The New York herald., 1876-09-24

"rhere isn't an insurance policy in the family
"And you won't be in town when the great --Y
NOT no dynamite IN mine.
"Wherc are you goingY"
"why, to Rhode Island of course Isn't explicitly
stated that Providence Will take care or your
AN EXCURSION FOR MoTHERs-INLAw.
For several days past there have been circulation
tickets bearing the startling heading Go He'll Gate
on Sunday next, September "a, 1875 Grand dyna
mite and nitro gly cerine excursion No return tickets
necessary. Mothers-in-aw free n. B--The steamer
with the usual enterprizo OF her will 20
nearer the blast than any other boat, her
anchorage being directly the excavation" 1t is
said that the idea originated with few newly married
young men, and the demand Tor tickets such 10
startle the most sangune OF its projectors, the
entire lot being sold In single day, and fabulous
prices being offered for them by youths who have
recently married into New York. families.
Application made to General Newton to
permi; the vessel to pass wthin hls lines,
and although that gentleman not personally
In sympathy with the object OF the excursion he gave
The desired PERMISSION The tickets printed upon
embossed paper and bore within wreath at the top
the motto, "Hit him againl" Altogether they were
very tasteful and attractive About coo of them
distributed and no; tenth of the demand sup
Piled Much to the SUI prise Of the enthusiastic young
men, many OF the ladies' refused 90 all and those
who did refuse received the tickets very cooiy.
For tme It looked though the affair would be n
wifes maternal relative that after all he thought
should not 60 as the excitement might prove injurious
10 elderly people That settled IT, The lady
marked that ''she generally ruled own affairs and
was not aware that she was in need OF
Eympatby' She Immediately announced to the other
matro/s OF her acquaintance that she was going TO
manage the craft, whereupon every wites mother of
Them declared that mons but she knew how to handle
IT, and the CONTROVERSY Is still III progress The young
men spent last night IN prayer that the weather would
not be such AS to prevent the of the
aud that the invited ladies may not determine to stay
al home.
THE LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE EXPLOSION.
Who has slept the brink of a craterY who
has known what is TO be in the very jaws of death
1t the very gate OF bey Whoever has passed through
the experiences attendant upon such perilous sua-
tions will appreciate something OF the icenng with
which the writer seD: the last night previous to the
explosion at He'll Gate. 1t required craven
heart to feel shudder of awe in the black lonely
night in the face OF the superhuman agencies
OF death which, in gigantic accumulation, were stored
beneath the earth, ready through the slightest msad
venture to burl rocks and reefs and and dwell
ings and human being gs the and eternity
He'll Gate looked indeed, like tho gate of he'll last
night Dore would have delighted TO dash off its
gloomy, grim, ever weird features
Here were the Golfer dam, the shaft, the workshops
the gates usually crowded with curious sehtseers all
wrapped in dcepes. gloom and darkness and silent
ieah. The dismal rain pa.tering with monotonous
regularity on the roofs of the sheds and upon the
the dreary aspect of the place. During the day
how busy it was, humming with cheerful voices. re-
sounding with the heavy tread OF the worxmcn with
The tripping gait of tho numerous lady visitors, and
alive with human forms actively dartins to and
fro. Tho only relief from the deep silence at the
entrance OF the shaft where one single lamp aintiv
glimmered 1t not necessary to ask its owner
what duty he performed at so late nm hour. for the
vivid light when held up to his face, soon disclosed
the features OF gallant Captain Dcrnerd Boyle, and
scarcely had the writer disturbed the silence with his
footsteps when the watchfulucss of General Newtons
assistant was evidenced by the promptness with which
Captain Boyle stopped him and demanded his identil
cation.
But the ndeatigabc curiosity of the average Ameri
demonstrated IN this stormy night for
1t nine O'Clock, when IT was at is darkest and the
lamp raw atmosphere seemed to chill through your
very marrow, there came tripping through the place
clipper young danse hooked To the arm oil very ten
der looking swain and looking at the grn machinery
OF destruction with rs much gay interest us though
she had come to see the ballet OF "Baba' or 'sar-
danapalus' instead the paraphanaa of the grandest
physical revolution in the worlds history.
BoxBPROoF.
But the silence, at first so complete. overpowcring
and oppressive, did not upon closer investigation,
appear to be al-pervadng after all. FAINT lights
cleaned from the bomb roof where some twenty or
twenty-five men were very quety and steadily
engaged In testing the wire connections under the
perienced guidance OF the foreman OF this department.
mr.. Stttinger. These men were evidently weary and
worn. Like all the other men engaged upon this g
Pantc undertaking their strength had been taxed 10
its uttermost limit within the last few days
And yet they seemed to labor chceriully
and with no thought oi their perilous
situation the elegant dry goods clerk displays
he easts the of pretty girl with some dainty
ury goods Some of these men whisted merry tune
as they worked away through the weary watches OF
the uight OCCASIONALLY IA random word OF subducd
conversation could be heard but was not often that
they took for that One OF the heroes OF this
work is Captain Boyle, already previously alluded TO-
HIS iace Is and ha gard with watching, but his
very life threads to hang on the triumphant issue
OF the magnificent work, aud here he staked up and
down with that nckerDg lamp, like some ghost that
MAS haunting The solitude of the night
HE'LL INTO PURGAroRy.
M--At nine T.. NJ the ghostly silence Is still
broken. The wind is sharp and keen, and the gaunt
dismal aspect of the black sky black water. black
sheds black roads. black forms of tue watchmen, Is
unrelieved oven by the twinkle OF star IN the sky
Beside the pale lamp Of Captain Boyle and the ieebo
pIirnmer issuing the bombproof, the only lisht
visible near by that streaming from the
lager saloon This represents the purgaory, as II
we're II rs midway between the dangers OF the Hell
Gate and the OF security Here sit some list
less boozers. all talking on the Que subject uppermost
In cvcrybodys miad--the explosion The proprietor IN
answer to the reporters questions, cheer
fully announces that he viii only Keep the
ginmi closet for fifteen minutes tomorrow,
while the deadly work of the explosion
isin progress, and Immediately reopen, TO allow be
heir tr'umnh in oceans OF lager. "ve'l do eoot
psnss alter its oil oier says he. and he Is probabsy
right Tor at this lount OF Gambrinus General Newton
has sought his daily so'ace during the arduous iarors
bf the past lew weeks.
GLOOMY JEsrs.
lOP M-Thcre is a pause d the low hum OF labor
In the bombprooE The workmcn rest for moment
TO sup some colee which they have brought win them
In tins You can by their pale faces how sadly
they need this refresbment In the waohhousc,
near the Of the shalt, SIT five watchmen wb9
catch alcrtly the sound oil every new conner and
rush at him keep hun away IRON this
storehousc of destruction and DEATH but
there are few straggcrs who inirude. knos OF men,
boweyer stand IN 'front.' OF the little wooden cottages
near Terry house and with somewhat anxious faces
o,scuss he great blast some try to joke but only
succeed with wry faces. Their Jests which parposc 10
lhow their indifference and lofty svbilmiiy under the
present danger, have the true touch oil the dea'hs
head grimace -
Have you made your will, John ~ asks one
"Yes, have, JIM" tho other replies "though
. don,t ex pect we'll be blown up very nigh"
This is good experience OF the numerous stale Jokes
which the reporter hears his tour ia tue veiny OF
the scene OF tho explosion.
HLUNNATIoS FROM SEw YORK.
n p M--lhe night becomes darker and darker the
skv seems but one black blot which has extneuished