The New York herald., 1876-09-12
HELL GATE.


HOW THE GALLERIES ARB CHARoED-MAxINo
RKApY ron THE FINAL BLAST.
The vicinity of the government works as He'll Gate
presented rather drsary appearance yesterday Tho
absence OF visitors and tho constant dripping OF the
ram gave the place fororn look, such II has sell
dom worn. The large sign at the entrance forbdding
admittance, and warning the unwary pedestrian that
no was in the immediate neighborhood Of nitro giycer
Inc, was presided over By small boy with cane,
whose duty It was to warn people from the ground
Notwithstanding that a wide publicity had been given
through the press to the order of the authorities.
that no visitors should bc admitted after Sunday,
there were seven eight who insisted upon
visiting the galleries, and who curly refused
permission ut is strange thing, said one Of tho
employees. shat men will want to risk their lives as
they would do If they entered here Each one OF us
feels the danger wc running, and" pointing 70
how could we feel safe"
The men at work IN tho galleries, and who are
hourly hondling tho deadly explosives, number
about sixty. They are paid 50 so day each and the
ioremcn receive So a day, and whilc II seems
small sum for Sc dangerous scrv,cc.
II Is probably moro than any laborers in this city
ccivc, and there arc many men who arc both willing
and anxious 10 work for less Three boas loaded
With nitro-glycerine, dynamite and vulcan powder ar
rived at the point carly yesterday morning. he un-
loading was Immediately begun under the supervision
OF Captain Mercur, the United States Engineer in
charge. The
DEADLY EXPLOSIVES
removed from the boats in amount only sufficient
for yesterdays work. the remainder being back
the factories This morning the boats Will again DO
brought up 70 the point and enough Tor todays opera
tons taken of This will be repeated every day until
the entire mine charged The work of charging was
vigorously prosecuted yesterday about opeeghth Of
the whole being made ready for
rHE FINAL DLAsr.
Tho arrangement OF the galleries and tho method OF
charging clearly explained IN Yesterdays HERALD
The writer descended 10 the galleries yesterday aud
for some tmo watched tho work going The OK
treme care with which everything done and tho
precautions against accident or premature explosion
were noticeable II was, notwithstanding, solemn
and impressive sccno. Hurrying 10 aud fro wcro
scores OF men, covered with rubber coats, IRON which
the water was dripping, the miners lamps In their
hats, casting ruddy garo upon their bronzod faces
fully, bearing between thom ammunition box nlled
with ntroglycerine cartridges one OF which, II cx-
plodcd would be sufficient 70 blow all within the gal
lcry 10 eternity.
Tho boxes OF cartridges lowered to the entrance
OF the galleries by means OF derrick Extreme
is taken that the box touches the ground softly. Tho
box Is then opened and each cartridge Is carefully
examined by man. II any nnro-gly " ccrine mp.
pears upon the outside cartridge washed spir-
It's, which dissolve tho glyccrnc aud aiterward In
water, which removes the spirits. rho floor upon
which the box is unpackcd is covered with sawdusL
II by any misfortune cartridge should TALL in hand
ling an explosion would thus be prevented.
The cartridges, after Inspection arc placed
men TO the galleries where they needed.
The men engaged IN this work to fully appreci
alto tho mighty power OF the stun they carry and II
the expression OF their faces anv thing II mesns
that shall DO through fault of theirs that they DO
not 60 forth alive. Each "charger" man who puts
thus cartridge IN It's place in the rock provided with
stick OF of cartridge With this he
tfcs the hole In the rock before putting In the CHARGE
thus avoiding any crowding or friction. Every cart
ridge is made with spring upon ,he under side,
which, when IL Is charged, holds It firmly
In Its place Tho galleries being charged
from their outer end and the men work ing toward
the shaft When the whole mine Is charged and the
wres attached the battery will be placed In position.
1t will be what is generally known q grenade bat
tory. II Ia made up of about
ONE THOUSAND CUPS
aud has, OF couree, q terrible power.
II s expected that tho work will be completed and
ready for the final charge about the Goth OF this month";
although Captain Morcur states Il may be few
days later Tho explosion will take place at
high tide about noon, that tho water may
deadcn the shock, prevent fying pieces and at tho
time afford much resistance 10 the rock
possible. In General Newtons opinion the shock will
be comparatively slight, as In nitro-e ycerine ex-
plosons the Of concussion does not increase
in proportion with the amount OF explosive used II
will be OF general ntercst to the public TO know that
the finest views OF the blast may be obtained from the
lower end Of Wards Island aud from the high ground
Manhattan island, between Eighty fifth and Tooth
streeta