The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-04-30
Complete AnniAila,iOa 0, Blossom Roos.

The Alta Of the 2ith gives the following ac-
count of the successful blowing up of Blossom
Rock, that has been so long n terror to sailors
in their approach TO San Frarrisco:
Blossom Rock, which had 50 long attracted
the attention of otr citizens, and the last scene
in its removal, which was locked forwutd to
Eith 50 much Anxiety. nov belongs 10 the
things of the past. The grand dnale which
was 10 forever remove this obstruction to
navigation from the waters Uf the hay, was
accomplished yesterday, and II no ionger eI-
lists, except in the memory Of those who have
bad the pleasure and satisfaction u witnesp-
ing the grand explosion which SCATTERED il far
and wide. .r... .r..,..,.r .....y..-
II is now about fonr months sihce" Mr.
Won Schmidt's plans Tor the removal of Bios
som Rock were accepted by the Government,
and the sum Of S75, 900 appropriated for that
purpose But although the appropriation
had been made and Colonel Won Schniidt'B
plans accepted, il was only on the condition
that the rock should be entirely and efiectual-
Sy removed that the money was 10 be paid 50
that Colonel Won Schmidt, in testing THIS new
idea in submarine blasting. did ut his own
risk. The difficulties ~ be met with and
overcome in submarine Blasting are nihuy and
we'll known; but III this case they scc.rcd to
be multiplied, and OF character so runpli-
Gated and intricate, involving the highest pro-
fraSionnl skill and the utmost CANTON, that
many doubted II they could be successfully
met. The highest point Of Blossom Rock IS
s. n level of hsa fee! below tbn water at low
rtias. Colonel Won SchIHdt's plan WAS to eX-
'cIynte the rock at the center. leaving only
roSf or crust OF ton feet, and when this por-
ton Of the worn @ns completed, then, with a
monster powder blNst, to- root ont the sides
and arob and scatter II over the bny into the
deep wA,cr beyond. To accomplish this it
was necS ssaIy TO cut a shaft ten feet deep from
the surface OF the rock, which required that
the watef, fve feet deep nt low tide and thir!
teen feet ut high tide. should be shut out
To overcome this difficulty formed the most
important part Of the work; yet, in order TO
accomplish 1t, a construction should bo erect
ed on the solid rock perfectly water tight, and
proof against the powerful swells that roll
over that spot-f1ore ruwerfnl than III any
other point Of the bay This Col, Won Schmidt
successfully combateh. After careful sur.
Vey had been made Of the rock, by means of
Eoundings TO ascertain RS clearly as possible
the exact dimensions, and my inequalities in its
surface, in order 90 provide against accident
in eXcavating, IL was found that its surface
sloped very little, for a distance Of l2b feet;
and tka, the dips or inequalities were tritling
II wSh be seen that Col. Won Schmidt 8 idea
was 10 rooor out the center Of the rock. pro-
ducing : cavity in which TO place the powder
for the nnnl EXPLOSION. To do this, however,
was no, only ditIicult but hazardous. and in
yolVed the heavics, responsibility. II required
The closest attention. and more than ordinary
skill. As tho work progressed aud the cavity
became larger, the crust OF the rock left stand.
would naturally become weaker, and morc
nkely To cave in In order TO prevent this,
pillars Of rock werp left standing at short In
tervals from each other. until tho limit of six
feet was everywhere reached. Then IL he.
came necessary 10 move those pillars away.
before this was duhe upfights of heavy tim.
bern were set thickjy around the cavity to sup.
ply thgt place, and in this ~ny all fear Of the
roof falling was obyinttd.
The space eIcayated mhdnhrcd li0 Ivy %
Ieet. ana ~ " ostimated that about forty thou
sand cubic feet Of stone were takeii out before
the powder was placed in tho chambcr. The
night OF the highest pillar was % feet ppil the
lowest feet. The total depth nom the toT
OF the rock to the bottom Of the excavation
measured 32 feet, which gives water deptl
OF ~ feet where Blossom Rock stood III low
ude, when tho water was 8 feet above tho sur
lace Of the rock. The stone Of which Bios
som ROCK was composed Is exactly the sam,
when struck with hammer IL fell to piece
easily, and opened TO Wow u series Of seam
which ran through II. II contained no mix
ture OF granite or slate or ANY of tho harde
qualities Of stone. from which Il IL safe 1,
conclude that mot one stOno IL left upou In,
other of the ugly and dangerous excYes
conco, thatprovedj 40 uncomfortable an cyo
sore 70 mariners, and dotriment 10 tho com
b mercial interests Of tho port. n '''N'
forty:three thousand two hundred pound,
OF powder had TO bc removed from 4 bnro,
and placed In cavity "a feet deep. and dis
m3uted and arranged. 0Ths success will
Wnich the undertaking has been crowned. an,
ho gratifying fact that not single nccidon
vv0ulea' y must certainly be most satsfaoto
y proof Of tho skill aud care exercised in IN,
superibtendence Of the work. The powde
sMs contained In thirty English ale barrel
snd seven large iron cylhdders Tho bnrrol
''' ~'fo nonblo coated inside and outeide viii