The New York herald., 1876-09-21
HELL GATE.
Preparations Almost Completed for
the Explosion.
THE WORKS YESTERDAY
AniicipationS and Views Of PcrSons Living
in the Vicinity.

The time for the great explosion has been fixed. 1t
I'LL occur sunday next at high water, which will!
about nine minutes before three O'Clock IN the
afternoon. While General Newton and hts assistants
have always respected the Sabbath and rerained from
my labor not absolutely 10 insure the safety
u the work, the presence OF such quantity OF power
iul explosive material with Illuminating caps and
slectrc wires attached would be standing menace 10
The people the vicinity and ought. he thinks, to be
got out OF tho way quickly as possible
General Newton Is very confident thu, nothing would
happen If tue mine left in that condition. He
Is deeply impressed fact that ''accdents will
hsppon " and Tor the sake o, the peace OF mind OF the
people ofAstoria well for the safety ofhc work he
blast will DO made the named, tha. being tho
earliest practicable moment after the work shall hay
been completed Another reason which has probably
had It's weight with the General Is that Sunday the
river will not be crowded with so many vessels on
week days and consequently less Inconvenience to
shipping will reailt from the explosion and tho river
space OF the doomed reef be cleared with
less trouble and delay.
Just Is the dynamite was received yesterday
Captain Mcrcur set all the about the place to
work with a WILL Those who have charge OF tho
preparation OF tre cxplodent cartridges primers
began pack the saud-lke dynamite into tho brass
and insert the illuminate OF mercury fuses. The
in the tunnels took hold the large cartridges
aud began with enthusiasm to pack them into tho TAI
holes which renamed 10 DO hllcd. Meanwhile
gang OF men we're set 10 work 10 manufacture
entirely sort OF cartridge. Upon the grounds
found lot OF rusty iron Pipe some four
Inches in diameter and about th ghths OF inch
thick aud which formerly had been used steampipe.
This was cut into lengths OF about twelve feet; Pine
plug was driven tightly into end of each piece
which then filled tightly with dynamite in paper
,ltl,
rammcd in with n long pole AS each length of ppo
thus filed pine plug inserted in tho other
end and the monster cartridge then laid aside in
q cool place.
The work Of filling these old twisted and corrugated
pipes one of extreme danger as II the paper
Gnng the giant powder should burst open in the pas.
sage through the long tube aud spill u portion of its
contents sharp blow from the end OF the ramr0d,
pushing the cartridges home, might terrific
poson The OF these terrible engines is curious
number OF spots where the roof is unusually
''ick or where pretty LARGE space is lett
without holes Tor charging. Under sucn spots the
pipes referred to will be lightly propped lying hor-
zontay along the root, and their Will DO 10 shelter
the root EXpodent cartridges viii bc placed
cher end OF these pipes, and each Will be connected
In circuit with an adjacent group OF drilled holes and
Exploded simultaneously with them General Newton
stated that The thickness o The new ppc, SO lar from
weakening the force OF this explosion. will make II
more effective. Each pipe contains IRON thirty to
torty pounds OF dynamite.
II the explosion should by any mschaEcc leave ono
groups OF holes undischargco Is his intcn-
lion 10 place quantity OF dynamite upon their urlaco
and explode The dciinQuent charges by c"ncussion
TIE men worked until hal. past SIX O'Clock last
ing, ana under The direction OF MI Bernard Boyle the
Work oil charain: the mine MS fully COM
peted, including the getting into place OF
about fifteen OF the terrible iron pipes alluded
o. the charges almost ready aud the battery Will
be complete in every dr,nil to-day, Every wire has
been separately tested by Mr. Stredenger charge OF
th's porton oi The work, and When Que was Ioand in
any respect ceicctve IL at once rejected. This
morning The most dangerous OF all poruons o the
WI! begin That Is the charging os zach hole with
an expodcli cartridge or primer, with electric wires
attached. 1t ~ expected that these VIII all
be IN pace by tomorrow night, and The mine will be
flooded on Saturday. This Latter process viii occupy
about twenty-five hours, and by Sunday morning
everything vii be IN rea,incss or the blast
The ia Will not reach IT'S highest level until
nearly three O'Clock the afternoon, and accordnsly
that The ume upon for the explosion. All the
residents OF the shore Tor distance of several miles
have made preparations 10 out IN small boats alter
the blast wnen the. cNrcc 20 hnd the surface OF the
covered with dead ush
Captain Woods OF tue Long Island City police force
Was In consultation With General Newton yesterday
nbUut The disposition 0i MS men SUNDAY. The po-
lice and military viii 10 m Il Gordon ron tho Astoria
ciry clear around the shait TO the river distance
OF about LEO yards. General Newton expressed mis-
becl i+a all the light fingered fraternity from New
Iork would be ON hand, and locuarly gave utterance
To hls eradication from lhc expected presence of the
police and detectives, as without them be feared tho
thieves might pick tbc pockets OF the soldiers.
number oil residents OF Astoria called upon the
General and upon Captain Mercur throughout the day
with anxious inquiries us TO whether they should take
down pier glasses from the walls oi their houses ire
officers unequal 10 The OCCASION, aud told tho
quircrs TO consult their own fancy in The matter II
would be hard 10 tell whether even very slight
vibration might not shattcr such fragile articles.
Carpenters were busily employed IN erecting upon
She drlll elevated platform capable OF accom-
modating some nity people. temporary wooden
handrail. well butt around this, and benches placed
upon II for the accommodation OF "a party OF trends o
Mrs General Newton, who viii be invited TO witness
the blast The will be anchored tho occas on
the New York shore ana almost In n direct line
with the mine The entire quantity OF dynamite rcnd
rock aud vulcan powder used IN the blast can be
authortativcy stated as 80, 600 POUNDS