Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-09-29
Hell Gate Opened.

New YoRK, Sept. 24.--The great engineer
ing feat of removing The rock which obslruct
ed navigation at He'll Gate has been success
fully accomplished in the precise time aud
manner intended, and without single acci.
dent.
About 2 O'Clock streams of pedestrians
were pouring across the city TO points of OBJ
servatioh on the cast side. Vast numbers ot
strangers came TO see what every body expected
would be magnificent spectacle The street
cars going up town were loaded with police
and citizens, and First and Second avenues,
as viewed from the heights, were black with
| pedestrians moving towards Ninetelh street.
! About o'clock cross streets aud avenues
| from which u view could be had were swarm
ing with people, and the housetops along the
east side were crowded. When heavy showers
OF rain came down the immense multitude
were Immediately under shelter of umbrellas
Great alarm prevailed amongst many residents
OF First avenue and cross streets from Eighty
second to Ninethy- streets, aud some
houses were entirely deserted by residents
through fear Of rocks being hurled across the
river, or Il huge wave being caused by lp-
heaval Every house in that Vicinity had
doors and windows open as a matter of pre-
caution, bnt the great mass Of the people had
no fears whatever, and spectators swarmed on
the piers and low grounds directly in a line
W
drowned by thousands in case of an upheaval
wave.
The police lined First and Second avenues,
and were stationed amongst crowds to be
available in case of panic birdseye view
OF the ronl of interest was had by IL, 600 to
$4,000 people Mt the height between Ninety
second and Ninety-sixth streets and Third
avenue, where there are no houses Directly
Opposite, across the river, was Halletis Point
and tlmhers ard shanties. At the opening Of
shafts, nearly midway in the river but little
tonorth, was a little island with boat houses
and few hundred yards south little rock sur
mounted by an advertising board
The rock 10 be blasted lay beneath the sur
lace between the little island and Hallet's
Point Government scows and police and
emigration boarding steamers and hundreds
Of barges and row boats lay between New
York anG Wards Island, about opposite 10th
street.
At2 o'clock flint puff Of smoke arose
from seow, followed by the report of the
first gun, and there was instant commotion
the crowds swaying about in their eagerness to
get good standpoint. Cries of 'tDown um-
hfellas = were UNDECIDED. Ten minutes later
there was another report and deep hush fell
upon the multitude. Stiffness was comnlete
and unbroken from them until the third gun.
at 10 minutes to 3, which was followed precise
y 1T . binuteS TO by tue explosion. In
straight and seemingly narrow line running
north and south for about three hundred wards
the water whftened and rose evenly three or
four feet high A dull thud was heard. rocks
trembled beneath the feet of the multitude as
from two quick, short pulsations of earth
quake. The water, which appeared to remain
stationary for an instant, broke and sparted
upin irregular dark yellowish masses about
twelve feet high, mixed with dark smoke from
the dynamite. Then ii fell back, and in A
moment the river resumed its usual peaceful
aspect. Thea mighty cheer arose from all
the northeast side of the city aud from steam
ers and boats, and steam whistles were blown
and bells were ruug joyously, and all was OVER.
The report was scarcely noticed aud not the
smallest fragment of rock was hurled IN. aud
not so much as ripple was caused upon the
water save just over the spot where The explo-
sion took place. There was no conclusion OF
lir, and not pane of glass was broken in the
.ity or on Ward 5 island
Immediately after the explosion hundreds |
If row-boats set out at their bes. speed for /
He'll Gate, each anxious 10 have the honor OF |
irst passing over the scene of the explosion
That the work was efFeetualy done is the gea-
raj feeling, aud this also appears from the /
act that the police boats passed over the spot /
afely. The tide has been materially changed |
y the explosion and the new current sets di-
ectly on Big and Little Mill rocks. They will /
lave TO be exploded next