should try to blow her up, say in an hours
time, with Mr.. Colts submarine battery. If the
vessel escapes IN safety, the volunteers TO have
the money but il the battery blows her up, why
tn en- the battery must pocket the money. The ia
cetious Commodore thinks there will be no diff
Guilty in finding plenty of volunteers.
The time for the explosion had now arrived, with
10 one minute, and every eye was strained TO gaze
at the poor Volta. 1t was arranged that the signal
for exploding her SHOULD be three guns in rapid
could say Jack Robinson, bang bang bang COM
busti- blowup eruption and the Volta is all gone TO
the devil Now, if you please, you can just breathe
easily tor a moment, while we remark, that ac-
cording to our statement yesterday, she was to be
blown into ,756 9Ol pieces for the sake of accu-
racy, however, we now add that Capt. Barnard, one
of the Nautical COMMITTEE, counted the pieces and
found there were Just ], 756, 90lA being one half
piece more than our calculation. Our calculation
was near enough, however.
Such the voracity of the wreckers who in
stanty clustered about the above named pieces that
numerous as they were, there was not solitary
piece to be seen upon the water in twenty minutes
time.
1t is said, in the matter of spectators that there
has never been so great multitude of people upon
the battery within the memory of that oracle the
oldest lnhabitant of the city. Those who were
there, said 1t was actually crowded to suffocation.
And such was the eagerness OF the people TO catch
sight of this imposing spectacle, that there were
not gate keepers enough at Castle Garden to take
the money as fast they wanted TO crowd in, and
the people actually eaped over the four foot pickes
to get into the Garden. There were certainly not
less than 50,0 900 people the Battery alone besides
some 1900 or 1000 in the Garden so that we are
glad TO know that the American Institute will. at
worst, suffer loss for the expense they have gone
to in this affair
And here we cannot but call attention to the re-
markable hold, which the American Institute has
got upon the people Of this country, when il is ena-
bed to enlist the interest and kindly feelings Of all
classes of society in its behalf not only civilians.
but even our Navy and our Army, and the general
officers of the United States government.
After the explosion, the wires were taken up and
carried into the garden, where we saw them They
are wound around with tarred thread, and look pre-
cisely like those used by Professor Morse. Mr.
Colts Galvanic Battery, or Voltaic mot the brig