The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-24
HELL GATES EARTHQUAKE.
THE FINAL LPREPdRiTTONsFO FOB THE
TRLMEhDOUS UPHEITAL.
over Finv Thousand Pounds OF Expl esivc In
Res diuc.s to Detonate To-day - Delicate
Tests Of the Electric Appsrntus-The safe
sus rds for Spectators Work Of Years AGE.

over Finy Til ousapd Pounds OF Expi ostve In
Resd sdiuc-s to Detonate To-day Delicate
Tests Of the Electric Appsrntus-The Safe
susrds for Spectators Work Of Years AGO.
At half past yesterday morning the
noor line OF the shaft at Hell Gate was covered |
with water that was rusoing through the
siphon. and at 6:t5 the entire bottom OF the
shaft was inundated. During the 0rst hour the
depth OF water Increased at the rate OF ldk |
Inches per hour At o'clock the Greeley head |
Ing was 1llcd TO the neck, while that named |
After the President had too big a mouth to show |
much headway. Though the last heading wcs |
near, and took as much as any OF the rost, Its |
neck was the last to sink beneath the SUFFICE. |
At o'clock In the afternoon all the headings
had disappeared. and the shaft looked like an |
Immense bath tub.
The tide was low at that time, and the nlng
consequently progressed somewhat slower; but
OF eight o'clock the water IN the coner-dam cor
responded to the level of the tide. As soon ss
the pressure became equalzed, thousands OF air
bubbles ascended to the surface Of tho river
outside the dam, through the crevoes OF the
rocks In the roof OF the galleries. forming ed
dies and maelstroms as strong as those made by
the tide. The miners, who had no work, lined
the Golfer dam, looking down and catching
gllmpses OF their place Of labor for the last
time. A the beading OF each gang went out Of
sight they gave cheer. which was reBchoed by
seventy four voices when the shaft was COM
pletely ned. The immense derrick was taken
down In the forenoon, and all small articles OF
value were carried out into the shed about 100
feet from the shaft.
The work around the bomb proof was the
most important OF the dav. The large doors
were opened and the men were busily connect
ing the wires TO the circuit closer. A Ore In a
stove kept the temperature to q point where the
India ruhbar cOyafinQ q the wiraa could be
manipulated with ease. Outside, tho bomb
proof had been erected a canvas awning, Under
which were seated Mr.. Streidenger and his as
sistants, testing the wires This delicate opera
tion was accom- pshed with the aid Of tho gal
vometre. The negative and positive wires OF
each current were applied to the positive aud
negative Of the gavometre. BY that means Mr..
strsideneer tested the now OF electricity through
the whole Of eight groups to which the wire is
connected. Tbis 10 called testing the derived
circuit"
DANGEROUS TESTS.
During Friday night MIR. Streide enger had used
the same instrument in more difncult way
that OF testing the current In each exploder en-
bsdded IN one one pound OF dynamite, which was
the danger Of this operation, IT. must be under.
stood that each erploder contained Two pointed
wires, connected with the one leading TO the
battery. over the ends OF which hairlike pla
tinum wire was soldered crossways The heat
through the hrass wire but when It reaches the
platinum It is met with rests ance that heats
the platinum TO a red heat, or rather to melt IL,
and the explosion takes place. 10 tsst the eI-
pioders. current was sent through into the
was accomplished by sending electricity sum
''sn' i've " minutes s AFTER ave The 81 com
menced to attach the positive wire to the lower
curry cups. The other section will DO sttached
to the upper shelf or disc, through which
protruds the brass points that will De Inserted
Into tue mercury CUPS, and which VIII close
the electric current aud explode the mine. Tbis
cd to a stout rope, which will be led up
through the roof OF tbs bonn proof on pulley
By a carIridse, 70 whion is attached a wire
leading out OF the works over Pot Cove
on the North shore Roso. From thst place
Gen. Newton viii send the spark, at nins min
s,Ss L.ss 10 % 70 Gay, wnicn VII sipioos tns cart
the upper disk to fall snd ths brass pins To be
Inserted Into the cups OF illuminate OF mercury.
which closes the circuit and expiOdss the mines.
