The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-25
BY TELEGRAPH
THE HE'LL GATE EXPLOSION.
The Feat Successfully Accomplished.

ton at He'll Gate has been successfully &C
complished in the precise time and manner
intended, and without a single accident
Immense crowds from all quarters of the
city gathered on the New York side of the
river to view the explosion, despite a heavy
rain which fell all the afternoon. Thou
sands on thousands of carriages and web.
icles of every description crowded the
heights and cross streets from which il
could be seen. Great alarm prevailed
amongst many residents of the First ave.
nue. and cross streets from 92d to Goth
streets, and some houses were entirely de.
serted by the residents through fear of the
rocks being hurled across the river or 6
huge wave being caused by the upheaval.
Every house in that vicinity had its
doors and windows open as matter Of
precaution, but the great mass of the peo-
pie had no fears whatever and spectators
assembled on piers and low grounds, di-
rectly in line with the rock where they
would be drowned by the thousands in case
of wave. The police lined the first and
second avenues and were stationed among
| the crowds and rocks, to he available in
the event OF panic. Wards island which
is directly opposite Hallet's point was chos-
en- by the city officials as the place from
which to witness the grand blow up. The
inmates of the lunatic asylum on the is
| land were taken out of the building as a
matter of precaution.
Probably the finest view of the explo-
sion was from the flights place, Astoria,
some seven hundred yards east of Hallet's
point, the ground is high and He'll Gate
did not appear more than 200 yards away.
1t was from this point that General New
ton and the telegraph operator sent the
electric fluid rushing into the mine. Mr..
Hoyt's grounds and the roadway up in
front were lined with spectators, all et
| whom were admitted by special tickets.
The police and soldiers excluded every one
not provided with ticket, the line being
drawn 1900 yards off where nothing could
be seen.
After the firing of the fret gun the excite
| ment became intense, and many ladies got
| nervous and uneasy. All occupants of
houses opened their windows and doors
and vacated their premises by the advice of
| Gen. Newton. The rain descended IN tor
| rents, and the second gun went off csus-
ing general scramble for good position
and consultation of watches. Every
| minute, as it passed, was now eagerly
counted, and at one-half minute of time off
went another gun, and many thought it was
the mine. Every eye was kept riv,ed on
the expanse of water, under which the ex-
plosives were known to be. Sud
denly cloud Of water, turned into
| a white spray, shot up just off
Hallett's Point. This was followed by a
cloud of black smoke, rocks and lumber,
and at the same moment heavy shock ran
through the ground and gave one an i'm
preston of being lifted about two inches.
The sound of the explosion was not loud,
but low, rumbling and deep, as a cloud OF
yellow smoke followed the rocks and the
entire water had become again level, no
traces being left but large yellow space
caused by the mud and other substances
thrown up. The moment the explosion
vas over small boats, tugs and steamers of
all kinds shot out from every quarter, their
objective point being Haetts Point
Not window in Astoria was broken, nor
the slightest damage done. AT the works
it was found that the Golfer dam which
surrounded the shaft was gone. A small
house which stood close by the shaft was
thrown distance of ten feet, but the other
buildings were just as before the explosion.
The affair was complete success and
the whole reef was blown up. Seekers
after relics made raid on the great bunch
Of wires by which the mine was set of,and
soon but few of them were left. The tide
has been materially changed by the explo-
sion and now current sets directly on the
Big and Little Mill rocks, they will have
to be exploded next on the New York side
directly opposite the scene Of action
At the moment Of the explosion dull
thud was heard, rocks tumbled beneath the
feet of the multitude rs il from two quick
pusatons of earthquake water which ap-
peared to remain stationary for an instant
broke and spurted up in irregular dark yell
lowish masses, about twelve feet high
masked with dark smoke from the dyna-
mite, then 1t fell back and in moment the
river resumed its usual peaceful aspect.
Three mighty cheers arose from all, the
northeast side OF the city and from steam
ers and boats, steam whistles were blown
and bells were rung ont joyously and all
was over. It's report was scarcely noticea-
BILE. There was no conclusion in the air
and not pane of glass was broken in the
city or edwards island. A slight shock
was felt, so slight was the shock, that every
person was disappointed, fears of damages
to buildings were happily not realized as
neither were the anticipations. There can
be no doubt of the success of the undertake
ing, as the police beats steamed over the
ground several times subsequently,, which
could not be done previous to the explos-
ion.
Shortly after 2;51 a dispatch was receiv-
ed at S7th street precinct, stating that the
sh 'ck was felt at that place. Another
communication from the relitentiarY at
Blackwell's Island stated the report was
dull and vibration very slight. A telegram
from 23d pre- cnct stated that no accident
occurred anywhere. A dispa oh from
Yonkers reported a slight tremor was per-
ceptible there Dr.. Pemod, in charge of
the signal station of New y ork, six and a
quuter lies from the scene of the explo-
sion, says he heard the noise of the blast
which resembled the discharge Of mu-
kerry.