Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-09-26
Dynamite, Glyeerfne and Science Pre-
YaiI-A Gigantic Obstruction to
Commerce Entirely
Removed.
Triumph Of American Engineering Skill
-Gsnerai SeWtOn's Plans a Success
His Purposes Fully Ac-
cOmpll he'd.
Not a SOul Injured and not a Window
Jared The Steamer Providence
Tests this Provision Of Science
and American Pluck.

NEW YORK, September 24.-With q
slight trefAor OF the earth throughout tE q
city and the upheRval of two columns of wa
ter accompanied with a considerable quaint
ty o rock, which all felt into the river at Hall
Iett's Point reef, He'll Gats was demolished
this afternoon. No accident occurred. The
triumph OF American engineering accom-
plished by General John Newton was COM
plete in the precise time and manner intend
ed and without a single accident. About
twelve o'clock streams of pedestrians were
vending their way across the city to points
of observation on the east side. Vast num-
berS of strangers came 10 see what everybody
expected would be q magnificent spectacle.
citizens, and the Fl st and Second avenues,
as viewed from the nights, were black with
pedestrians moving toward Nine1eth street.
nues, rom which a view could be hs d, were
swarmingi with people, and the house tops
along the east side were crowded. Thousands
scription SC filled the nights and cross
streets Great alarm prevailed among the
residents of First avenue and the cross streets,
lom FoTty-s cond to Nlnetieth streets; and
some houses we're entirely deserted, through
fear OF rocks being hurled across the river or
huge wave being caused by he upheaval
hvery house IN the vicinity had the doors and
windows open as matter of precaution, but
the great mass OF people had no fears what
ever, and spec ators swarmed on the piers and
low grounds directly in line with the rock,
where they Woul1 have been drowned by
thousands in case of a wave. Police lined
First and Second avenues, and were stations d
among the crowd on the rocks, to be available
10 case of panic. A Oird's-eYe view OF the
point of interest was held by twelve or thir.
teen Thousand people, at the nights between
NineIy-second and Ninety y-SiXth streets. AT
Third avenue, where there are no houses di-
rectly opp Osite across the river, was Halletts
Point, aud the timoe1s and shanties at the
river, but a tTifle to Il north, was Little
Island with its boathouse. and few hundred
yards to the south was Little ROCK, sur
mounted by an advertising board; the rock
10 be blasted lay beneath the surface between
Little Island and Hallett's Point. The gov
ernment scow and the police and emigration
board steamer, and hundreds OF
barges aud rowboats, lay between
New York and Waro S Island, about
opposite One Hundred and Tenth street. at
two O'Clock a faint puff of smoke arose from
the scow, followed Dy the report of the first
gun, and there was an instant commotton,
the crowds swaylng about in fresh eagerneS
To get good standpoint. Ten minutes later
another report, and deep hush fell upon the
multitude. The stiffness was unbroken from
then until the thtId gun, at ten minutes to
three which was followed, at precisely nine
minutes to three, by an explosion In 8 straight
ana seemingly narrow line, running north
and south for about three hundred yards.
