New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-26

had leak IN her boiler, and laid up for repairs The
buoys used were large tmbers thick in the middle and
tapering each way As feet long and painted They
anchored by fastening them stones three feet square
and weighing one and one-half bwo tons
All the officers at Hdetts Point agreed yesterday in
the expression Of the opinion that nothing of much inn
porance would be done for time after the channel had
been buoyed and soundings taken. The work OF lifting
the large pieces OF rock from the river bed by of
steam graphing machine viii be begun soon and con-
stinued until all have been removed To-day Mr. Stred
niger will descend to the bottom of the river in divers
costume to examine the condition of the bottom left
by the blast Nc BOYLE states that the reefcOuld
be seen extending at low water for hundred feet be
You'd the cOferdam, but yesterday, when the tide had
reached ITS lowest point portion Of it could be seen
and it is surmsed that where at least
IL or Ii feet Of water be found and perhaps more
Beyond that point outside the 200 feet line 1t is known
that at least 10 to 90 feet be had
SATISFACTION OF THE CHIEF OFFICERS.
Gen. Newton did not appear at Haletts Point until
nearly II O'Clock yesterday, and did not stay long He
walked about the place, regarding it critically
few directions to his assistants about the disposition Of
tho batteries and other instruments, and after few
pleasant words with the reporters striving 10
get conversation with him. returned to the city, 1t
evident that he felt relieved, but lie sened wearied
doubt from the tremendous strain which had been upon
his mind for considerable time before the event Of Sun
day afternoon. He said reporter yesterday
any successful He could not account for the fact
that the Of much greater depth than they had
all thought would be- unless the rock had been broken
into smaller pieces than they expected. There still
22300 left OF the Hell Gate appropriation the greater
part of which viii be exhausted In all probability in
making the concluding Improvements at Hslletts Point
Gen. Newton could not say when the work upon Flood
Rock would be begun.
Mr. stedinger, the electrician in conversation With
TRIBUNE reporter said that he regarded the work done
by the blast a perfect suceess-much greater than had
been anticipated He had expected much more eNten-
svo permanent upheayal of tho rock than had taken
place From his own observations, taken yesterday he
had discovered that the widening of the channcby the
destruction Of the pillars OF tho roof OF the portion Of
the reef which remained when they ready TO blast
had altered the direction Of the current and decreased
its velocity. Since the explosion many vessels had
boldly passed close to the shore following course which
would have grounded them the rocks yesterday
morning Mr.. StrediugeT was evidently very much
pleased with the result OF his long series Of experiments
and preparations. His countcnancc had lost the iu-
tensely absorbed expression with which he had been
performing his work for the last few days 10 was owing
10 careful performance Of every duty his systematic
mauner Of planning and arranging the details and his
thorough control Of the men whom he drilled 10 the
work, that its final success was assured.
Capt Mcrcur appeared TO be in his usual high spirits
His sefpossessiou and good humor have never seemed
TO be affected by the vast amount Of explosive material
with which he has been daily brought into immediate
contact He was occupied during large part OF yestcr
day in showing friends who called upon him, about the
grounds and explaining the manner In which the prepa-
tons for the blast had been conducted During the after
noon he exhibited experiments with the batteries
TO few persons, among whom several reporters
He connected tine ends Of two wires with the poles OF
battery, and they received the full strength OF
all the $50 cells contained IN one Of the forms
From the other ends Of the two wires, when they were
brought near to each other fame shot up over an inch
in length accompanied by cloud OF rOsy-hued smoke
The flame had several times the intensity of an ordinary
gas let lighting up Tie otherwise dark chamber OF the
bombproof So dazzling was the light that those who
bohed it complained hat they could hardly see for some
seconds afterwaTd Capt Mercr repeated the expert
meut several tines and the ends Of the wires became
fused when the connection was continued for few
seconds When asked his opinion o. the success OF the
work, the CAPTAIN said Le thought every must
tiu-thot the result could not have been better Every
thing had been that they Intended TO do and more