New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-23
A SUNDAY Explosion OPPOSED.

LETTER OF WILLIAM f. DODGE TO GEN. NEWTON
PROTEST OF THE NEw-YuRK SABBATH COM
MITTEE.
The following protest against exploding the
mine on Sunday was TO Gen. Newton yesterday by
William T. Dodge:
Gen, JOHN NEWTON z. S. Army:
DEAR SIR: have Just received card to he present
on Sunday OF the " Hell Gate Explosion by scahlpoht
from ty-thrist Permit me 10 say that during my
so years Of public life in this city nave never hlO"n
such an unnecessary deseCraton OF the Sabph hH you
have now inaugurated You can have no IDEA OF i eN-
tet OF the surprise and modification OF thousands OF oar
best citizens. This undertaking Is Worldwide IN US ~
terest ana viii be announced by Wite IN an uf,cue,
and with il the fact tGat the agent Of the United states
Government has taken the Christian Sabbath as me Gay
ma frre do you give warning OF danger and name the
tina and recommend the position which the vast crowd
YOU are aware will ateDd shall occupy, bat yea turnsh
cards of ipNi tation for your steamboat excursion
am informed that you have chosen this day thinking
same time you provide the means TO warn vessels OF
danger. Now why could not snch warning nave OstI
moi have been FOR any great length Of time You have
not only given great distress TO tic many pTotssnR
Christians OF our city and country, but 10 others VINO
make no professions yet you feel mat our ultimate pros
perity . nation depends much on our american 10
ing yesterday Oi OF large marine insurance com-
panies, one Of old merchants, moi member OF any
Ineut taken Sunday for the Hell GATE explosion AS
president OF one Oh our principal iSlt arr 80
gauge 5l2 feet 10 4sl2 feet was done without dee
lon 90 the trains having work done on tue 5ap-
BAH" May kind Providence save the nation iloin TINS
most public dcsecraton OF the day recognized by us as
dav OF rest and quiet FROM public as ven - private
business aad may never forget that there u Goa Oh
Nations VINO las said Remember the sabbath Day 10
Keep it holy" trust you Will excuse TINS free express
SION OF the views OF who for 30 years was supern
teudcut OF SabbathchODl in this city, ana who can but
regret that children ana youth have tuis open viola
ton set before them. Can YOU not defer the explosion
VI E,sS- yo,I. sept 90 1876 Wa. Z. DODGE
letter was received by Gen. Newton yesterday,
signed 10y Norman White, chairman and W. W. After
bury Secretary Of the NeE-York Sabbath Committee,
protesting against his exploding the mine at Hal!eIrs
Reef on Sunday. The given were, the e1cnas
thai 1t would give 30 magy thousands Of people 70 break
the Sabbath and the appearance that 1t woad have to
foreign nations falling into their practices OF making
Sunday "A gala-day. Gen Newton gave verbal reply,
that he respected the sabbath doubt as much a.
those whose sentiments the letter represented but that
the choice OF Sunday was simple necessity. He said
20 TRIBUNE reporter day two ago that he thought
It would he almost criminal in him TO allow that immense
mass Of explosives remain single hour longer than
could possibly be avoided High water would occur at
$50 D. IN Sunday and the explosion must take place
then II the mine, by some unforeseen accident hap
pened to explode In the night and az low water, when 10
preparations had been made for such an event. there
might be loss OF life.