Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-10-02
MISCELLAN Y
A Visit to " He'll Gate"

Inc great terror 10 navIgatoIs through
Long Island Sound, known as He'll Gite,' b
or +" Hurl Gaze" as some choose 10 call II, is
situated opposite Harlem, eight or nine miles
from New York Battery The East River,
or Sound, from The Battery UP TO Harlem,
runs a northerly course. Here it makes a
sudden bend, almost at right angle, aud runs
eastery for mile or more, when il makes
another turn 10 the northwurd. Between
these two bends in the Sound lies tins cele-
braIed estuary. reallzlng 10 the mariner all
the dangers and difficulties of Scyha aud
Charabydis, pictured by the ancient poets.
The eastern end OF Long Island Sound has
a broad opening TO the ocean; ard as the
tide presses ~ from the sea, il finds a broad
channel most OF the way through the Sound,
eight, ten, or dozen miles wide. When IL
reaches the neck, between the Two bends
mentioned above, II Is compressed 10 about
hall a nile in breadth, producing avery rapid
wild current And ii is here. in The midst of
this rushing Hood, that several rocks aud reefs
rise up from the bed of the river almost TO
the surface, and throw the whole curreni in
to the widest cOmmotion. Around, against
and over these lodges the mad waters rave
and roar and whIrl with tremendous power.
There is a brief cessation OF this warfare
for a few minutes during slack tide, al nigh
and low water when the giant floods, as il
from exhaustion, lie down to rest. Now,
mariner, is your chance if you have IA
vorable wind, seize the opportunity, and scud
by while The fearful cOmbatants are asleep.
Crowd all sail, for the sleep is short The
tide turns, the strife is renewed, and wo be-
tide your poor schooner If you are within
reach of f" Pot Rock ways Reef" or
"the Frying Pan" The most formidable Of
these, ard The most in The way, is Pot Rock,
which lies nearly midway in the channel.-
To the westward of this, and little nearer
the northern shore, is The Frying Pan. And
Way's Reeflies TO the southwark of Pot Rock
towards the Long Island shore.
Ever since The settlement Of the country
the navigation of the Sound has been Oh
structed by these terrific barriers, and no
hopes were entertained that they would ever
be removed. To drill and blast them, espec-
ially Pot Rock was seen TO be utterly lmpos-
sible: for no vessel or structure Whatever,
which mao could raise, could be stationed
upon il 10 effect The drilling. Al length,how-
ever, u few months since, French gentleman
by the name Of Maillefert, advanced the ss-
sertiou that he could blow Pot Rock to atoms
without drilling, and clear it out OF the chan
mel to a sufficient depth TO render navigation
over il save at all times OF tide. The idea
was regarded as absurd, and but little atien
ton was paid to it. The assertion was re-
peated, and evidence was produced that M.
Maileferr had already performed similar
feat at Nassau, New Providence, where he
had, without drilling, blasted and removed
nearly hundred tons Of rock eighteen Or
twenty feet under water. NJ. Malllefert Of.
fered 10 undertake the job Of removing Poi
Rock, if the means were furnished 10 carry
on the work, stipulaling not to receive dol
lar for his own service till the work was fully
accomplished. Some interest began TO he
awakened upon the subject, and at length
Henry GrinnelI, ESQ.,, whose iiberalty in aid
of humane and public enterprise is so well
and widely known, subscribed five thousand
dollars for commencing operations. Assur-
auces Of aid were otIained from other quar-
tiers as fast as there should be any evidences
of success, and the enthusiastic Frenchman
went TO work.
His mode Of operation is to sink tin can
lister of powder down upon the top Of the