The New York herald., 1876-09-25

''les. sirl'
The tug goes her way the wharf At tho works
and tic General lands at the ferry station and makes
general inspection. A rude, temporary boat iarding
has been erected and at the water cdgs little board
platform twelve feet square has been laid down and
piece Of forms the roof In end is rough
wooden box containing three small batteries OF nino
cells cach and to theso tho wire connecting with tho
torpedo on the bomb proof are attached.
Two empty boxes which had bold dynamite cart
ridges one top OF the other, formed platform on
which hes Morse telegraphc key. II Is OF rosewood,
silver mounted. and the top Of tho case Ia gold
plate with tho following inscription
TfErrEN1Nr coi.oSsr JOHN NEWrcN.
United States Engineer corDs, Brevot Major General
He'll Gate September ~
1876.
This instrument specially made for the occasion
After seeing that switch open In the wire tho
General jumps into the launch and seams back to tho
works. Here there and everywhere he moves per-
fecty cool and collected overseeing everything
Standing togeshor In nna consultation near
he shafs Generals Newton and Abbott, Captain
Mercur and Lieutenant willard General Nowton
directs Mr. Willard to that man isstatoned at
the scow across tho river with white flag, which he
is to wavo when tho moment for tho blast arrives II
the should be clear that the party above at
know that all Is right Mr.. willard Is also
to escort MIRA Newton. the child and nurse
from tho scow when no leaves. The tug reaches
the vessel the signal is stationed, the passengers
named embark and the craft stcams her way
to He'll Gate again When she Is about midway In tho
river all startled by tho ring OF the first gun which
that but twenty five minutes roman before
the time for firing tho mins-tcn minutes to three
O'Clock p. NJ
The tug lands Ave minutes later and Lieutenant
Willard jumps ashore and reports that he has fulfilled
oil orders low gentlemen to whom has been &C.
corded the privilege OF being present ut the firing, en-
bark the tug her captain Is directed 10 lie at the
firing platform with Mrs. Newton on board TIL the
General shall como them 10 the launch. aud the tug
moves OF toward tho place Indicated.
where she arrives in o few minutes.
Meanwhile thero left the ground tho General,
Captain Mcrcur, Lieutenant Willard, Mr. Stricdcngcr
Barney Boyle and two workmen OF the scow, Who arc
to lower the plates INTO the acid There were about
sixty of these men employed on tho work, and when
volunteers were called for 10 remain and lower the
batteries all advanced Lots drawn to see who
should have the honor of running tho risk OF death
and these two the lucky winners
NEARING rnY
Proceeding to tho battery house, the plates were
safely and oxpcdtously lowered into the acid beneath
the party stepped quickly outside the workmen closed
tho doors of tho and boted them. and the
party set or on run toward tho wharf whero the
steam launch was awaiting them, the engineer stand
ing with his hand on the lever ready TO start
tho instant their feet should the gun
vale. Jumping on board, the little vessel
flew across tho covo to the firing point
whore the party jumped ashore. The General handed
Mrs Newton 70 tho littlo battery house described
where q camp stool vas provided for her accommoda-
tion. The nurse followed with tho child and the Gen
era taking tho latter in his arms placed her standing
upon empty cartridge box, which brought her up to
the key
Mr. striediuger stood his batteries tho east
end OF the PLATFORM his left Mrs. Newton, in
front was the improvised table which the key was
laid tho side of that stood the lto girl and
between her and Mira Newton stood the General.
'sCome little Mary" said the General to the tiny,
blue eyed little threo-y -year-old maiden sho stood
upon the box with the beside her, 'play with
this" at the same time placing her hand upon tho
key The listle girl smiled her mothers faco she
toyed with the silver knob.
''Come what are you going to do, Mary 2" said the
General; ''ypu have boon talking about IL for somc
time"
The Generals eyes nervously watched tho river 1t
was quito free IRON craft He looked at his watch.
''Six minutes yet" said Captain MercuE
"Oh, now" exclaimed tho General; ''what is the
Pleasant Valley coming away down hero for. l don't
understand It." ho added, In tone OF vcxation.
They had strict orders They will spoil all'
The boat indicated appeared to be drifting down to-
ward the mna Her progress ceased in minute, how.
over, aud the General said 10 relieved tone, 80,
we'll she is not too near, anyhow."
'There the whitc flag IS up on the scow" cried Cap
tain Mercur. "why not fire It now 20
n
tice tnat would wait ton minutes after the gun TO
give them tine TO get out Of their houses. and will
stick it, although feel exactly like letting It goi'
'.There the whito flag is up again." exclaimed
some
All was brcathlcss silence among the littlc group
and the spectators strainng their over tue
fence above seemed feel tho awfuness OF the occa
sion.
40" said Mrs Newton, sst seems Just like waiting
for an executionl''
Two men the battery closed the SWITCH
and little Marys hands kept from the key, tho
slightest touch the delicate silver knob would now
precipitate tho climax.
few moments moro OF breathless waiting Captain
Mercur's watch declares the time arrived. Mr. Stred
engers fingers twtch nervousy about the wirea Sud.
denly tho white flag is seen moving from tho scow.
The General says collected and aectionate tone -
Come, ltteiMary, touch this key again"
The chubby whitc little hand OF the child ap
proaches the key. Mrs. Nowton's eyes fixed on
the little girl with mothcrly pride, aud tho General,
seeing the direction Of her look, cries.
.Come, come look there toward the blast You
don't want to look here"
Tho lady's eyes follow the direction indicated as
do those OF all within abe structure Tho chiids hand
rests innocenty upon the key slight trenor shakes
the earth, followed by dull rumbiing sound, which
to travel along tho direction OF tho ledge and to
come from an enormous subterranean depth. Ere tho
have fully perceived these, the water over
the blast seems to boil Tor q period not ex-
eeeding half second and then column
OF water 800 feet wide and seventy-nve feet high
shoots up IRON the midst Of It, The top of this mass
cleaning white fonm, towering up into pinnaces
like inverted icices, while TO the surface of the