The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-06


RAPID BLAsrING-THE CHANNEL CLEAR,-The
work of removing the obstruc'ions IN ou Io"n
or Shipyafd Creek. which was commenced iew
weeks ago, has been pushed forward with un-
ring energy ana the efforts OF the contractor,
Mr. John D. Griffin, have met with tile most en-
couraging success Yesterday morning the old
yunboat, which had been lying at ease Tor num-
ber OF years in soft bed OF mud, was rudely
aroused by the explosion OF thundering charge
of powder. and the wreck now lies on the mud on
the opnosite side OF the creek. The con-
tractor has with him for the work two
fats. one plle.driver, and the ether fitted
with q large derrick on the bow Tor hois.lng
the heavy masses OF wreck, which are
too heavy to iloat. Tile necessity for the latter
mart OF the work has been almost entirely super.
seded, however, by the sound condition OF the
decks and iinbers, which float or as soon as they
are blown away from the other portions or the
wreck and relieved from the masses OF mud that
have settled upon them The nlodus 0perandt
seems to be very simple and is as follows.
large tin can, very similar to kerosene oil can,
is made perfectly alright, of capacity TO con-
tain fully forty five pounds OF powder. This Is
we'll filed with the best rifle powder. and an
iron tube fifteen feet long Is Inserted in the
mouth OF the can, through which tube runs the
slow match. The can is then carefully Wrapt
with twine and canvas, or what the sailors call
s'parcelling,n particularly about the mouth where
the tube enters, anI over the whole three or four
coats OF hot pitch are applied. The can Is now
ready for operation, and the nats which generally
lie above the wreck are removed as soon as suta-
ble place for blast Is found This place Is marked
by a pole, aud two meni in a boat carry out the in
fernal machine and sink 1t In the chosen spot
whether on the top or side Of the wreck matters
not, as long as there is.pienty Of water above IL.
When in position the fuse Is lighted, and the men
row quietly back to watch the result. The steady
curl of smoke from the end ofthe tube, some three
feet above the water shows that the nre is still
burnIng. and at the end of AZ minutes, time
when every one thinks it is about to go out, the
explosion takes place. An immense column OF
foaming wateris thrown upward fifteen or twenty
feet, and a dul! rumbing noise bellows around
the shore and stirs the worSman to cheer.
Huge pieces of timber and fragments OF plank
now rise to the surface, followed by masses oi
mud. which SOON beclouds the hitherto clear
stream, and makes the water as dingy as the StyX
is popularly, supposed to have been. The fish in
the immediate vicinity are often stunned by the
explosions aud rise to the surface Of the water.
Several fine ones have been captured IN this WAY.
Most of the wreck dseugaged and brought up by
the blast soon noass down the river. That which
sinks again has to be- raised and carried OH.
Another place is then chosen, and another blast
prepared.
This work has been prosecuted with such unre-
mltting energy that the channel OF the creek Is
now entirely clear, and the only object left fol
| the workmeu to turn their attention to Is the re
moral OF part OF the old dry dock near the
shore, directly opposite the Etiwan Works. This
will be accomplished in less than two weeks, and
the contractor, Mr.. Grifln, deserves much praise
for the enterprise with which he has conducted
the business. he employs about six men with
him ia the work. The vast debris OF timbers
beams, ribs, decks, &C., on the mud banks Just
below the Phosphate.works, shows how lndustri
ously they have labored.