The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-25

to nre the battery from point on the other sid 9
OF Pot Cove. where bo would have $50 yards Of
| water between him and the explosion. Yester-
uay morning the opinion was freely expressed
that the bomb-troof was not n safe place to be
| In. and some persons believed It must he blown
| W and the batteries with I when the mine was
nred. the two insulated coppcr wires leading
| from the battery In the homb.proof to the
| hastily erected platform on the northeast shore
OF Pot Cove, from which the battery was to bo
| nred, were carried through trees and over
fences, following the trend Of the shore.
Gen Newton did not arrive on tho ground
| until about haif-past III o'clock. lie came alone
| 10y the Ninety second street ferry. He IS a
| soldierly-looking man, with hair and beard
@sllEnt'y sign sprlnk,eu WIN sra'' ana nrm h9man
| showed no trace of nervousness or anxiety. Mr.
Boyle, who has had charge Of the blasting at
| Hell Gate for years, showed some nervousness,
and he was evidently chalne under the sus-
1--WE been nve years working here. getting
ready for that one supreme instant" he said,
nervousN chipping his words, I've seen O., 900
pounds Of explosive put In. and oh, now, I'm
waiting for that one minute to see how she'll
broak up"
Soon after Gen. Newton's arrival at the works
the little cups In the lower disc Of tho battery
| In the bombproOf were 1lled with mercury,
and the torpedo aud rope were prepared
| from them the upper disc was suspended. Then
Mr.. steidenger and assistants went across Pot
Cove IN Gen. Newton's steam launch to prepare
the nring battery. A canvas awning was put up
on the shore at the foot OF the blun below Gen.
Ramsey residence to keep the instruments dry.
Three batteries Of nine cells each were prepared
under the awning ana pliced In box. Tho
| wires were attached to these and made to con-
meet with Morse's Key placed on table near
-. "Ney." said Mr. stroldenssr, after complet-
| ing this work, mo man must touch these In
otrnment,. II he should he might cause hor-
ribo accident"
| A platoon OF United States soldiers was sent
| for by Gen. Abbott to guard the wires and in
atruments at Pot Cove. Back Of the Temporary
platform erected for Gen Newton the ground
had a. steep slope up to the roadway on the blur
about % feet higher. An iron fence, guarded
by line OF soldiers. crowned the blum, ana
/ n Ia In a..f
spectators. SIS They could look down upon The
roof Of the canvas tent, but could not see what
had completed his battery at Pot Cove. Gen
Nerton came over from Hslleits Point and ex-
| lngly tapped the black button Of the Morse
instrument key.
"rnat's ali there is Of the nrine," he said.
Afterward Gen. Newton visited the Govern
ment scow at her moorngs near Mil Rock, and
then returned to the bomb proof. where the
last electric preparations were being made. The
steaning to and fro OF the launches seemed to
| puzzle the lockers on. and their suspense be-
came greater and greater.
Early In the morning Mayor Debevois Of Long
Island Sity sent to Geo. Abbott an invitation
ria after the explosion, but the General replied
that his troops were sum 'iently supplied.
Finally the hour for he blast drew near, and
| the clicking noise OF opening aud closing
| watches was kept up 10y impatient spectators.
| Twenty-Five minutes before the time OF high
tide a cannon on the Government scow doomed
across the waters. The first gum" was the
cry. Under the tent at Pot Cove were several
ginning. They showed anxiety IA to the result,
and evidently wero nervous-not from fear OF
danger OF failure. but from mere suspense.
wen get up this bank quicker than we ever
did before, said one OF them, when she goes
OF. lherell De big wave"
Don't you expect the stones will hy pretty
lively over heref was asked OF another work.
man VINO had grown gray In the service. and
shown by his lying at full length on the wet
sward. with the rain drizzlins into his gray
NO" said he there won't any rocks get out
OF that water"
The opinion Of almost every body at Pot Cove
seemed to be that there WAS no danger from
falling rocks, but that the enormous mass OF
wave. which milht come across the cove and
dash nigh up on the sloping b INK The approach
of this wave would, however. IL was thought, be
detected In time 10 allow everybody to use bis
heels and get away.
