The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-09-30
He'll Date Explosion.
SUCCESSFUL ENGINEERING FEAT

shNItfFtlL ENtlNEENlNu FEAT.
The great engineering feat of rending
in pieces the rock which obstruotod navi
cation at Hell.gate has been successfully
accomplished in the precise time and
manner intended, aud without single
accident. immense crowds from all
quarters Of the city gathered on tho New
\ ork side Of the river to view the oxplo.
sion. Despite the heavy rain which fell
all the afternoon, thousands on thousands
Of carriages and vehicles of every descrip.
ton crowded the heights and across the
streets from which it could be seen. Great
alarm prevailed among many residents of
First avenue and cross streets from Sind
to 95th streets, and some houses were
entirely deserted by residents, through
fear Of rocks being hurled across 'he
river or hugo wavo being caused by he
uphoaving. Every house in that vicinity
had the doors and windows oren aa Il
matter of precaution, but the great MAG
Of the people had no fear whatever, and
the spectators swaTmed Oil tho piers aud
low grounds directly in limo with the
rock, where they would have been drowu-
ed by thousands 10 case OF wave The
police lined lst aud 2nd avenues, and
we're stationed amongst the crowds on the
rocks to be available in the event of a
panic. Wards Island, directly opposite
Halett's Point,was chosen By the city off
Gals as the place from which to witness
the grand blow up. The inmates of the
Lunatic Asylum on the island were taken
out Of the building, as a matter Of prc
caution. Probably the finest view Of the
explosion was from Berit's Place. Astoria.
some 500 yards east Of lIalle.'s Point.
The ground is high, and Hell Gate did
not appear moro than 200 yards away
1t was from this point that General New.
ton and tho telegraph operator seat the
electric fluid rushing iuto the niue Sir.
Hoyt's grounds and roadway iu front we're
lined with spectators, all OF ahom were
admitted by special tickets The police
and soldiers excluded every one not pro
vided with q ticket. A line was drawn
1900 yards off, where nothing could he
seen.
After the firing of the first gun, the
excitement became intense, and many
ladies got nervous and uneasy. All oc.
cupants Of houses opened their windows
and doors, and vacated their premises by
advice Of General Newton. The rain fell
in torrents, aud the second gun went of,
causing general scramble for good posi-.
tons and consultation Of watches. Ey
cry minute as it passed was now engcrly
counted, aud at one bal minute, of went
another gun, and many thought it was tho
mine Every eye was kept rigetcd on
the expanse Of water under which the
explosives were known to be- Suddenly
cloud of water turned into white spray,
shot up just off Hsllelt's Point; this was
followed by u cloud of black smoke rocks
and lumber, and at the seine momont q
heavy shock ran through the ground. The
sound Of the explosion was not loud, but
low, rumhling and deep. 4 cloud Of
yellow smoke followed the rocks, and
in ten seconds the water bad become
again level, no traces being left but a
large yellow space, caused by mud and
other substances thrown up. Tho moment
the explosion was over small boat. tag
and steamers Of ell kinds shot cut from
all quarters, their objective point being
Halett's Point. Not a window in Asto.
ria was broken, nor the slightcst damage
doue. At the works il vas found that
the Golfer dam which surrounded the shaft
was entirely gooo 4 email house which
stood close by the shaft was throTn 3
distance Of ten feet, bu, ali the other
buildings were just as before the cxplo.
sion. The affair Wa. . complete success
and the whole reef was blown up. Seek.
ers after relics made raid on the great
bunch Of wires by which tho mines were
set of, and soon but few we're left The
tide has been materially changed by the
explosion, and now the current sets di.
recily on Big and Littlo Mill Rocks.
They will have to be exploded next. On
tho New York SIDE, directly opposite the
scene Of action, at the moment of the
explosion dull thud vas heard, and the
rocks trembled, There can be no doubt
Of tho success Of the undertaking, as the
police boat steamed over tho ground
several times subsequently,, which could
not be done previous to the explosion
Shortly after 2;5l, q dispatch was receiy.
ed from 97th street Precincr stating that
the shock was felt at that place Anoth.
er communication from the peaitentiary
on Backw aps lrlaud said the repor, vas
dull and the vibration very slight. A
telegram from 23d Precinct stated that
no accident occurred anywhere. A des.
patch from Yonkers reported that u
slight tremor WIS perceptible there Dr..
Penrod, 10 charge Of the signal station At
New York, six and quarter miles from
the scene Of the explosion, says to heard
the poise OF the bast, which leacmbled d
volloy Of musketry.