The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-29
THE HELL GATE EXPLOSION.
Tn Feat Successfully Accomplished.

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 heavy
rain which fell all the afternoon. Thou
sands on thousands Of carriages and veh-
icles of every description crowded the
heights and cross streets from which II
could be seen. Great alarm prevailed
amongst many residents of the First ave-
nue. and cross streets from SGD to Goth
streets, and some houses were entirely de- |
serted by the residents through fear of the |
rocks being hurled across the river or a
huge wave being caused by the upheaval.
Every house in that vicinity had its
doors and windows open as q matter Of
precaution, but the great mass Of the peo
pie had no fears whatever and spectators
assembled on piers aud 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 precauton.
Probably the frest view of the eXplo-
sion was from the flights place, Astoria,
come seven h~-ls--i s-o-els aost of Hallets
point, the ground il 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 NINE Mr..
Hoyt's grounds and the roadway up in
front were lined with spectators, all eff
whom were admitted by special tickets.
The police and soldiers excluded every one
not provided with ticket, the line beng
drawn 1900 yards Off where nothing could
be seen.
After the firing of the first gun the excite
mert became intense, and many ladies got
|
houses opened their windows and doors
and vacated their premise by tie advice of
Gen. Newton. The rain descended IN tor
rents, and the second gun went off caus
ing general scramble for good position
and a consultation Of watches. Every
minute, as it passed, was now eagerly
counted, and 1T one-half minute o! time If
went another gun and many thought Il wss
the mine Every eye was kept rIvited on
the expanse Of wafer, under which the ex-
plosives were known TO be. Sud
denly cloud of waer, turned in
a while spray, shot up just eff
Hallett's Point. This was followed by
cloud of black smoke, locks and lumber,
aud 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 rot loud,
but low, rumbllng and deep, as q 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 sub. tances
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 ualletts 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 q, before the explosion.
The affair was complete success and
the whole reef was blown up. Seekers
after relics made a 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 a 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 a dull
thud was heard, rocks tumbled beneath the
feet of the multitude as if from two quick
pulsations of earthquake water which ap-
|
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 a 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. Its report was scarcely noticea-
BILE. There was no conclusion in the air
and not pane of glass wal broken in the
city or on. Wards 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 bca's steamed over the
ground several times subsequently, which
could not be done previous TO the explos-
ion.
Shortly after 2;51 dispatch was receiv-
ed at o7lh street precinct, stating that the
shock was felt at that place. Another
communication from the peltenlary at
Backwell's Island stated the report was
dull and vibration very slight, A telegram
from 23d precinct stated that no accident
occurred anywhere. A dispatch from
fonkers reported slight tremor was per-
ceptible there. DR.. Pemod, in charge If
the signal station of New ork, six and
quarter miles from the scene of the explo-
SION, says he heard the noise of the blast
which resembled the discharge of mu-
kerry.
Personal
Hon. Thomas Barlou died at his resi-.