The New York herald., 1869-01-15
\ A DAY At HELL GAZE.
Drilling and Diving-PrOgress of the Work.
Satisfactory Results Anticipated.

Satisfactory Results Anticipated.
There are few II any things In nature which
science, when properly and perseveringly applied.
cannot overcome. The labyrinths OF Hell Gate,
through which the tides rush and whrl and roar ana
dance with such fearful force ana which have been
such damaging barriers to the commercial interests
OF the metropolis, have hitherto deled the efforts Of
experimentalists; and the ruthless snags and roar.
ing1snarIs, which have already occas.Oned 30 much
disappointment and disaster, bade far to remain
forever masters Of the situation. But that they are
doomed at last may safely be inferred rom
the success which has attended the battle against
them, which during the past few days has been
waged under the direction Of Ar. j. Shebourne. In
several places experimental drills had been made,
but 1t Is only within the current week that
THE DRILLING APPARATUS
invented by Mr.. Shelbourne has been tested In rno
deep and dangerous edd.es near the channel through
the Gate. The apparatus looks ike an inverted ket-
tie drum with three strong pointed toes projecting
downward from the rim. The Grill WORKS perpen-
dIcularly through the centre of the "drum." sup
ported on either side by hollow galvanized rod,
near the upper and lower ends OF which, SIX feet
apart, are springs working Ike the springs OF an
cap fastened to it on the top sides down over the
galvanized tubes, and wnen tue depth or six lect
has been bored'a signal Is given 10 those working
electricity The batteries on board the boats on
which the operators are stationed, an the wires are
fasteneddo the springs In the gatsa ized tubes SO
tnat the electric current Is broken when the springs
pressed AS soon as the signal Is given the 0pe.
py ,S o. 81 rope raises Z
turns In the same direction. aud II WORKS up until
the brass presses the springs near the tops OF the
tubes and the bell 1s rung again to ssnllze that the
mac hine should be stopped. The working machinery
is, Of course, constructed inside the "kettle" and
consists OF two small, uni1ue end powerful engines,
supplied with steam by means OF q hose from the
boiler Of the boat The boring Is done BY eighteen
diamonds SET IN concsve lace o. hardened stee as
five tons, and this immense weight Il just sunicIent
TO overcome the momentum OF the tide at the poins
may not become chOked up with The Clippings or
dust the rock Is cut the drill made LOl0w and
water Is continually pumped, By which the drilling
Is accelerated and the bore washed perfectly clean.
made In completing the machine, to render 1t emf.
nenLly successful.
ON Wednesday hole six feet in depth was drilled
through small rock into larger solid one near the
"Frying PAM ana . temporary buoy was fastened
in the drill to mark the spot. The success OF
Wednesdays work was 30 cheering to the workers
that they determined 10 take advantage OF the pres.
ent nne weather and prosecute Their undertaking
paratus to the nei9hbcrhood OF Wards island yes
terday and without unnecessary delay commenced
operations. VISIT to
THE SCENE YESTERDAY
was romantic, interesting and instr lcve. the ro-
nance to the visitor was heightened very materially
boat through the lower rapids OF the Gate, then
whizzed along through tue 'oand-box "from lodge
hns bu, nsa then s r0s $
around the upper end OF Blackwell's Island and
being swept across to the Hog's Back" near which
the drillers were at work. There head OF you was
the propeller tug fastened to two or three buoys
with the steam pung out OF Its pipes at high rate.
little to tile right the water and spiutts over
the Frying Pam and daslles saacily against the
other Undiscovered monsters that appear hero
is wards island with tie new inebriaie
Asylum looking down at the voyagers ~
wts s nstaions mercy rc stands aunnsy s
while the sturdy oarsmen whisper rather loudly,
STEADY nowl Get all your windi Now then with 9
willi Head IL hard and We dasn tnr0ugnl Hard
the right lookout for tnat snag rock; close IN to
the island. Now then, get aheai VI this next wave
and It Will sweep US right under ner stern" All
these orders being obeyed, the snl boat reaches
the propeller safely and the visitors get on board
c n n few a wor r aver sae e sde
down Into tue water. and In perhaps q few seconds
depth OF about thrtyiive feet y reached; the ma.
chine has rested on something, tile steam Ii turned
on and the work begins. Those on board the pro-
peller let the machine work away, and by
expert FUN cn ''0t tell that & tns G Gr s s s WORKING @
into some very hard rock. In one hour ana tw entY
minutes from the tune the steam was turned on the
telegraph bell rings the signal the drill has gone
down six feet The clutc. rope Is pulled and IN
lew seconds the signal rngs out tnat tne drill has
OF the bore and fasten a buoy 1t was necessary to
walt until the tide had slacked As soon Is 1t was
suiicieatly at the ebb
M. Scott clad In his cumbersome costume, wene
down to make the explorations. What q strange
silence prevailed on board the boat wli.e he was
under the water. Those the deck acted aud spoke
as II they were In the actual pres nee Of death,
and although the diver oeiow scarcely moro
than minute or two the time seemed much longer
to those who were awaiting his return and report.
When the signal was given by him that he had fast
encd the bar for the buoy In the nole and wished to
be drawn up the appearance Oi the massive copper
head above the surface, Lounder.ng about, was SO
ludicrous as to cause q general laugh. When Mr..
Scott came on board he reported that the machine
had settled on sma rock anu that the drill had
gone through splinter OF r0cN into tie solid rock
beneath. 1he splinter ae brought up with hun, and
into the large rock he nser.ed long cowbar, with
fastened the noating buoy. The splinter showed
ceany cut hole, two inches In diameter. aud speci-
mems OF hard granite aud quartz were found IN the
rock. This finished the la ogs oi the day, and after
the apparatus hat been sae.y slowed on board the
propeller sue steamed back 70 the Clay.