New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-25
SCENES ON THE NETWORK SIDE.


TIES OF CITY TRAvEL-THE PEOPLE DisAP-
POINTED IN THE sPECTACLE-EXTENT OF THE
VIBRATION OF THE EARTH
The excitement in New-YOrk City, opposite
Hell Gate was extraordinary and intense before the ex'
rlosion and scarcely noticeable moment atterward.
The people o, the metropolis familiar with great null
udes but such crowd a. gathered opposite the lower
part OF Wards Island yesterday afternoon is very rarely
seem Police officers who frequently called upon 10
estimate and govern great throngs set the multitude as
high an 100000 One police captain staked MS rcputa-
ton on 100000 More moderate minds were SATISFIED 70
think there were $4,000 persons present Those who
mingled in the multitude felt that they never before
reurrscnted SO small fraction In great whole Inc
Wild estimates which made Of the number OF spec
tators only showed how strangely the army OF Peep
was impressed by ITS szc. The feeling OF the mu-
ttude at 25I D. IN might have been well expressed by
universal Pshaw' So high was expectation wrought
that the comparatively Insignificant results as spec
tace were little the crowd than the puncture OF
a SOAP bubble They had congregated by the thousands
10 witness an awful spectacle They dispcI sed many OF
them expressing regret that they had come at all and
not few crying humbugp as II Gen. Newton, as man
ager OF the greatest artificial earthquake of the age,
had failed to keep good faith with the public
The scenes on the way 10 the broad slopes above
Eighy-sxh-sL, which for the day the amphheaer
OF Newly ork were of the exciting well as most
seemed to be completely overlooked except BY the people
on the avenues who watched the dripping procession
hurry by With look Of pain aud disgust thousand
policemen were the guard by o'clock, aud tue crowd
was already arriving Ia great numbers Every h0ESear
line from Madisouye. to the East River was tasked 20
its utmost capacity. BY hafast II church people VINO
were leaving tie sanctuares and going north found the
cars impossible Of entrance, and ladies without private
couyeyanees we're compelled to walk In the RAIN
Knots Of people gathered the waiting for
car with even hanging room. They all o3me up Win
stoamng aud painting horses, With snnOeathg mass o
men inside the platform loaded down TO the last elngng
place, and young even standing on me WINDOW ss
or clabcrng by the half dozens up 10 the car roo''
m re- were more than 100 persons including
10 sitting ola the window stls and seven On the rooI
The average number TO q car was aboat So. This
pIebora OF horsecar travel nOrthward continued I'LL
o'clock The passengers were mainly men and boys and
were In a merry mood.
The horses suffered much abuse, owing TO the enormous
loads the RAIN and the slippery condition OF the pave
ment On the rising grades they frequently became ex
haused and caused blockade. The inpatient occupants
OF the those occasions as rule lett the cars ana
hurried forward on foot But as the cars were IN
motion again they were quickly hlled. superintendent
fairfield OF the Society the Prevention of Cruelty TO
Animals had force Of men the intersections OF TWEEN
tythrd ST. with Second, Third, and Fourth-ayes Ihey
compelled passengers TO tighten the cars before allowing
them TO proceed and In most instances detained cars TIL
an additional had been procured for each car
Much delay was OccasiOned in this way.
But only fourth OF the crowd found horsecar convey
ances Carriages cabs furniture trucks and licensed
yenders wagons brought into requstion aud good
prices were paid for transportation Many people OF the
Weather class went In their own private carriages Ii
was noticeable that private carriages had few lady
occupants IL was masculine notwithstanding, sensa-
tion-seeking campaign IN the rain.
Almost the only startling incident occurred on Second
ave. team Of horses Juggling at overloaded car,
slpplng and nervous almost TO wildness, became de-
tached from the ear broke away from the driver and
ran pelmel up the avenue out Of sight The other ex-
IRENE was seen on Madisonaye. at Sixty-fourth ST.
benign old lady, who waiting patiently In the rain
and wind with an umbrella half covering herself and
little girl who thought 1t fun, suddenly felt her front
curls falling The chase and the umbrella and the curs
and the delighted little girl than the old lady
could well manage. She conquered ultimately ana
laughed with the graceless procession.
Retveen Eighty-ninth-st. and Ninety-second-st the
poIice kept the crowds back to SecOndave lest they
should venture the river aud endaDger their lives On
the slope above Eghty-seventh-st there are several
vacant lots The streets and these open spaces were
filed from EightysxGh-st 10 Observation-Disclosures.
with an army OF men and boys in Sunday attire, and
poorly covered by umbrellas. The ram was fine and
driving at times, and at intervals only heavy mist
The aspect was wet and gloomy But to this all were In
different intent only watching the quiet waters OF
Haletts Point in hurrying to the scene Generally
people in the vicinity took the precaution TO leave the
uncertain walls Of their houses and seek the street.
Along Third-aye the hOusetops were crowded great
rong OF carriages seen on the Fourthrave hill,
whence good view Obtainable
Thousands who intended to view the explosion were
deferred by the crowded state Of the horsecars, and
great multitude just too late. Five minutes before
the appointed time people who had got no further than
Madson-ave started brisk run for the river. Ia
every direction with folded umbrellas were skipping
through the mud and Jumping cutters When the signal
gun was fired this flying mass stopped suddenly, and
then rushed on to reach the of the hill the mine
was fired.
dull thud, column OF water not very high, second
and more spray and stones all that spectators
ON the New-York side experienced Some few asserted
that they felt tremor underfoot. But the majority de-
elared that they had nsensble to anything more
than moderately loud report. The water over the
mine was seen TO froth and foam for minute and half
then ali was quiet and the crowd fastened toward the
river and watched the small boats, tugs, and steamers
nearing shattered He'll Gate. Hundreds who came up
little too late 70 see the commoon in the water were
neredulous when told that the explosion had taken
Mace The crowd expressed great disappointment In re-
gard 20 the strength the blast but the sagacous
OF them explained the effect OF explosion under water
On all sides compliments spoken for Gen. Newton;
for while many doubted II the blast had enectualy
broken or shattered the reef all were agreed that Gen.
Newtons expectations the harmlessness Of the
posou TO property and life were fully justified There
was perfect quiet and the crowd dispersed leisurey
The horse-cars were not 80 crowded on the return.
Every great event has It's luderous aspect and yestsr