New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-26
sorNnlNGs AT HALLErTs POINT.

s0IJNDINGs AT HALLETTS POINT.
DrTrRNuNING THE RESULTS OF THE EXPLOSION IN
INCREASING THE DEPTH OF wATER-CAREFUL
EXPLORATION OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OVER WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
The appearance of Hallett's Point was much
tho same Yesterday as few minutes after the explosion
With the exception of the absence of tire vast throng
which made movement almost Impossible on sunday
when the mine had been fired. But although not SO
numerous as on the day before, visitors came and went
AZ all times and toward night there at least 800
usonls ON the GROUND Some of them wandered aim
ssIv about while Others sought menenoes for carrying
away The wires which remained after the great
opsanght that was made upon them Sunday
we're eoiled M and deposited in the bombproof
where they kept under guard, visitors not being
admitted within the building Many stood long time
at the open side leaning against tho rail which Kept
them out and regarding the machinery within with eN
pressions OF wonder aud admiration. Along the shore
line people stood in groups watching the proceedings Oh
Mr. strt dnger in the STAR toward the close OF the
Say he tO what he called sOundng to get at the depth
Of water The word sounding however in it, or'-
nary of line with lead attached thrown
overheard the lead reaching the bottom and the depth
being read ON the nedoes not convey adequate idea
OF the process in this ease 1t is true that the depths
we're ascertained, but the process was different.
About O'Clock Mr.. striedinger arrived at the dock
from the scow which was still moorel near the south
ment tug-boat He allowed several reporters 10 80 on
board gave his directions to "a few on shore and
then the tug moved away again. This time one end OF
coil OF rope which lay upon the deck, was left III the
hands OF a man who stood upon the wharf The star
steamed slowly away until 200 feet Of the rope had been
paid cut The vessel then moved with the tide, when
was running at the time from the East River into the
sound until she had reached position of the most
western point of Haetts Reef what had once been
the reef When she had attained this position her head
was turned with the stream and the soundng-bar was
lowered.
The soundingbar is a novel and original contriyancc.
which was made FOR just such work IL originated In Gen.
Ncwton's company Of assistants and, far could be
learned was sort Of joint scheme perfected BY the
assistance Of each The bar which reaches from one
side of the vessel to the other passes under the keel at
right angle TO it, and is supported by two bars which
extend upward through rings frame on the deck, one
ON either side of the vessel The crossbar hanging by
the uprights is raised lowered by ropes passing
through the rings down by the sides Of the upighs and
fastened to it. OF course when the ropes are drawn up
they raise the bar and when they are loosened
the bar falls. The motion Of the vessel through the
water would drag the bar back until IL t0uched the Keel
itwere not for ropes which run down to the corners
Of the rame speak, from near the bow Of the boat
holding it N its place Each Of the uprghs is marked
on in feet measuring upward from the bar.
The position taken and the lowering Of the bar which
followed were preparatory to making sweep" One
end the rope held by man on shore and another
man on the boat held it at tie 20Ooot mark Just be-
fore starting Mr. stredinger called out to the men VINO
we're managing the bar:
"Now boys stand by :" and then TO the man on Shore
who was near the tide-gauge staff How's the tider
"Four feet" came back over the water, the reply
meaning that surface was four feet above mean low
water mark.
"Lower the bar TO the 16-foot mark" The bar was
dropped falling 20 that depth below the surface Of the
water ard n a moment more the vessel moved toward
describing semi-epse, Of which Halletts Point was
TIE axis and the rope stretching from the Point to the
tugboat was the radus As the vessel moved forward
with the iron frame projecting beneath the nun any
prominent points the bottom would be Immediately
discovered as the bar would strike against them
what prevents its breaking in such q caseF asked
one.
"The uprights hang loosely in the rings" replied Mr.
striednger and you see stand here with my hand
on the upright The slightest touch the bottom IS ln-
stantly communicated to my hand and with one little
notion signal to the who hold the ropes that run
down TO the corners Of the frame. When they the
gna they loosen the fastening az once and we drag the
bar loosely over the obstruction"
The bar may possibly get detached from the uprghts,
bat II s easily replaced The crOSsbar and uprghts are
ordinary gas tubing, about two inches In diameter
tube s used because 1t gives greater strength with less
weight
when the first sweepof 200 feet radius had been made
without touching anything, Mr. sriedinger announced
that there was clear depth Of u feet on that line as the
water WA feet above lOw-water mark and the cross
bar was Is feet below the surface OF the wafer OF II
feet below low-water mark
Five such sweeps were made the crossbar being grad
uay lowered and the radius line heightened until the
last sounding was taken partial circumference hay-
ing radius Of $50 fecthe distance to which the tun-
nes we're carried from the shaand with the cross bar
down TO the 25-foot mark As the tide had risen foot
A the mean fine this last soupding gave depth 20
feet Mr. stredinger concluded bis soundings about
lbp.m.
The fact that no upbeava was discovered on any OF
these sweeps gives every the impression that the
roof pillars Of the reef have been thoroughly demol
ishedbrOken up into small pieces The great advantage
Of this system OF sounding is apparent to any one who
stops to think how easily sounding lead may miss
high point by being dropped first upon one side and then
upon the other side Of It, the vessel passing on and no
record being made of It. BY the crOssbar apparatus
no such omission can occur, and its value
can be better appreciated by mentioning the circum-
stances under which It was first used When the wreck
Of the steamer Scotland which 400 by SO feet in
Dimensions was taken up from the bottom OF the harbor
he saunders and divers reported at one time that II had
been entirely removed To make assurance douby SURE
t apparatus was invented and used and several parts
Of her frame foundry 1t sufficiently elevated 70
eanse the wreck Of another vessel
After the depths had been ascerained to be as given
and how much greater they are not yet known, for
eny partial result was aimed at in order that vessels
Brewing from Of water might know the
seannetbe United States lighthouse and buoy steamer
eaetas Capt Latham, began putting down the buoys
one placed the eastern end, at the extreme
central extension, and the third at the western end Of
NE reef This marked II plainly Tor the large seaners
While sailing vessels Of small draft can pass almost any
where within $50 feet Of the shore The Cactus was
IA fhfa haoaraa pusnau which belOnRs