The New York herald., 1876-09-25

Captain Mercur aud Mr.. Striedinger, and Is intro
duced to tho former genteman's brother, Mr.. Frank
Nercur, superintendent OF the coeries the Lehieh
Valley Coal Company. Three visitors approach the
battery, and Mr. Striedipger permits them to examine
it. They Rev. james Henry, pastor OF st. Law
renee o'rooe's church, St Louis; Rev. Father NJ
N. OReily, ST. Columbkirs church, St Louis, and
Rev. Father Aalonsy. OF ST. Johns College. brooklyn
They explain that they have been the Centennial,
and before going homo had determined to see tho
great and much talked OF triumph of engineer
Ing skill and witness tho monster blast. Two
workmen assist Mr. Stredenger to hft tho upper disk
OF the circu; closer aud Is fastened above by turn
of the sash cord which suspcnds 1t to upright
Meanwhile tho end Of the cord has been passed
through hole In the roof Of tho structure directly
above tho cenirc OF tho contrivance Three men ON
the outside OF the roof catch tho end and pull It
through. Upon the roof frame of wood not un-
like gaows From the horizontal bur Of this
which is about twelve feet high, the suspend, by
means of wiro hooks. u torpedo, In shape and size
similar to OF the tin bottles made TO
hold vermin poison. II lies horizontally In she wire
hooks, and around the workmen tie the cord which
supports the upper disk OF tho circuit closor In the
room below. The two wires which lead to the firing
battery fixed inside tho torpeao. whore thor ends
joined a little OF illuminate OF mercury
When the time arrives fire Il calculated to send
thrill OF electricity through those wires from the arng
battery. This will explode the torpedo, and that
being destroyed will release tho cord attached to It,
permitting disk OF the closer to iall and
complete tho circuit through the mine, discharging
all tho explosives within It The disk Is now carefully
proppsd up to prevent falling down In any
accident should happen to tho torpedo above before
everything Is ready. The brass cups in the bottom
disk lifted, and one by ono lllod with clear
mercury from bottle to insure good contact with
tho pins and then replaced.
Tue MODERN oRPHEra
Looking on tor n moment at these preparations and
seeing that oil Is going right General Newton walks
across the shalt where no meets and holds broi
with Captain Woods, OF the police force,
and Captain Mercur about the formation Of tho guard
lines Captain Mercur carries slung over his
shoulder field glass, through which he intends to
view tho explosion. Tho water In the shalt
has reached almost the level OF the river,
and everything going along In satisfactory manner.
The General seems even cooler and more confident
than usual To those who inquire about his health he
replies he has passed good night and felt
better.
At halfpast twelve everything about tho battery 10
in readiness, the connexions are all made and the
cells are all nlled with acid General Newton stands quiz
city outside talkiug with Mr. strednger and the work.
men retire further eni Of the awning front Of
tho battery house and eat sandwich lunch, eyelng
the whe the gentlemen In conversation beside
them Within tho structure tho two skilled electrical
mechanics picking up their scattered tools; Cap
Mercur leans carelessiy upon his umbrella con-
versing with the reporters, and there seems to bo
universal cessation Of labor The crowd Of sighseers
Just without the enclosure being rapidly augmented
and the few police guard at the fenco are being
troubled with their attempts to get within The rain
still pouring down
One o'clock nnds everybody busy again. The crisis
Is approaching; everybody except the General looks
anxious and expectant General Abbott IL hurrying
to and fro making his nnal preparations In vacant
spot between the worksheds Mr.. William Prcuss. q
surveyor, who has done much good work tho place.
Is busy with two assistants IN measuring or sound
ing line and inserting tags Of bunting at intervals TO
mark tho fathoms This limo IL 10 be used
In making soundings after the explosion II had
arranged that the Sound steamboats, were
70 look out this morning for s,gnal-if red
displayed It was to that navigation was unsafe
and white ono was to moan tho reverse.
Al the firing platform, Mr. Ramsay's place. at
Pot Cove crowa has collected the street above,
whence they look through the raings down upon
the platform At tho water edge fifteen feet below.
Along tho narrow stone steps which lead In long
flight from tho sidewalk the platform number of
preserve order The sssemblage 49, however. a vcry
quiet and respectable The is almost entirely
FREQ OF craft, the numerous small boats which
have dotted surface during tho day bearing ight
seers over have to the shore ethor
SIDE In the little wooden Office perched the brink
OF the shaft Captain Mercur Is laughing at the
plcy OF Mr. Quiglcy, the young bookkeepcr, who has
Just opened the windows in the shed 'in order 10
prevent them being broken" Tho Captain thinks that
the structure will take flight General Newton is
holding consultation with the captains in command
of the troops relative to the expedcncy Of FORM
ing lines outside the grounds the crowd is bccom
ing large In another moment Captain Wood, OF tho
police. draws up his mon in limo and marches them
outside tho grounds where they form Gordon. Cap
tain Mercur meantime Is standing tho
mouth OF tho shaft and glanccs somewhat un-
easily the slowly rising wator. He fears 1t
will not reach the level OF the river until after the
tide shall have turned to cbb Barney Boyle rushes
for an axe, and in moment he has half dozen
with spades upon the Golfer DAM II Is cvdcnt that
he intends to dig out the clay in spot and cut
hole through the dam to admit tho water rapidly.
General Newton finishes his with the officers
and approaches the dam.
1--WE are going to Gu. hole through" says Captain
Mcrcur Don't you think had better, Gencral?"
''oh, ycs" is tho reply, 'but would no. make it
90 biz. don't think 1t Is necessary"
As the General says this he turns away and walks
toward the little wharf, where tho launch Fash
Is lying with stoam up Going board he stcams
across to where the drill is ancho orod or
the Harlem Flats In ten minutes he lands upon her
deck Three solders from Wilctts Po.nt under
command OF Sergesnt Conklin, stand guard here,
over sixpound field gun from which the signals
are to bo fired An awning has been spread over the
platform erected the deck Of the scow for the
commodatou OF the guests invited to stand there and
witness tho blast. Men eminent IN tho government
service in the State and municipal officers have been
invited The General strains his eyes down the river
in search OF the tueboat Jnniata which bring up
from the city aparty of guests. number Of row
boats and tugs sail around tho scow. gazing
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