II 10, however. not one wire tht will explode
the mine. but ls3 independent currents that will
be oerried to dlrerent parts Of tue now silent
caves In The reef.
The single wire which will be nred by Gen.
Newton was Yesterday put In position, and a
wharf built for him and his associates, Capt
Jalues Nercur md Lieut.. Joseph Willard, at the
front of the steep bank north Of Boanty's Cove.
The bomb roof, which was urst constructed for
and n nhsh r as"SIea bs Sss.d sS. Tom the sh4f
abandoned, but should the men who are the last
u arrange the electic cells, and who will evao.
uate the mine As soon As possible there after,
wish 10 rest, will afford a ten poraTy shelter.
vi course no one WI ne ieft there unless pre-
Zen Newton remained ut the works during the
entire day.
FINAL PREPARATIONS.
~ left here late last night" sid he, " and
when came home did some reporting for the
Government, Before ! knew II. daylight
here"
shll. though he had lost a nights rest, he was
as active as eter, looking into the minutest de-
:" How can any ono help having perfect conf
dence In such manS' said one Of The miners.
lie is IA Kind to every one OF US as II we
West Pointers. He knows wnst he is about,
gao tell you. as 1t is US miners who know when
those officers know anything OF our work"
The dangerous task OF loading and prming
has been tooomplished with but one accident
which occurred last evening, when ono Of the
men removing pump had hls foot injured by
wooden rol,er.
Ddrln1 the y the scow was towed from tho
wharf at Haiietts Point toward the New York
ehore, between Wards Island and Big MIL
Rock, where It was anchored. From It the n-
yited guests and ofncers OF tue army will view
small towDoat, foot Of N'n.ty-third street, on
which, however, no one will be allowed
except With pass from tts General.
ns SSa .p .Ais . act .y,s the
smith, and the Neytrs!nk. The Henri Snitn will
star, from ihlrty.h,rds sEse! q. l'so S,clOc. M.
era OF the Department ot the Atlantic, and his
stan. Al. these boats will be guarded by regu-
lar soldier drawn from the forts IN the harbor.
lhe Police COmmissloners VIII use thelr own
boat, the Senec', which Will assist in keeping
vessels out " tho way,
Though no one Will be permitted to pass the
Gordon oi soldiers ana police north OF Fulton
street, the Ninety-third street ferry bOnts " M
make regular trlps until the moment Of the ex-
plosOu. Ihe Morrisania line, which has a pier
above the GORDON viii, however not land in
Astoria to-day, but will touch on the opposits
shore, nefr NinetY-third street Ihs old iine 81
Astoria uoats wul make their usuHl lAnLlng,
which Is nearly mile from the shaft Of the
mine.
The excavation was guarded during last night
by 1--WE OF the strongest men that MIR. Boy le
could ret, armed with navy TeyOlvers aud or
ders TO use them II necessary should any one
sttempt to enter the gates This stringent
order was Issued, ana will be obeyed, as auy one
unknown In the works might interfere with the
wires, aud cause bOth danger and delay.
THOSE WHO LIVE CLOSE BY.
Iu the village OF Astoria, many were preparing
or tue blast by taking carpets, mirrors, ana PIE
lures out Of their houses. All TINS u done IN
good hulnOr' Nearly every one complains OF
bad oe,l ,llng inewlere IN their houses that
would be sur. 10 fall.
- hnve b,en looking toward this explosion
bince was boy said We young man, " and
am mighty eild Gen. New ton viii touch II "a
tomorrow. am Il bookkseper 10 the civ and
asked the governor TO iei me N u thai dav but
he refusej, 50 made up ny ulnd to give IN