New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-25
THE EXPLOSION AND IT'S EFFECTS.


THE EXPLOSION AND ITS EFFECTS.
PREPARATIONS OF SATURDAY AND sUNDAY-THoR-
oUGH SYSTEM MAINTAINED IN EVERY DETAIL
WAITING FOR THE FINAL MoMENT-THR KEY
TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GEN. NEwTON's LIT
TIE ACCOMPLISHMENTS POINT DURING THE
EXPLOSION AND AFTEBwARD.
The filing of the excavation with water as pre-
rminary to the explosion was begun ON Saturday.
The flow of the water into the shaft through the
spbon. was matter of the greatest interest to the
men who had worked in the tunnels at Halletts
Point II was let in early Saturday morning, and
at6:3O a. NJ had filed the parts of the tunnels which
were lower in grade than the bottom OF the shalt up
10 the level of the latter After that having large
area to cover it rose more slowly-at the rate OF
about 619 inches per hour. As it poured over the
uneven noors of the galleries, rushing to fill every
SPOT at a lower level than its own, the swash and
Vurglinp of the different streams echoed along the
roof and were strange sounds to those no had us
tened for years the pulsatons of the pump which
had had no other work to do than to keep this water
ont The officers and men often gathered IN
groups during the day around the mouth OF the
shaft. commenting upon the interesting spectacle
presented by the steadiy-rising water. The trough
through which the wires were conducted to the
with the charges having been finished at a. m on
Saturday-was gradually submerged. and at 3 p. M
the water had reached the roofs of the tunnels. in
ereasin0 in it's rate of rising they were filled up
10 Is inches per hour. After all the tunnels were
full and the water had only to I'll the upper part of
he shaft 1t rose at the rate of 2l2 feet per hour
and BY I'd. m. it stood at the same level as the
water in the river On both sides Of the Golfer dam
the air might then be seen bubbng up as it escaped
from the mouth Of the tunnels and through assures
in the rock
an day Saturday, and until 2 o'clock on
Sunday morning, Mr.. Striednger was seated
in a tent erected before the bOmb-proof testing
the flow of the electricity through each ono OF the
derived circuits" OF assemblage Of groups TO
which the leading wires were fastened. This was
done by means of the galvanometer, small Instrrl-
ment containing a battery which gave a weak cur
at of electricity through the same circuit by when
the stronger current had to travel to- the ex
ploson. hand on the dial plate of the instrument
indicated the perfect condition of the circuit
Abound the electrician were the assisting at the
work. and one noticeable thing was the complete
silence all maintained, no one speaking unless
spoken TO- and that was only when Mr.. Striedinger
called off numbers to tho men, and they repeated
them to verify their work.
During the afternoon the drilling scOw, upon
which the recent explosion which killed three men
took place was towed to the southwest corner
Of Wards Island and anchored there. The Derrick
which has raised TO the surface the immense
amount of rock that is heaped everywhere about the
excavation, was taken down and carried out OF
danger The buildings were left standing and the
tenants of one Westinghouse in the neighborhood
Of the mine moved out with all their furniture
The wOrkmen, who were to be discharged at night,
there being no moro for them to do gathered during
an interval in which they were idle, around the
small frame building which has been superintendent
Boyle's Office, and called upon Capt Mercur and Mr.
Boyle for speeches. few pleasant words were IN
terchanged by officers and men, showing the feeling
Of eordialitv that existed between them and three
cheers were given by the men for the officers and for
Capt. Huer, who was formerly in charge OF Hell
Gate.
Saturday night the mine was under guard OF 1--WE
men, with instructions to allow no oneto enter the
grounds even If they should be obliged to shoot IN
truders. This rgOr was considered neces-
sary 70 make it impossible for any accl-
dent to occur from the presence OF reckless nedderS
Yesterday morning HalletRs Point was the attrac-
ton for the footsteps Of hundreds of people Who
DESPITE the warnings of Gen. Newton, sought to gam
entrance TO the works. They were unceremoniously
turned away by the police, and sought for places
to view the explosion with the greatest comfort
Those who had passes signed by the Mayor OF Long
bland City. most of which had been given out by
The Government officers. we're admitted. Some OF
these persons were walking about at all times dur
ing the day with their umbrellas up examining the
various points Of interest about the works, or stand
ing IN groups under every sheltering roof watching
the officers as they moved rapidly from point to
point arranging the FINAL details before tho blast
At $50 a. m. Gen. Abbott arrived with squad OF
90 soldiers belonging to the Engineers battalion
some Of WHOM he stationed about the works as
gasrds and the rest reinforced the police force de-
tailed to form the Gordon extending across the point
These policemen came at o'clock. Gen. Newton
come alone in carriage by way Of the Ninety-sec-
end Street Ferry, and reached the ground about IL
o'clock
THE FINAL WORK BKFoRE THE BLAST.
The same order and method prevailed in carrying
ont the closing part of the work that have charsc-
ieEized the whole enterprise from the moment that
the Government took possession of Halletts Reef.
There was no confused hurry but everything was
done in quiet, systematic manner, and yet with
fapidity. Mr.. striodinger, the electrician, never
losing his temper or speaking an impatient word,
directed every step. 20 the work proceeded 70 eOp-