Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-04
+ A TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING.

A TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING. =
Hal1ett Point Reef and He'll Gate no More.
Particulars of the Explosion.
On Sunday morning, Sept. 25th, Gen.
John Newton, the great American civil
engineer in charge, left New York for
the reef, where he remained for an
hour SO as to arrange the last prelimin-
aries. Afterwards he repaired to the
residence of q gentleman below Pot
Rock cave, known by the name of
Hollis place, it being 700 yards east Of
Hallett's Point. The ground is high and
Hell Gate did not appear more than
200 yards away. It was from this point
that Gen. Newton and the telegraph
operators sent the electric fluid into the
mine.
, Many persons braved the storm of
September "a, to look for the last time
at the mighty excavations on Hallett
Point reef, among them a number of
ladies, who walked with perfect COM
posure over q mine of $4,000 pounds
Of dynamite. At 1910 P. NJ, the wires
were connected and taken into the
bomb proof. The shaft was then en-
tirely cleared of debris, and the work
men ascended the stairs for the last
time. When the miners reached the
ground above. three cheers were given
for Gen. Newton, Capt. Mercur, Mr..
Boyle, Mr.. Striedengee, and success
fGl blast. At 1920 dispatches were
sent to Washington stating that the
work had been completed. At mid
night Capt. Mercur ordered the gate of
the syphon to be opened, and Barney
Boyle turned the valve N The water
howled through the iron pipe, resound-
ing through the galleries with the roar
of Niagara. The work has been sue.
cessfully completed without. accident,
and all that remained was for gentle
inundation of the excavation.
= After dark, Saturday evening, the in
mates of the House of the Good Shep-
herd, at the foot Of Eghty-ninth street,
East River, were removed, The build
ing was on the ledge of rock which was
a continuation of the reef to be ex-
ploded. A large force Of police went
to Warner and Blackwell's Islands, to
assist the regular Keepers in their care
of the lunatics, prisoners, and others in
the numerous county buildings. The
police, in force, was also distributed
along the East River, from which a
view of Hallett's Point could be had, to
keep away the sight-seers. Great
alarm prevailed amongst residents of
Fifth avenue, and across from Second
to Ninety sixth street, and some houses
were entirely deserted by residents,
through fear of rocks being hurled
across the river, or huge wave being
caused by the upheaval. Every house
in the vicinity had its doors and win
dows open as a matter of precaution,
but the great mass of people had no
fears whatever, and spe ctators swarmed
on piers and low grounds directly in
line with the rock, where they would
be drowned by thousands in case of
wave, Police lined First and Second
avenues, and were stationed amongst
the crowd in case of a panic,
A birdseye view of the point of inter-
est was had by 10000 or $4,000 at the
heights between Eighty-second and
Ninety-sixth streets, at Third avenue,
where there are no houses directly op-
poslte. Across the river was Hallett's
Point, and timbers and shanties at the
opening of the shaft. Nearly midway
in the river, but trihe north, was a
little island with boathouse, and few
hundred yards to the south was little
rock surmounted by an advertising
board. The rock to be blasted lay be-
meath the surface between the little is
land and Hallet's Point. Governm ent
scows and the police and emigration
board steamer, and hundreds, of barges
and row boats, lay between New York
and Wards leland, about opposite
10th street. ...
At 2 o'clock a faint puff of smoke
arose from the scow, followed by the
report of the first gun, and there was
instant commotiOn, the crowds swaying
about in fresh eagerness to get good
standpoint. Ten minutes later another
report, and deep hush fell upon the
multitude. The stiffness was unbroken
from then until the third gun, at ten
minutes to 8, which was followed pre-
cisely at nine minutes to 3 by the ex-
plosion, in a straight and seemingly
narrow line, running north and south
for about 800 yards. The water whit
ened and arose evenly three or four
feet high; dull thud was heard, the
rocks trembled beneath the multitude
as if from two quick, short pulsations
OF an earthquake; the water, which ap
peared to remain stationary for an in
slant. broke and spurted up in irregu
lar, dark. yellowish masses about twelve
feet high, mixed with dark smoke from
the dynamite, then it fell back and If
a moment the river resumed it's usua
peaceful aspect. Then mighty chez,
arose from all the northeast side of the
city, and from steamers and boats, anG
steam !. whistles were. blown and bells
were rnng out joyously, and all was
evera sal Tabnn 3oiffo nIad
i /, The report WAS, scarcely noticeable
and not SO much as ripple was caused
upon the water save inst over the tor