Between the nrst and second guns, Mrs Gen.
Newton. with her little daughter Mary. and a
nurse, arrived at Pot Cove In launch from the
Goyernmeni seow. lhe SECOND gun sounded,
now. look out" About the same time the little
white launch, CONTAINING Gen. Newton, Mr.
streidenger. Capt. Merclr, Lieut.. willard. and
Barney Boyle. left the landing near the mouth
Of the shaft for the last time, and steamed rap
idly across Pot Cove. Haste WIS needful, for
these men had completed the electrical connec-
livn la tue bomb proof py "lowerinr the ela.
meDts OF tho batteries into the fluids" ana 10
that condition slight accident might cause a
touched the landing near the canvas tent, Gen.
Newton and the others sprang ashore. and Mr.
the assistance OF two OF his men arranged the
wires, and lowered the elements OF these bat
teries into the fluids Only the little space Of
air between the two platina points OF the Morse
instrument separated the electric fluid, couched
ready TO spring IN the batteries, from the
but answering copper path that was 10 lead II
instantaneously into the dynamite.
"Ah" said srav-har"d workman. looking
curlously at the wire c9ied on me grass at his
feet, " that's the devil He's got long crooked
road, tut he won't be a seconu .cc.ne
Gen. Newton, perfectly cool, took ou. ia
watch ana stepped to the edge Of the platform.
Its just six minutes yet" he said cneerily,
as he glanced over the water.
A hush OF expectation fell on everybody in
the tent. Gen. Newton turned to the nurse who
held tho little girl in her arms. and taking one
Of the child's hands IN hl., while the Morse in
pressed one OF the little white nngers upon the
button.
see, Mary" he said. smiling
Then he looked at his watch again.
"It IL nve minutes vet" he said; " | promised
to give the people ten minutes after the second
gun to get out Of their houses, and will keep
my promise. but glauoing at the tide. which
Was nowing rapidly Il want very much to do
There's the flag" said somebody. breaking
the silence, and pointing to white nag dying
FROM the Government scow.
general "it doesn't seem to be "A signal BY the
way, streidenger," he continued, 81 promised
Gen. Abbott TO giye him half minutes warn
Ing He's up at the boat house"
IL seemed as though people were holding their
breath and listening to the beat OF their hearts
but Gen. Newton was perfectly cool ana free
from ali nervousness while Mr.. StreidenRer,
with his handsome dark face all aRow, stood BY
his batteries with the wires In his hands.
Now, I'll give the sign.l," said Gen. Newton,
taxing out his pocket handkerchief and waving
II at Gen. Abbott, who was stationed a little
further up the Cove.
Boom came csnnon's voice In reply The
echoes had not ceased when there was a quick
adjustment OF the wires. The box OF the Morse
lns rument was opened, and the key placed IN
the hands OF Mrs Newton by the General. The |
nurse approached the instrument with Mar, In |
hef arms. be mother smiling, took the child's |
chuuuy lttle band la hers, and again the little |
nngeT pressed the KEY That closed the circuit, |
anu ths lightning flashed on It's mission. A uull |
rumble, d suock that was felt distinctly, bat |
not seYerely and then the river IN front |
OF HAlletts Point seemed to leap from Its bed, |
ana 10 hun ltsef in a white fOamIng mass be- |
tween 5O and lOO feet up into the air. there IL |
secH Cd 10 remain suspended tor twenty seconds |
over tho whole three acres space covered by The |
mine, IKE beaten frOth. few black specks |
Ike upheaved rocks appeared In the midst OF |
the foaming mass, while straight out from the |
broken end OF Haetts Point shot "A great black |
column OF mud, piercing and traveTsing the |
white, aerated water II seemed for hundreds OF |
feet, ike column Of black smoke bursting |
Through volumes OF steam.
on splendid. see, they're going on ono |
after the other exclaimed somebody near the |
tent, as the volumes OF whltened water contin-
ucd 10 leap upward into tho air.
JUST before the blast was 0red, Gen. Newton |
SAID that there would probably be strong
M4ye, and he had the way cleared that the