Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-10-11
THE GREAT EXPLOSION.
HE'LL GATE DEMOLISHED.

HE'LL GATE DEMOLISHED.
General Newton's baby girl, of two
and half years, started the commo-
tion at Hallct's Point in N. Y. barber
on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 24th, 1876.
Her tiny fingers were guided by tho
stronger hand of her father In closing
the electric cut We here copy the
New York Tnbme's account of this
great feat in engineering
AT 2:3O p. m, half an hour before the
blast, gun was fired from the Govern
ment scow, to give notice to all. Yes
sells had ceased to pass the Point about
l:3O, the Pleasant Valley being the
last to go by, as she steamed up the
river to her position, just q little above
the firing point. Ten minutes before
the explosion another gun sounded its
warning and at the same time Mrs.
General Newton arrived at the firing
point, accompanied by nurse who
carried in her arms little Mary New
tow, two years and four months old
a pretty little child with blue eyes, fair
skin and light, curly hair. The baby
girl looked around upon all with per-
feet self.possession, while the party
passed into the shed-which was con-
structed without sides, that the view
might not be obstructed-and took
their places. Two or three minutes
later General Newton came from the
bomb-proof with General Abbort, Capt
Mercur, Mr.. Striedinger and others.
The officers and civilians stood outside
the shed and close at hand, while Gen.
Newton frequently consulted his watch
as he talked in pleasant way with
Mrs. Newton and his staff. Not line
in his face betrayed the slightest anxi-
ETY.. Twice he turned to his little
daughter, whom the nurse held in her
arms, patted her check, and taking her
hand in his, touched with it the keys
which was to give the finishing stroke
to the great mine. AS he did this the
eye Involuntarily turned TO the mine,
but the battery plates were still out OF
the acids and consequently the touch
was harmless. After looking at his
watch again, he said "Come, my little
girl |" and lifting her from the nurses
arms stood her by the side of the key
board upon box placed there for the
purpose. Once more he took the
child's hand and held il with his right
hand Immediately over the key, the
spectators looking on in hreathless sus-
pense, mingled with feeling of awe,
at the thought of what that little hand
would soon accomplish.
General Newton stood with his open
watch in his left hand and the child's
hand in his right. Silently he watched
the seconds pass. At length he shut
his watch and returned it to his pocket,
said something to Mrs. Newton which
was inaudible to persons outside of the
little shed, and pressed the little hand
of his child upon the key.
The result was Just what he had
confidently asserted weeks ago that it
would be- An engineer who has had
long experience in the use of explosives,
exclaimed, "The man was prophet"
almost before thedetonation had ceased.
A column of water was seer 10 shoot
up 10 the height apparently Of 70 or 90
feet, carrying part Of that distance O
few stones of small size and several
portions and sections of the Golfer dam.
Some imagined that large portions Of
rock were thrown up, but spectators
from both sides agreed in the state
ment that only small rocks and portions
Of the dam were projected into the air.
The report followed instantly, and, at
the firing station, was not so loud as
that caused by the discharge of two
or three pieces of ordnance, while the
jar was no greater than that felt from
such a discharge, say Of 100 fect The
commotion of the water was great for
few minutes and the earth of which
the Golfer dam was partially composed
made it very muddy, while pieces Of
timber and boards were thrown over
and over on its surface in such n man.
ner as 10 show how greatly the element
was stirred. For q few minutes after
the explosion the people on the shore
and on the vessels uttered not a word,
hardly breathing, as they stood in per
feet silence watching the spot where
more than 10000 pounds OF powerful
explosives had been fired. When the
conviction at length forced itself upon
their minds that the great explosion,
which had been the subject of so many
wild theories, and had been the cause
Of fear to thousands, was over, the
cheers that broke from the crowd were
deafenrng, while the whistle of every
steamer was employed to increase the
sound of rejoicing. Three cheers for
General Newton - some one exclaimed,
and they were given and prolonged by
loud and enthusiastic shouts. As soon
as possible he boarded the launch, leav.
ing Mrs. Newton to follow on the Star
and started for the scenes of his tri.
umph. Before he left the firing station
with his staff many friends pressed
forward to congratulate him and them
upon the success of their labors.
OF course it is now demonstrated
that tremendous amounto of explosives
may act very innoccntly, when rightly
handled. Here are the statistics;
| pounds