The New York herald., 1871-08-23
A Big Scare on the Steamer
Plymouth Rock.
A BombShell That Made a Big Noise
but Did No Damage
What the Officers of the Forts Havo
to Say About 1t.
Danger from Heated ImaginatiOns Worse Than
Danger from Hollow Shells.

The passengers who were board the Plymouth
Rock on Monday afternoon, when she made her last
trip for the day from the city to Sandy Hook had
most delightful sensation TO make the voyage ono
worth remembering. The sensation was nothing
less than a bombshel which was sent screaming
and In most uncomfortable proximity to the ves-
sci from one Of the iort5 in the harbor. The boat
was heading straight for the Sandy Hook landing.
ana was mile or TWO below the southern portion
OF Staten Island when
THE SHELL WAS FIRED
The first intlmation the passengers had OF whas
was in store for them was little cloud or smoke
which all of sudden made itself visible near port,
hole OF one of the forts Fort Richmond. In an
instant afterwards the shell came screaming through
the air. passing In its course the boat, finally
striking the water some fifty yards beyond the port
side According TO the statement or one or the
passengers the force OF the explosion ~ threw an
immense column OF water high into the air, and the
Conclusion was such on board the steamer that
many OF the passengers got 1t into their heads that
the boiler had burst.
THE EXCITEMENT
that ensued among the easily frightened folks was
| very great and for short time panic was im-
mnent IN the upper saloon, where q large crowd
OF passengers had assembled to listen to the
music. Captain Tilton, however, knew ex-
actly what the nring meant, and kept the
boat steadily on her way during the excitement.
This did much to reassure the more timid among
the passengers, who would, no doubt, have jumped
to the conclusion at had the boat stopped that
something terrible had happened TO the vessel.
A PASSENGERS STATEMENT
well known resident OF this city, who was on
the boat at the time OF the sensation makes the
following statement
7 N Tho ID outh Doc
evening. when she left New YORK at haf-past four
O'Clock When the shell was fred from Staten
Island we were q mile or two below the southern
point OF Staten Island. and were making straight
line for the SANDY Hook landing There were l
should judge, about five or six hundred passengers
on board at the time. The band was playing In the
upper cabin, where the main portion OF the passen-
gers were congregated. Quite number OF persons
were scattered about on the lower deck, fore ana
aft. was at the stern OF the boat just aft OF the
ladies' saloon where | had taken seat 30 as to be
sheltered from the wind. | happened to look up,
toward Staten Island, and saw whir of smoke
curling up from the tel that fronts the water
In an Instant afterw ards there was
AN EXPLOSION
boiler OF The boat. AT the same time several pas
sengers who stood near where was caiiel my AZ
tention to the great column oil water wnicn WAS
thrown up as Ii by some strong force under the
water.
The following conversation ensued between the
passenger and a HERALD reporter:-
"Dld you see the shell In The air aicr you saw tne
smoke at the terrace ~
"No but heard several Of the passengers say
that they heard the shell scream as 1t came along
| through the air."
"Was there much excitement on boardG"
"There was very great excitement All the pas
sengers, when the explosion occurred, bounded to
their ieet the disaster to the Westteld, no DOUBT
lasiing through their minds at the Instant"
''Did the boat continue on her course 7"
Eyes; she did not STOP do not believe tnat the
BRIGHTEN THE PASSENGERS
more than they really were, as, had the boat
'What did the explosion you refer 10 sound likeY"
We'll the ocas & was shaken py the force ,nC OF It
explosion mad occurred close by"
"How did the passengers acttn
"Ihey kept very cool indeed. There was
NO SCREAMING OR PAINTING
by the ladies', but terror was visible upon every
countenance ana DOUBT very much II there was Q
man on board who saw the smoke and heard the
explosion VINO did not feel terror stricken. You
see the thing was so entirely unexpected"
Had the passengers much To say about the aualr
after the scare was overY
..They were very indignant indeed and expressed
their indignation in no measured termsn
"liow near did the shell fall to the boat2"
al should say about fifty yards"
"On which Size or the boats"
at must have
PASSED OVER THE STERN
of the boat diagonay, as 1t fell beyond that side
OF the boat farJneSt rom the lOrts'
"had the officers any idea why the she'll was
1redY"
exercise their guns at the very time OF day when
the lower bay is most tnlckly studded with vessels
OF all kinds 1 have passed up and down the Bay
almost daily for twenty years past, ana | never
heard Of tae forts hrlno over the water before.
1 think the Plymouth Rock escaped Dy the neIest
chance. Had the shell struck the boiler the des-
truction OF life would nave Ueen frignt!ul. There
tEe time the shell was flied no vessel within
a mile us. | understand that Colonel Fisk mas
written the Secretary OF ar about affair." and
has suggested the propriety OF
FIRING LOADED SHELLS
from the forts at more 0ppOrtune nours than when
his boats around. Inc shell may have been
fired just TO see now near the gunner cONld come TO
the boat without hitting II. TINS may have been
considered nice joke, but the passengers fail To
appreciate IT, When .hey arrived at The Branch and
at the other stations the escape from the shell was
the general topic Of c0nversatiOn.n
WHAT TIE UNITED STATES OFFICERS SAY
reporter OF the HERALD yesterday paid visit
to the fort, and had an interview with the COM
mandng Otcer, General John NJ. Brannan
General Brannan admitted the nrlng OF q shell,
but ridlGued the idea OF any danger being likely W
result unless In the Imagination OF
EXTREMELY NERVOUS PERSONS.
He said that, IN the first place. every precauton
is taken to warn of all passing craft and secondly,
no one handles the guns out experienced gunners,
who know exactly when TO ire and where the pro-
jectle VIII fall. As to any danger oi the smell ex-
plodng any fears on that point must be aayed by
the simple statement that the shells used are hollow
and
Then they strike the water they either sink immes
dately or ricocnet in a straight line without any
deviation.
bly, have slight conclusion felt on BOARD the
steamer, caused by the reverbeaon OF the sound
of The passage OF the shell through the air and It's
striking the water. The charges OF powder used in
firing these shells. he said. are usually loo pounds
and over.
In regard TO the object OF the firing the General
stated lhat q mixed board consisting OF engineer,
ordnance aud artillery officers, under the presidency
of General Hunt, are engaged In testing new de.
pressing gun carriage, designed TO ensure the
PERSONAL SAFETY os GUNNERs.
They have been detailed ior that purpose BY the
Secretary OF war to experiment on this new inven-
ton previous TO Its introduction into general SER
vice. Yesterday during morning and afternoon
they were firing these hollow Shells and will
CONTINUE THEIR EXPERIMENTS
for the rest of the week. General Brannan also re,
marked that about this time last year a SIM
liar excitement was created beard the
steamer Magenta, bound Tor the Highlands, on
account OF a solid shot thrown from OF the guns
in the fort ana striking some four hundred yards
from the Aforesaid steamer, though to inexpe.
rIenced and tlmld persons the proximity might
seem much nearer. Therefore he considers all ap-
prehensions on TINS score