New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-25

Newton and among those who accepted the invitation TO
witness the explosion from her decks and who were pres
ent, the Rev. Father McGIynu DIR. Daavan Blood
good Assistant Surgeon Green; Lieut.. W. T. Burwell
aid to Vice-Admiral Rowan; Paymaster White
house ; Commander George Hayward; Assist
ant Engineer c. II. Manning, aud Ensign Gait
all Of the United States Navy; Gen H. W. Slocum Of
Brooklyn; Col. Opdyke; Lieut.. GOre-J0nes; Senators
Jones and Bogy, and Mr.. willard OF the Silver Commis
Son now holding sessions in this city; Gen. Trum
Judge Allen ~ Sherman Of New-YOrk; Capt
Athorp Of the Royal Artillery and Capt Lee OF the Royal
Engineers, both Of Halifax, n. g Tho vessel left the
landing at l:I5 D. M, with 100 persons board
Including several policemen and proceeding rapidly up
the river, took position at the mouth Of the Harlem
River, opposite the lower point Of Wards Island
The other guard boats were the Pleasant
Valley, which was stationed short distance
up the sound between Wards Eliud and Long Island,
and the Elza Hancox aud Arrowsmi h, which guarded
the channels each side of BacKwels Island All the
guard boats we're well laden with spectators. Just
above tie HevesiDk lay the Seneca, Flora Henry smith,
the lghthJ boot and several yachts and other small
calling vessels Nearly 100 SNAIL rOw-boats lay along
the Ncw-YOri shore and above and below the guard
boats all OF thsm filed with sightseers. very good
view Of the hillside, from Niueysccoud-st TO One-hun-
drcd andiomth-sts and back 20 Lcxingtonaye., Gov
cred with s thousands OF spectators obtained from
the boats at the mouth OF the Harlem
River. The steamer Sylvan Glen which passed up nj
2:45 o'clock, the last 20 occupy the dlnger-Sround
between the guard b0at The DIR zzns rain had ceased
aud dead calm rested over the smooth water surface.
and when the signal gun announced that only five min
utcs more remained before the crash should come, all
conversation on the Neversink huShcd and men In
voluntarily graspcd posts and sides OF the boat
they fixed their eyes nteny upon the spot where II was
known the explosion would take place, The suspense
was so impressive that the interval Of waiting
seemed long. Suddenly an Immense sheet OF
water was seen 20 rise from Halletts Point
Reef extending the whole distance of
the excavations beneath. An instant more and the
white fOamng mass gave way 10 u discharge OF black
rocks mud and debris aud then all The little
noise occasoned by the explosion surprise 10 every
one on boald Is dat Z" exclaimed anlinquirlng Ger
man after long breath the subsidized aud the
nOsc passed away. dat IS all one grand Yankee hum
bug" he continued, q" Much Ado About Nothing"
t was estimated by those board that the water had
risen from 40 feet vertical direction, hut there
was no disturbance in the river in the vicinity Of the
boat slight wave was observed to dash aranst Mill
Rock but II did not reach the steamer. Immediately
after the explosion the small boats pulled out toward
Hallett's Point, and these soon followed by the
larger boats The Flora the first steamboat to pass
down the east channel but she closely followed
far as the reef by the Nevern and the tugbOat Array
Others came after and in very short tune the whole
surface which had been carefully avoided few min
utes before was dotted with the large and small boats
that had been lying IN waiting