The New York herald., 1869-01-12
HE'LL GATE.



Oporatiens CeUmenccd On Frying Pan Rock
The First Days Experience.
The preparations Of the contractor for the remo-
val Of the He'll Gate distractions having been COM
pleted, yesterday was selected for the commence
ment Of the work. For several days previously the
weather was most favorable, very light winds pre-
vailed ana the sun was warm and strong; but, with
the fatality that attends everything having for It's
OBJECT the removal OF the obstinate rocks in that Ill
omened tideway. the weather changed suddenly yes
terday; cold biting north wind blew In nerce blasts
on the ver accompanied BY the snow, seet and rain
that had gathered In the heavens during the short
spell OF nne weather with which we were gracousy
favored. Al twelve O'Clock 1t blew 9 gale Of wind,
AMI the cold was intense. No more unfavorable
day could have been selected for the opening Of the
campaign against the submarine obstructons; but.
while "time and tide wait tor no manr--as the con-
tractor knows by this timo II he never knew tilt
u equally true that the gentleman IN charge OF the
weather department win run his machine without
the slightest regard to the convenience Of injured
mortais Yesterday having been appointed Tor the
Jnst e well, therefore, 70 make commencement In
lin Tne 4 steam Ssrs. @ Wallace, which has been char
dock at jersey CITY yesterday with tho new drilling
machine, diver ami diving apparatus anu osher
Gate where she arrived couple of hours before low
water. Mr.. shelbourne and his corps Of asslstants
who were OF course on board, Immediately com
menced TO nx mOOrings IN the river as basis OF
operations Huge stones, weighing four tons, to
which were attached strong and heavy clains aud q
rock intended to Be operated on. Iwo We're e. pus
down aft OF the vessel and one forward. Moored by
strong hawsers TO these was Thought that the boat
yet spent dragged the stones and chains ana warned
the workers on board that when the rush came at
tue no0d the ancnorsge would be anything but safe.
however.
Pan for some time. In order TO secure safe and
moorings i was then resolved g lower Inc mach.ae
could be securely fastened for the purpose OF mold
ing the chains conhectlng the buoys. The diver
e SS Ss sas snS q e sr
Ms descent with the drill before the tide turned
The uncertainty and confusion which generally
characterlzes commencement daysn In every un-
dertaklng was here observed. The machine was not
In perfect order, 1t was 1t required an immense
other gear were in CONFUSION and everything seemed
70 be upside down. The consequence was that the
time OF low tide came and went before all tnc pre-
parations were made. When everything was in
readiness the. drilling machine was holsted
on tine deck and lowered lew feet90ver the
hammering and tinkering, the diver winKed
grayey tnside his glass windows at tue jolly old
q tn the s me wna nSwsd the
yell down everybody else. Eyen the deck boy, In
iifing small piece ol rope yarh, yelled as the life
iii hands announced that the driI was going down
IKE an extinguisher ON the rock. when it did get
down the opportunity for another vocal display was
nos neglected. Then 1t was discovered that there
was screw loose somewhere or that tne steam
pipe would not work, and under the circumstances
IT was thought advisable 70 rase the machine again.
which was accordingly done The tide was now
nooding fast, small white breakers curled ana
twisted angriy the surface OF the water and the
boat was broadside 70 rushing roaring tide. Tue
stone anchors began to drag In earnest, and It
was time TO look to the safety OF the barge
The diver divested himself speedily OF HIS
submarine SUIT, not at AL sorry that hs vist
to the crabs ana eels was postponed and gave
helping hand In taking In the hawser and making
all taut Tor the run homo. Night settling on the
river stormlly when tie prov OF the Wallace was
turned toward the city. There was nothing dis
c0uraging In yesterdays experience, but the con-
tractor learned lesson which he u too clever not to
profit BY. Everybody knows that "there Il tide In
the anairs Of men which, II taken Ct the flood, leads
on TO fortune;" but the tide at Hell Gate must be
taken ct the slack II anything enectual ID 20 be
.c0mplished. The Mo0rtngS will probably be made
to-day or at least some 0r the holes viii be drilled
and before week eapses tt is highly probable that
Frying Pan Rock will be q thing Of the past
II u proper 70 remind mariners again OF the dam
ger Of c0iding with the boat or boats OF the con-
tractor during the progress OF the work OF removing
the rocks. Largo quantities Of nitr0-gycerlne VIII
be kept board them for the purpose Of blasting.
and should collision occur the consequences could
not fail to be very destructive to life aud properly.