The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-07-06
The Fourth and Its Events.

The Fourth and Its Events
The celebration of the era of American indepen.
ilnce in This city on Monday, was marked. from
The lack OF exhibitions of ntemperance in our
'tIeels, and its usual concomitant evils, compared
With those Of previous years. This may BE- attribu
cd partly TO the fact, thai people thus inclined hat
less money to spare than formerly, and perhaps the
temperance era has also tended towards this desira.
Die Improvement IN the manner of keeping the
torrth, as has heretofore been practised bv thou
sands. The day was ushered in by national sa-
lutte on the Battery, by the veteran corps which was
followed by salute from the City arsenal at sun
rise, the ringing oil the merry bells and the waving OF
the star spangled banner from every flagstaff that
reared It's cap IN our city's boundaries This, ac-
companied by tbs firing Of guns Of every calibre,
and the swapping, crashing and smashing of fire.
works of every description, all combined to INTRO
duce the anniversary to the delight of the boys the
establishment of the numerous strangers, the terror
of unprotected females, and the return of the many
happy recollections that rushed upon the minds of
our old and venerable Knickerbockers.
At nine o'clock, Gen. Sanfords division of arti-
lery was formed upon the battery, where salutes
were fired from Twelve brass field pieces, and soon
tter they took up their line Of march over the pre-
scribed route, returned to the Park, gave passing
joe, and then dismissed, to celebrate the remainder
OF the day as citizens. The military in procession
presented an uncommon neat and mariiai-ike APP
pearance. and among the artillery WI, noticed a
number Of new and beautiful brass field pieces in
troduccd BY Commlssary General Storms since his
acceptance or that station, tor which he is so emf
nently qualified.
At II clock the Battery was the scene of great
events. Five minutes before the sun had reached
meridian helghth the ports OF Castle Williams on
Governors Island, were opened, and grand ma
fional salute was ilred from her guns, of immense
caibre, the report Of each, they were fired in cir
cultous succession, enveoping the fort in one dense
mass OF smoke. The yards OF the u. S. ship N.
Carolina were then manned instantly, and from her
second row OF teeth doomed forth those thun-
derng tones, the imitation of which, accompani-
ed by deadly shot, aided to effect the victory that the
heroes Of ages past had declared should be accom-
pllshed on this memorable day The guns of the
frigateCoumbia followed quick succession, and no
sooner had the curling smoke assembled, than with
that courtesy credtable TO all civilized nations
Her Majesys frigate Warspte with the stars and
stripes at her mast head, returned the salute with
ner heavy Paixham guns ! a style that created
marked expressions of their force and superiority
over those OF the former named vessels The sa-
ute accompaniment by the decorations of the shipping.
rom which flags and streamers of every hue and
description were floating, tAe immense csncourse OF
ersons, and the sublime scenery from the Battery,
rendered this spot for short time the most inle-
resting in our city.
AT this moment all eyes were turned towards the
the purpose of testing Colts submarine experiment
She was decorated with flags containing piratcal
ievlces and at her quarter streamed standard en-
,lazoned with deaths head and cross bones, embe-
natica OF her certain fate. The battery having
been placed under her bottom, the cable of the
doomed vessel was cut 81 when by the aid of the tide
ma the boats OF the United States Ship
Worth Carolina, her speed through the water
lad been made about four knots an hour, the
xplosion took place, and the twinkling of an eve
column OF water thirty feet in diameter carrying
With it the vessel or rather the fragments, Qor W,
:ould not piece of timber IN her that was moi
,ro ken and split into hundred peces,) was sent up
% the perpendicular height of from to two hun
lred feet with noise like the rushing OF cataract
'rwater spout The return of the column of water
md the wreck of matter to its kindred element
vas followed by shouts of applause from the many
thousand spectators that covered Castle GARDEN
ne Battery, the shipping and the wharves,
md roofs OF the houses as far the eye
could reach from the doomed and crushed vessel
The view TO the eye was beyond description with
he pen and the spiral volume of water was
descending, the crowd the outer buwar!.s O.
Castle Garden lnvolunarily shrunk back as though
hey expected TO be anveloped one shower OF
water, intespersed with fragments although the YES
'el had been placed several hundred yards from the
,arden in anticipation of such result. Hundreds OF
mall boats then rushed into the maelstroom pick
Up the fragments of timber that had fallen within
pace OF about 80 yards around, and many
rmained watching the bay for hours, ex-
Getting. Mr. Colt would soon make his appear
nee from under the water in some subma
inc boat or internal machine; but in thi,
hey were disappointed, for he was safe on board
ne u. >. ship North Carolina, where he had been
Erecting the engine of destruction, and partakine
ne hospitality OF Capt. Gregory, her gallant COM
nander.
All are satisfied that Mr., Colt can, by his subma-
rine battery destroy ship of any size, if he can
get al her but how she is to be reached in safety,
is question that Mr. Colt evaded in such delicate
manner, that 1t served more TO confound than
20 enlighten us on the subject. We must there
ore, for the present, remain contented with know
ing the fact that Mr.. Colt has been taken by the
land by our Government, to whom all his plans are
Known; and if successful with the exhibition which
IL is ordered TO make at Washington, measures
viii be Immediately adopted by terrifying one OF
more OF our harbors upon this plan.
nent, before whom Mr.. Colts plans for harbor de-
fence has been made KNOWN, is our celebrated En-
sineer Major General VIM. Gibbs M'Neill, who in
, communication made to President Tyler (aftera
ull explanation OF Mr.. Colts pans) stated he would
take his professional reputation upon its success.
The era of the introduction of the Croton Water
vas a.so advanced on the 4th so far filing the dis
rbunns reservoirs at 42nd street, and thousands OF
our citizens were there 10 see TO taste, and refresh
themselves with the scenery from its summit the
water from Its basn and the cool and revivng fresh
ness OF the pure country air, exhaled from the
rounding vicinity The civic professions were
fully attended also the celebrations by the literary
societies and Temperance associations, and the
places OF public amusement both in the day and eve
hing, were crowded to OVERLOOKING. The night
assed off with the usual display of fire works at the
mblic gardens, and the whole city appeared almost
illuminated until the city hour of rest There were
nut two alarms of fire during the day or evening
which were soon extingushed without damage, and
lot an accident occurred in which life was lost al
hough several persons were slightly burned and
INJURED by the premature explosion OF fireworks
md firearms.
MARINE CURIOSITY There is quite curiosity to
ne seen at Pier No. East river Ii is 10 the shape
Of the sloop Hero, OF Falmouth, Mass. This sloop
was built at Wareham in 1874, and is now taking in
freight as usual for Falmouth She has her original