The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-25
GEN. NEWTON'S BIG BLAST.
THE TRIUMPH or SCTENCE ON THE
REEFS UNDER HELL GATE

tine TRIUMPH or SCTENCE on THE
REEFS UNDER HELL GATE.
An Event IN the History Of the Nniion-The
East River Opened to the Commerce oil the
worId-A sunday Of Excitement In the Up-
pcr Part of New york-Tbe Firing of the
Great Mine Of Dynamite Fully Described.
For more than a week the residents Of
N.torla wore taking all possible precautions for
the saving OF their houses and property from
che disaster that many apprehended might at
tend the great explosion at Hell Gate, and as
carly as eight o'clock Yesterday morning the
housewives Of tho streets near the Government
works were busy encased in waterproofs,
packing in large baskets OF hay their china
and glass ware, and experimenting It's removal
Go places Of safety From many houses the
lighter articles OF furniture were taken TO tho
piazzis and the heavier placed In the centre Of
the rooms aud covered with mattresses. as a
protection from the expected fall OF plastering.
In one solid stone house AN excited German,
assisted by women, was busilv taking down
beds and removing them as well rs all the other
furniture, even the carpets and door mats. to the
back yard. Finally he emerged from the house
wildly gesticulatng. and shouting orders to the
women who followed him tugging at a cook
Etove. which they deposited bsneath a large
apple tree. Seating himself upon it, the master
pc mashed nit dot hell bursting dos United
States pays for IT," During the morning knots
OF strangers constantly increasing ia numbers
gathered at the street corners, and canvassed
the all-absOrbing topic In ali its bearings. Most
Of the takers had implicit faith In Gen. New
ton, but there were croakers and doubters, who
caused some unsasiness expressing forebodings
The saloons did a big business. The churches
were very poorly attended. but that might part
" have been owing TO the rain. rhe Rev. DR..
Harris announced from his pulpit that for OBJ
vious reasons, there would be no Sunday-school
or afternoon service.
Until one o clock little excitemen Mt was n notic ed
among the majority OF the Astorians; but at
that time. as the Gordon OF soldiers and police
oficers gradually encircled the exposed sec
tlons, an exodus from them was begun. First
went the servants, Of whom none could be
Induced to remain in the houses. Then car
rlEes bearing women and children rolled over
ihe muddy roads toward the suburbs. The
houses for whole streets were deserted their
open windows aud doors. and the heaps Of fur
biture piled ON the piazzis and under outlying
Bheds giving them the aspect Of having been
hastily abandoned to an advancing army. 10
Bome OF them the men OF the fam
Ihes remained to protect their exposed
property from thieves, whom they seemed
10 fear much more than they did the blast
Many houses were guarded by private watch
rnen. and In very few the entire families re-
walk through the deserted street. inside the
Gordon few minutes before the explosion was
churches stared with wide-open doors aud win
aows; 90 no lying creature was visible save
Tore an elegant mansion.
The police aud military ARA ngements
were satisfactory TO Gen. Newton and his
suggestions were needed by the police OF this
city and Astoria. About 200 Of the New York
force reported to Inspector rhorne in the Eighty
eighth street station at noon, and were detailed
TO guard the river front and the streets and ave-
MUGS where large numbers might gather. They
wero especially instructed TO guard vacated
houses MANY OF the officers were ordered to
wear civilians clothing.
The OF platoons Of the Forty-seventh street
police were sent TO Black wells Island and the
on platoons OF the lhirty hfth street aud tho
iesry' Vent I" wSras Island netnpcbyment ntphby sna
from the steamboat squad were detailed for
duty on the piers, when tho Government steam
boats were announced 90 receive passengers at
Lhs u re once. Broome, Twenty.third. and
Thirtr-third streets. The police boat Seneca, so
tne Mayor, Aldermen, and other city officials to
WARD land and then act as guard boat
The police had much trouble In restraining
bur1:c--s 9. ~ ToanP men who had row hoa,s
NJ the up-town piers, and who seemed anxious
20 endanger themselves. A Gordon Of police
prevented any one from going near the river In
the neighborhood Of the House Of the Good
shspneId. me police on, the line from
20 do Many who reached convenient spots did
30 at great inconvenience. and were In iii humor
WHEN they encountered the police
Capt. A. $. Woods, with sergts whitcomb,
Darcy, McManus, and Smith, and thirty-four
latrolmen, with the United states Engineers
battalion from Wiiletts PUut, and three de-
tachmcnts Of Companies A, u, aud from the
eau!e place, under C4pts. Miller, Livermore, aud
Hhdbury. formed the Gordon at Astoria and
nearest 10 the works. Gen. Abbott and Capt.
Woods we're In command. The lire extended
from the north side OF Fulton street to Frank
40 " Esinsen ana thence 10 rol Cove, tue fun
length being l,2O0 feet. nudreds who had no
paeSes begged admission within the lines, AMI
WpeD denied, turned away without quafrelllng.