The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-16
Washington.
Correspondence Of the HERALD
WASHINGTON. April ID. 1914


CoLT'S SUBMARINE EXPLOSION.
The Senate did not sit yesterday, and the House
took an early adjournment tor the purpose of wit
Messing Colts explosions. The vessel to be ex-
ploded was lying of in the eastern Branch" not
far distant from the Navy Yard. The time fixed
was hall. past four O'clock, PM. But long before
the hour arrived, every avenue, street, lane, and
by-path, began to be thronged with visitors to the
scene of explosion. The day unusually fine,
and very warm, the thermometer at 80. Every
species of vehicle put in requlstion, and all
at exorbitant prices. Some rode in coaches at IS,
others in barouches at $40; some on horseback,
some IN gigs, some in bugges, some in cabs some
in wagons, and some IN " machines, to the great
admiration and establishment of the fat negro
wenches. 1t was in one of these latter astonisb-
ers that had the honor of riding in company
with John A. Morrill,, Esq, OF New York, and Sc
veral other gentlemen Of distinction.
The ride highly picturesque and romantic,
much resembling, as it was said visit TO the En-
gish faces. Such crowds and eager throngs of
travellers, pressing through the fields, across the
lots, over the fences, now along the hall ploughed
field, where the plough still stood IN the midst OF It's
unfinished furow-and now along the newly grass
carpeted meadow, where the dandions and daisies
gave Presage of approaching May, and the delights
of an opening spring. Anon would thunder along
the great thoroughfares some cavalcade OF car
rages and galloplng horsemen, raising cloud Of
dust SO large as completely to obscure, or more
classically, to obnubllae the whole field OF vision
in every direction. On looking back towards
the city, all Washington seemed overhung and en-
veoped in one grand and imposing cloud OF dust,
SURPRISING anything OF the kind had ever seen.
When arrived upon the banks OF the Poto-
mac, we found them lined with people, multitudes
on mutitudes, which no man could number, OF
every age, sex, color, and condltion-chdren
pulling in their nurses arms, urchlns Just unwhipt
from school, grand Jubilee OF darkies, grinnlng
from to ear, and swallowing dust by the mouth
ful, grave Judges, sage Senators, foreign diploma
lists, Members Of Congress, not forgetting long
John OF Illinois, towering aoi and smiling az the
dust below; Indians OF unknown n,oes any , ron
attitudes never yet explored; some remained IN their
carriages others sat upon their horses, the FENCES
were covered with grasshoppes, and the trees nj
led as with black birds; the grass upon tne rivers
margin was spread out with individual handkerchicfs
which had been used for less gnoble purposes;
here n moi of naughty boys are amusing themselves
with flirting stones, chips and pebbles, some to fall
mon the heads of those below, others into the wa
Ter IN he chased by frolicksome dogs there the
cab drivers and hackmen cooling their horses,
and washing their dusty vehicles, by div
ing them in 10 an alarming depth OF water ;-every
species of water craft ls in attendance, from punt
10 steamboat.
As to the explosion, need say but little OF it.
The vessel appeared to be bargue of some 500
tons, with all sails set When the lime arrived
she was loosed from her moorlngs. the American
flag was taken down, the red flag OF death was left
flying at the mast head-the wind carried her over
the fatal submarine deposit, the gavanic wire was
fired and moderate explosion destroyed the yes
sci. She was not blown up into the heavens ike
those which were exploded in the harbor OF New
York On the contrary, the explosion was very
quiet. =,
There were several other explosions under
water, which threw up columns OF wafer 70 an
immense height, and with very sranu anu '"'-
posing effect. .r,,I, rl,l
have filled my letter, and II had not, should
have nothing more of Importance TO say, except
that have heard of no unfortunate A'''0es S g.