rne water whitened, and arose even three or
four feet high; a dull thud YVES heard the rocks
trembled beneath the 1eet of the multitude,
as If from two quick, short pulsatlons OF
earthq dake; the v ater, which appeared to re-
main stationary Tor an instant, broke and
spurted up tn an irregular, dark y.llowish
masS, and about twelve feet high, mixed with
the dark smoke from the dynamite; then II
ell back and IN moment the river resumed
iis usual peaceful aspect. Then mighty
cheer arose from all the northeast side of the
city anu Om the steamers AID boats, and
ste am-whistles were blown aud beiis were
rung out toyously, and all was over. The
report was scarcely noticeable, and
not so much a ripple was caused upon
the water, save Just over the spot where the
sion in the air and not a pane of glass was
broken in the city or on Wards bland. I'M
mediately after tue explosion hundreds OF
rowboats set out at their best speed for He'll
Gate, each anxious to have the honor OF first
passing over the scene of he explosion. That
the work was efectually done is the general
feeling, and this also appears from me fact
that the police boat p4ssed over the spot safe
Iy. Wards Isl nd was cons der ed safe place
from which to view the explosion, and the
applications to go there by the police boat
Seneca, and the boat of the commissioners of
emigration were very numerous. but the inSi
tations issued were limited to select party. Of
whom were May or Wickbam, General Arthur,
collector OF the port; Aldermen Lewis, Hess
NJ Orris, Smith and Lane, ex- .peaker Hitch
man, Police Commissioners Smith, Wht eler
and Nichols, Emigration Commissioners For
rest, Education Commissioner DoWd, and a
large number of city officials and pOliJici ns
Probably the finest view OF the whole expIo-
sion was from HOyt's pace, some seven hun
dred yards east of H allet's Point. The ground
is high, and He'll Gate did not appear
more t1an Two hundred yarQS away. II was
from this point that General Newton and the
telegraph operators sent the electric fluid
rusnIng into the mine. Suddenly cloud of
water, turned int white spray, shot up just
of HalIett's Point. This was followed by
cloud of black smoke, rocks and lum Der, and
al the same moment a heavy shock I'm
through the ground, giving one the impress
sion of being lifted about two inches. The
sound of the explosion was not loud, but low,
rumbling and deep. A cloud OF yellow smoke
70 lowed To rocks, and in ten seconds the wa
ter mad become again level, no traces being
left but a large yellow space, caused by tn
mud and other substances thrown up at the
which surrounded the shaft, was entirely
gone. A small house, which stood close by
Ine shaft, was thrown distance of ten feet
but ali the other buildir gs were just as before
the explosion. The affair was a plete suc-
cess and the whole reef was blown up. The
tide was materially changed by the ex losion,
Little Mil rocks. They will have to be ex-
ploded next.
DODGE ANSWERED.
Mr.. VIM. L. Dodge having addressed long
letter 10 General Newton on his unnecessary
dissertation OF he Sabbath, and intimating
that ne was making public show of the eX-
plosiOn, General Newton forwarded the fol-
lowing reply:
HALLETT's POINT, September %, 1875.
Mr.. VIM. E. Dodge:
SIR-l received communication from you,
dated Septem Der 22d, In W hich you decline an
alleged invitation 4 ON me to witness the eX-
plosion at He'll Gate on sunday, the twenty
fo1rth instant. As you take a great deal of
pains to 90 out Of your way to violate the
courtesits of social Intercourse,
take this occasion to in form you that did not
invite you, nor even know OF your in citation
until the n ceipt of your refusal to accept one
he truth is, left the M after of invitation to
the chamber OF commerce and TO Lieutenant
Willard, United States engine ers, with in
strucIions TO invite a certain number of gem
tlemen. regret TO find that in one case they
had made mistake. Your obedient servant,
JOHN NEWTON,
Lieut.. Col. Eng'rs, Brevet Maj Gen1.
THE STEAMER PROVIDENCE PASSED
THROUGH.
NEW YORK, September 25.-Last evening,
when the tide was at about nalf-ebb, the
steamer Providence, of the Fall River line,
pa sed over the place of the explosion. Sne
encountered no difficulty, and sailed alb ut
fifty feet nealer to Rallett's Point than any
to ascertain the full result of the explosion
are to be made this morning at slack water,
the current being too strong to attempt them
at any other time.
AN INFANTILE EFFORT.
1t was Mary Newton, daughter of General
Newton, and not quite three years of age, who
fired the mine that blew Halletts Point reef
to pieces yesterday.
REMOVAL OF THE ROCKS.
At Hallet's Point, this morning, the only
a few fragments of the former afloat In the
water. General Newton arrived about quar-
ter before eleven O'CLOCK, and In com mpaDy
with Bernard F. Boyle, overseer of the Tate,
inspected the scene of the explosion with evil
dent satisfaction. In answer to q question of
the reporter OF the Evening Post, as to the sue
cess of the blast, he declared emphatically 1t
was a thorough explosion. There are two hun
dred and twenty-three thousand dollars now
available for the prOsec uIion OF further work
at ell Gate. A large part of this sum will be
req nired this year for the removal of the
rocks blown up yt sterday, and 1t is probable
several years will pass before the beginning
OF operations at Flood Rock
EARTHQUAKE.
AZ Louisville and EVansViIIe-wag it
0ccasiOned by the Blowing Up
n EoII On