New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-23
THE HE'LL GATE MINE.
now THE CHARGES WILL BE FIRED.

PRIMERS, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. VIM
AND cIRcUITs-THE MANNER IN WHICH GEN.
NEWTON WILL EXPLODE THE MINE
The arrangements for firing the separate
charges which win untedy cause the great explosion at
ganets Point tomorrow afternoon have been at length
erected Every that ingenuity could suggest
has been exhausted 70 make the plan simple complete
and without the possibility Of fs1ure, and II seems
impossible that there should be any disappointment to
chose have planned the work. or TO tho thousands
who viii gather in the vicinity TO look upon the nnal
scene The following is account of tho methods to
be employed, as explained by Gen. Newton and Capt
hercur to TRIBUNE reporter, and as they can DO seen
on the ground by those who allowed to inspect the
wires and machinery
Near the mouth Of the shaft bOmbproof building ms
been constructed about 10 feet square, in which the bat
teres are placed They are what are called wet oat
ferries in distinction from "frction" batteries. The
former generate tho electricity by means of metallic
plates submerged in acids and the latter by means Of
friction Two FORMS each about 6x2 feet, support the
batteries upon shelves There % batteries and they
are divided equally possible between the Two iors
Above the batteries upon each shelf is horizontal hHe
made 70 move vertically, and 10 this frame are attached
ali the plates beneath it, in such manner that they hang
down the fluids which the small cups or cells
Of the batteries Each "plae frame is connected with
perpendicular iron bar at end Of the shelves ana
thus when one moves all must move. One side Of t6is
bar furnished with cogs and cogwheel with crank
handle attached gives il q vertical motion when desired
BY this all the plates in each form can be rGsed
out of the fluids by few turns OF the crank The two
forms occupy largest portion Of the space IN the bomb
proof.
In front of the forms is the machine called the cir
cult closer" It is tripod, strongly braoed, and sup
por about four feet the ground round shelf two
feet in diameter Upon this shelf arranged sc copper
sups each cup being about threequarter OF an men In
diameter One and half inches Of the cups rise above
the board and there two inches beneath the board
Above this shelf is framework three feet high, in
which there another shelf of the szeas the lower
one which is made TO vertically, meanwhile keep
Ing its horizontal position. Extending through H. and
projecting downward SO copper pins four inches
long aud one-quarter of inch in diameter, their
positions being exactly the centers Of the cups
The lower ends Of the cups and the upper ends of these
pins are exactly alike, being bored to depth OF an nch
and having thumhscrews upon their sides When the
end OF wire ia put into the bore the humt-screw is
tightened, holding it in its place.
Now, to simplify the explanation suppose the cleo
trican wishes to fire single charge within the mine by
means Of one Of the the Circuit closer and
the connecting wires The electrical fluid generated by
!mmersng he metallic plates In the acids, wll mmcda-
tey along the wire which connects the two poles Of
the battery at instant when such immersion made
ITS modon assumed be from the positive pole, or
eopuer plate through the the negative pole, or
zinc plate thence through the fluid IN the cup TO The
copper plate again, thus making complete circuit
THE word ssed because this theory Is MS
puted by a few prominent eectriciansl II the wire
which the poles is severed at auy point The cir
cult Is broken and the current II the two ends
at the break are held near enough together it begins
again, and in eaping the space, cmits a spark
II the two ends at the break are joined%sy piece
OF wire much finer than the other, its fneness |
offers such resistance to the body Of electricity which az
temps to pass through 1t that it is warmed and there
IL suceut dispropoftion, il is heated TO sueL degree
that it Incomes fused The electrician first raises the
plates Of the uids and the points out Of the cups in
the orcdtcloser-oy lifting the upper shef-tO prevent
TIe faEteu
OF wine to the positive pole f the battery and puts the
other of the pins in the upper plate Of Oh" cir
cuitclOser aud fasens IL there with the Thunderstorm
end OF similar re into the bottom
OF the cup Immediately under the pin just used. and |
walking down tho mine carries the other end TO the
charge to be exploded From this charge he brings
back another wire wmch he attaches TO the !
negative pole Of the battery Now he has circuit from
the positive pole 90 the crcuiteloSer--isronneeed
al that point by the distance from the pin down 10
the cup-from charge in the mine, and thence
bask TO the negative pole Of the batteytht two poles
of latter when the plates are down. being connected
by the acids in its ce He next fills the cup to which
the wire attached upon the lower shelf OF the circuit
closer with mercury, and lowers the plates Of the bat
terry into the acids Finally he pulls the prop from I'M
der the suspended shelf which falls instantly by its own
weight IN addition TO the weight Of the pins pluugng
the pin into the mercury, and thus connecting metal
with metal and completing the circuit; the charge in
the mine explodos the instant The actual pro-
win be shown.
TIE PRIMERS.
The primers ere pronounced 10 De wonderfully IN
genOus They very powerful, aud fully able TO ao-
oompllsh the result expected Of them They made
BIZ che following process Two ends OF two wires, which
are 10 become the positive and negative wires and are
sbout 20 feet long, laid each side Of small
round steone inch long, say, by about quarter Of an
inch in oameter-and fastened there, their points pro-
jecting about quarter Of an inch. From one 10 the
other OF these points which of course a quar-
ter Of an inch apars Is fastened bit Of plat
mum wire so Ane that 1t can hardly be seen
by the naked eye. The whole is then tnclosed
In copper caps, making tube 1la inches long,
tNothirs OF tho inside space being filled by the stick
and wires and the other by illuminate of mercury
the ends Of the wires projecting into it, illuminate OF
mercury the most powerful agents known for
blasting purposes. 1t Is liable to damage from dampness
and the primer Is accordingly ncosed in coating OF
Rrtapcrcha u of an inch thick Iris the primer that
Is put into the exploder and sealed and it is this
exploder which the men place in the blasting holes 20
cause the detonaton of the Of the cartridges in the
holes.
The exploders each OF which causes the explosion OF
ALI the charges IN blast hole, have been made Hal
lett's Point in several small, Isolated sheds only few
privileged persons permitted TO visit these sheds by
Gen Newton. Those who allowed 10 enter saw hen
sitting before tables, upon which substance re-
sembling IN appearance buckwheat four but which was
really dynamite was heaped up Against the edge Of
each table in front Of man, fastened funnel
The workman took from pile tube about ten inches
long and two inches diameter closed at end and
holding Il under the tunnel filed it with the dynamite
which he packed into It with stick Although this part
OF the work appeared extremely perous, It was said TO
e attended with least danger When the tubes we're