The New York herald., 1876-09-25

like the sound OF OF largo cali
bre followed about q second after by n series Of four
or i've vibrations in the Time Of about two seconds.
The atmospheric shock was like that accompanying
very severe report OF thunder Then all over and
the whistlng Of the and tho toI.ng OF tho
bells informed the eager sghtseers that Haets Point
Reef was more The tower cmpticd OF It's
occupants aud the grounds around covered with groups
OF people discussing the event There was general
feeling Of disappointment among the masses Every
body had expected that there would be very loud
port
IN yxRsxY CITY.
Tho Keeling in Jersey City OF utter dissp-
poiutmcnt. scare had been created, and those who
lived in houses erected "made ground" werc
timorous that many left their houses for tho time,
membering the effect OF the shock Bergen Hl when
houses rocked and windows shattered. Thou
sands left the city to witness the explosion in Now
York. HERALD reporter betook himself at hafp
swo O'Clock TO the rocky ridge Pasado avenue in
jersey City Heights. and there found thousands
grcgated TO witness the spcctac, Taking his stand
large rock about hny yards northwest
from the site OF the dynamite magazine which
made such terrible havoc the 9th Of May last the
reporter set spirit level pointing due north and south
and largo tumbler Gcd TO the brm with water. The
rain falling heavily, yet hundreds crowded round
the spot denscy that II difficult TO prepare for
any observation. The spectators who were not pro-
vdcd with umbrellas drenched with tho rain yet
thcy stood the test manfully
what the dvil does that thing mane jimmy" SAID
one drawing the pipe IRON his mouth. "suro he
doesn't think they'll blow up that rock" "Howld
your tongue, listen and say nothing" the reply
Tho little boys crowded close and closer pause OF
four nve minutes followed and voice was heard
At ten minutes to three low report,
as of . small cannon, was heard, and
man cried out "Now. boys, stand back,
that is tho signal gum" Eyes and were strained
for half an hour afterward but no other sound
heard, and that group dispersed with the feeling tina.
tho blast was failure. look OF disappointment
ovcrspread the counenances OF tho residents in the
vicinity who had taken positions their plazzas in
high expectation OF something wonderful about TO be
seen after their terrible experience Of a fcw months
ago. There was no shock, no sound, no vibration
whatever in any part OF Jersey City, the low
port above alluded to and which sounded like report
oi tho small piece usod trans Atlantic steamer
when coming into po:I
the rumbling OF the earth very perceptblc the
lower and along the base Of the hills.
taken in the event. and largo numbers of
people proceeded to the city in coaches carriages and
omnbuscs 10 witness the explosion. Per contra,
number OF Now Workers arrived at Yonkcrs by the
early trains and in carriages bringing their families
away from apprehended danger in the city. number
spent the day at the Getty House, while many
were the guests OF private friends. On the high hills
In the rear OF the town the instruments supplied tho
HERALD reporter were in way affected by the shock.
Tho point selected for the tests Oak HILL about
milo north Of the depot and $40 feet above high
wafer mark the Hudson. Not the slightest tremor
OF the earth's surface was apparent, yet rumbling
such as follows the discharge OF a heavy piece
explosion. On Vineyard avenue, the base this
hill tho houses were slightly shaken by the shock
which lasted from three to four seconds. Captain Es
house, on Warburton avenue; the residence OF William
Pcake, Ashburton avenue, and that OF Frost on
Pasade avenue, were affected slightly by the
Bon The latter house is on high ground the side
Of q RIDGE and tho jar less than streets noarer
bhe Hudson River. At the police station house on
Broadway slight tremor, lasting threo four Sec
onds was observed by Captain Nangin and Sergeant
Austin. Along the river front tho conclusion was
much pcrccptible, but the surface OF the
did not indicate any unusual commotion.
SPRINGFIELD JUNCTION.
Tho experiment at Springfield Junction yesterday
under tho mmcniato direction of Lieutenant Leccb
United States Engineers. was very successful. Tho
main object which General Abbott had in view
was to get tho exact distance at which tho
vibration Of tho earth in connection with the
explosion, perceptible and also tho time
It took to pass over given distance. To facilitate
thc experiment at Springfield Junction which is
about twelve miles ant from Astoria, the Western
Union Com oanys placed the disposal OF
Lieutenant Lecch, who had erected adjacent to
tho railway station whore ho carried on operations
Despite tho very inccment weather, everything
worked admirably II may bo explained that by means
Of small battery General Abbott enabled to send
ploson, tho instrument, Morse register, recording
Inc event by making dot ordinary tclegraphic
pand Of white paper. According to arraugemcn
The instant the dot made the observer look
thi ough delicate instrument constructed for the pur
pose of pcrccivng the vibration. II consisted OF cup
set upon level surface and filed with clear mercury.
Across the centre of it was stretched line nno as
10 be invisible TO the naked eye. Properly adjusted
telescopes used that when the mercury
marked arrival of the vibration from the blast the
observer TO strike the key of the elcgraphc In
srument causing 1t TO make second dot, and when
tho vibration ceased third dot be made, thus
indicating exactly the time the vibration arrived as
well as its duration. At twenty inmates to three
O'Clock Lieutenant Lecch received the warning
despatch, 'Prepare to make observations" Private
Lees ATTENDED to the register, and amid the
greatest stiffness the announcement of the
event awaited At ten minutes to three
O'Clock the FIRST click Of the Instrument
showed that the blast had occurred. With one hand
tho key, the officer watched through this telescope
the fine line stretched the centre OF the cup,
and in about ten seconds tho vibration arrived tho
line quivering for nearly half minute. II will be
dcrstood that the band OF paper which the dots
were made was moving all tho time a. uniform and
precisely calculated speed, the distance between tho
three dots told the story The dots will be examined
by microscope and the exact data bc obtained, al
though the time already mention ed is sufficiently
accurate The sound OF the explosion was heard by
those IN tho vicinity of the tent, though 1t very
feeble, resembling the faint rumble OF far distant
thunder Indeed had the listeners not been expecting
the explosion they would not all probability have
heard anything. Lieutenant Lcech pronounced his