New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-10-19
The Grand Explosion.

We have rarely seen more imposing sPectacles
than that expected yesterday at the Battery. lie
third experiment of Mr.. CoLr with his Subma-
rine Battery advertised to be performed in
connection with the Exhibition of the American
Institute, at o'clock and before 3, thousands
vending their way toward Castle Garden. AT
half.past 8 the whole vicinity presented a most
animated and interesting scene. Castle Garden
was crowded to its utmost limits-admission fifty
cents the piers north of tho Battery were thicky
filled; the vessels for long way up the river
with their rigging were crowded with clusters OF
human beings the Battery, as far the eye could
see around it and far back from its outer edge,
was black with the dense multitude; tree tops
were filed the roofs of houses and all the prom,
inent places near were covered; the North Caro-
lima, which Law, with her broadside to the shore,
little to the north of the Garden, was completely
crowded and her rigging filled, and, at distance
of about one-eighth of mile from the Battery and
in direct line between the Garden and the north
end of Bedlows Island, swung large unrigged
vessel of nearly 800 tons with a heavy hull and
two masts capped by effges; while around her
were playing hundreds of boats, steamers, sloops,
skif1s. &C. filled to the utmost with men, women
and children of all ages and conditions.
AT a quarter before gun from the North
Carolina gave note of preparation The sur
rounding craft began remove TO little distance
from the vessel, small boat went out 10 make
necessary arrangements, and both the North Ca
rolina and the unrigged ship swung round their
broadsides towards the Garden. Every thing
was now quiet and the great multitude were
hushed in expectation The; Sun shone not
brightly enough to dazzle the sight, and all gazed
with fixed intentness upon the ship At little
after signal gun sounded from the Carolina
another quickly followed, and with the explosion
of the third, the great hulk seemed lifted by its
waist fronl the water by some unseen power, the
bow and stern sunk heavily, and the whole was
enveoped by huge pile of dense mist, some two
hundred feet in diameter and about eighty high,
through which now and then seen pieces of
timber of which even the shape could not be
guessed. In about minute the whole settled
down, and a large circle, covering the spot where
the ship had stood, was strewed thickly over
with fragments of the doomed vessel-the largest
piece being slight portion of the hull attached
TO the mainmast.
Never have we seen more completely success
full experiment. The explosion was attended with
very slight noise-completely silenced by the
superior sound of the gun fired at the same instant.
The boats which had surrounded the vessel now
rushed in to inspect her wreck and scores of
life preservers life settees, life buoys, life boats
&C. &c., which had been put on board were picked
up fine brass band in the Garden struck up
Hail Columbia and the great throng with a ire
mendous shout began to dispcrse. We have no
doubt that at least 100000 persons looked upon
this experiment. The Secretary of War with
Adj Gen JoyEs witnessed it from the North Car
ona No man, after seeing such an experiment
as this, can doubt the ability of this Battery TO
scatter in fragments over the waller a vessel of
any size the only question with any one is how
the engine can be placed under the ship without
the knowledge of those on board. There are
many ways in which this might be done; but
which of them Mr.. Colr employs he chooses to
keep to himself.
THE CENTRIFUGAL RAILWAY which we saw in
Castle Garden, is extremely curious. A four
wheeled car, some two feet long, is placed at the
head of an inclined plane with base equal TO
about twice its hight. In it are placed heavy
weight and pail of water The momentum it
acquires in its descent sends it completely around
the uprg ht circle some ten feet in diameter, its
concave surface and then up plane OF less in
chnaion than the first. The weight and water
meanwhile remain undissurbed.