Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-10-06
From the Norwalk Gazette,
HE'LL GATE.
The Great TTI-ervD,o6.0

New York, September 24.-The great
hell SIate explosion, which has been the all
aDsorOlng topic OF the past few weeks. is
over at last, and the widespread anti,rina.
tions of danger and destruction unfounded
During the forenoon, despite the stormy
weather, thousands of citizens took their
way TO New York and Long Island sides
of East River, and hours before the explo-
sion occurred there were crowds assembled
at every svailaOle point, waiting patiently,
yet not without anxiety and some dread,
for the critical moment. The crowd ON the
New York side extended almost from Six
tieth street to Harlem, every pier being Oc-
eupied. 1t is estimated that at least 100,-
QUO people witnessed the x2lC sion.
As the hour approached the excitement
increased. The rain began to fall heavily,
but the vast crowds needed it not.
In Astoria, many dwellings nearest the
river were wholly or partially deserted for
the time being; and indeed, this feeling of
timidity was not confined to Astoria, for in
Long Island City, Yorkville, and other
places in comparative proximity to the
scene Of the proposed explosion, many resi-
denees were temporarily vacated, and fur
niture secured as a measure Of precaution.
General Newton and staff were at the
works at He'll Gate all day and saw that ev-
erything was in proper condition, testing
the wires and batteries for the last time.
BY noon their work was through and there
only remained to be done the attaching of
the exploding carriage and the wires of the
fuse to General NeWtOn's auxiliary battery
before exploding the mine. This was ac-
complished, and the last touch, the closing
OF the electric circuit was now all that re
quired to be done. At 2:25 o. m, the first
signal gun was fired. Expectation became
rampant, watches were looked at eagerly,
and the minutes counted The great ex-
plosion should occur at 2:40 p. m. The
second gun doomed forth its warning; only
ten minutes now to wait. The excitement
was now at fever heat The minutes crept
slowly by. The eyes Of hundred thousand
spectators were turned towards the He'll
Gate reef, and the ears of probably over
million of people were earnestly inclined
to catch the first sound Of the impending
explosion.
At forty-eight minutes and thirty sec
onds past two q roaring, reTerberating
sound was heard, taking every one by sur
prise. A very palpable vibration of the
earth followed, lasting about two seconds.
A stream Of water suddenly shot up at
Hallett's Point to a distance Of so or 40 it.,
and was succeeded by a massive column of
black water, full of stones, loose rock, and
dirt, which rose to the height of 10 or IS
feet, many pieces Of rock being thrown 20
feet high. There was no paraIyzing shock,
no stunning or tremendous detonation, no
earthquake convulsion, and none of the
spectators experienced the grand, terrifying
spectacle they expected. All was over in
side of three seconds, at the furtherest. As
the water spouts subsided, huge wave of
dark, muddy water, rolled from Hallett's
Reef towards the New York shore, but its
force was soon spent and before it reached
the shore 1t was rendered incapable of dam
age. So surprised were the spectators at
the apparently insignificant result that
many were inclined to believe that only
portion of the terrible dynamite had ex-
ploded, and that their ears would yet be
stunned by the deafening reports of a
greater explosion; bnt no other noise was
heard. The mine had indeed been fred,
and the work of seven years eliminated.
The crowds, however, still fingered ex-
pectantly, their eyes turned in the direc-
ton of the spot where the cloud of white,
foaming water had risen few minutes be-
fore.
The effect of the explosion was telt but
very slightly on the steamers and tugs.
On Wards and BlaekWell's islands
where the city officials and invited guests
were assembled-the shock. was very dis
tinetly felt, but no damage was done. The
spectators on the banks felt the tremOr
very slightly. There was no palpable at
mospheric shock. After the explosion, and
some little display of enthusiasm, the
crowds began to disperse.
As heard from the city, the explosion
sounded something like Yolley of musket-
~ at a considerable distance. No commO-
ton Of the atmosphere was felt. A slight
tremor Of the earth, which was most prom
inently marked on the high ground, was
experienced.
General Newton himself closed the elee-i
tric key which exploded the nine When.
at 2 AS o. m, he pressed the hand Of little.
Mary Newton, child Of two years and
four months, daughter Of the General, up
on the key and thereby completed the cleo
tric circuit, the torpedo exploded and in
stantly the grand explosion followed. In
the mine were "a, ,812 pounds OF dynamite
in tin cartridges, and z, 1925 pounds in pri
mers, 9,0611S pounds OF rend. rock cart
ridges, II, PA pounds Of Vulcan powder in
tin cartridges, making total of 50, 2061z
pounds Of explosives. These were placed
IN & tO6 nOteB ana pipes III tle hAFlOuS S1A-
leries Of the mine, and were at the time Of
the explosion totally submerged. The pri-
mers were connected by Wirss with $50 cells
in large electric battery, this large bat
terry being subdivided into twelve batteries
Of forty cells each, four Of foFty-three cells,
and seven Of forty5four cells. To make this
connection, 100, 900 feet OF connecting wire
were used and 120, 600 feet Of leading wire
These wires Wete attached to the primers,
then brought up the shaft in tube and
the other end attached to the batteries not
far from the shaft. Here the electric cir-
cult was to be completed by bringing to-
gether two metallic discs and the explosion
Of a torpedo. The actual firing station was
some further distance Of. When General
Newton pressed the key the torpedo ex-
ploded, and the metal discs melting, the
circuit was complete and the explosion in
stantly followed.
Gen. NeWton's representations that the
explosion would scarcely be felt were fully
verified and the general expectation Of wit
Messing something magnificent was disap-
pointed. Whether the work has been sue
cesstul or not, and channel navigable to
ocean steamers has been opened cannot be
determined until after dredging and clear
ing away the debris Of the He'll Gate rocks.
Immed' lately after the explosion there
was great rush for the mouth Of the shaft
where the wreck was most complete.