Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-05

" LILLY
exposed, a shaft was sunk to the depth
of twelve feet, from which tunnels
were run in different directions, the
ballast worked being brought to the
center shaft, hoisted in a tub through
the turret, and discharged by a swing
ing derrick out in the deep water.
The engine was of the donkey style;
the derrick forty feet high, and the
tub carried up half a cubic yard of
rock at each hoist, averaging about
fifty cubic yards per day. 1t was the
original intention of Colonel Won
Schmidt to remove the entire center
of the rock, producing q cavity inside
\ which would measure twelve feet in
the clear from the highest point to
the bottom, leaving a crust OF about
ten feet thickness to resist the press
ure of the water while the work was
in progress; this crust to be blown up
by powder when the remainder OF the
work had been completed. AS the
work progressed the rock grew weak
er, and it became necessary to leave
pillars of rock standing at intervals
from each other, in order to guard
against the crust caving in. This ne
ceSsitated scooping out the bottom OF
the rock in a basin shape, in order to
furnish a reception for the debris
should the explosion prove less eff
feetive than was expected and fail to
throw the pillars aside. Heavy tim
bers were also judiciously arranged
to strengthen the excavation, and all
fears of the roof caving in were dis
PEELED.
THE PLATFORM
was y feet long and 20 feet wide, and
space was assigned to various uses
with the same precision and system
that has marked the whole enterprise.
The water and fuel for cooking and
engine purposes occupied an allotted
section; the cabOose, containing hunks
for twelve men, occupied another; the
engine came in for a liberal share of
room, ana from the south side of the
platform a whale boat was suspended
by davits. The lumber and miscella-
neOus assortment of working imple-
ments were located near the turrets.
THE EXCAVATION.
The excavation, when completed,
resembles an immense bake oven Its
dimensions were as follows; Extreme
length, 1872 feet; width, 60 feet; height
at the shaft, II feet, the lowest point,
3 feet; the thickness of the crust or
shell, about 10 feet 6 inches, as neal as
could be estimated.
CHARGING THE BLAST.
1t is characteristic of human ma
ture that we delight in the contem-
platiOn of scenes of destruction. Man
possesses in a high degree the animal
propensity to destroy whatever OBJ
structs, annoys or endangers him. He
is gratified by exhibition of force in
whatever direction made. He stands
transtiXed in the presence of the sea,
dashed to fury by the gales and the
tornado whirling and sweeping its
wrathful cOUriers through the air.
The awful shock of armies, the thun-
der of navies and cOn1agration of be-
sieged cities, carry him to the utmost
pitch of animal exultltion. 1t was
for the qualification of this instinct
that thousands Of men, women and
children anne frOA all parts of the
city to-day to see this famous rock |
blown to fragments with twenty-three
tons of powder sunk in its deep cav
ems. Many expected to see a column
ri stones, water and timber thrown
two or three hundred feet into
the air, and calculated the chances of
the entire city being shaken to its
foundations. They wished these re-
suits might follow upon the explosion.
Certainly twenty-three tons of gun
powder is an immense charge, and to
it under ordinary circum-
stances would be like blowing up a
good sized powder mill. This huge
quantity was contained in large boiler
iron cylinders. Early in the week it
taken to the Rock on a barge and
in the chambers. The tanks
Or cylinders We're connected by
wrought iron pipes, through which
electric wire was run, so as to PIX
plOde all of them simultaneously.
When the powder was all in, the an
;hOrs, chains, tools, engine, etc, were
all taken away, leaving nothing of
value to be involved in the general
wreck.
THE LAST GUN.
At two minutes before half past one
he last gun was fired from Alcatraz,
md everybody expected to see the
'Ock shattered. The scow with the
engineers was anchored at a safe dis
ance; but when the time came for the
explosion to take place, a staff on the
rame work on the rock fell, and after
bout fifteen minutes delay, a boat
With several men put off from the scOw !
md landed them on the rock again. 1t {
vas evident from the delay and the
movements of the men that some ac-
ident had happened, but what il was
% n on shore could determine. The
'eOple grew impatient, but in a short
the small boat put off toward the
cow, and expectation was again on
THE EXPLOSION.
At six minutes past two pm. the
XplOsiOn took place. a monster cone
I water, apparently 100 feet in diam
ter at the base, shot into the air to the
light of at least 100 feet, and in its CEN :
sr, like the crater of a volcano,
Ould be seen the sheet of smoke and
the latter going far above the
asst column of water. There was a
thug-like sound; the great cone
as shattered into spray, and fell, the
lcks descended plunging into the
ly, and all was owe save the great
'hite circle of foam which marked {
lie spot. Not a single vestige of the =
amewOrk was to be seen. Imme-
lately guns We're fired, whistles
and bells were rung.
A great shout went up from the as
mbled multitudeS, and then came
dispersion, as of some vast army =.
lnic-stricken and in flight. Proba- a
Y nor than fifty thousand peopIe
itnessed the grand spectacle.
ch a sight as never was pre-
nted in this city before. Along
cry street ratified thousands of wag5
IS and carriages, and hOrsemen
shed rapidly here and there. The a
were lined, and the crowd ~
emed more immense than when
thered on the hills. The fleet of
ling vessels and steamers headed
ward the spot where Blossom Rock
d been, and hundreds of people who
d the leisure remained to witness
rther proceedings, whatever they :
.ght be. No rock went out of a per- "
ndicular direction, but huge boul-
rs weighing tons were thrown high
the air, amid a storm of smaller ad
eS. The sight was a magnificent
but there was much less commo-
n on the water than many had ex- A
The shock was felt by people A