Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-27
Reported for the Free Press and Times.
Port Henry,
TIE GREAT BLAST.

The great blast in the mines OF the Por
Henry Iron Ore Co, at Mineville, abou
which so much has been said and written
came off Thursday, April 10Th, though moi
in all respects in accordance with the pro.
gramme. Invitations were issued by tht
company to large number of persons, in.
Guiding many scientific men and those con-
nected with the large iron interests of the
country. A train of six passenger cars
and a directors car, bringing some 300
guests from New York city, Albany, Troy,
Whitehall. and other places, arrived at
Port Henry at about IL a. m. Among
the guests were Hon. John Bigelow
Secretary of State s. II. Witherbee,
Erastus Corning, Amasa j. Parker, j. d.
Brnsmade, C. Ii. Delamater, Theodore
VoOrhes, A. Ii. Griswold, Thos. Dickson,
President of the Delaware and Hudson ;
Hon. Galusha A. Grow, Pennsylvania ; l.
Townsend Burden, Prof Hall. State geolog-
ist; G. Van Benthuysen, Abraham Van
Vecthen. John 5. Perry, Prof. Geo. j.
Brush, of Yale College: Eiward 5. Dana, Of
Yale College DR.. 5. b. woolworth, Prof.
Eggleston, of Columbia College Capt.
LathrOpe, Prof. Mason, Prof. Cochran.
the class of II of the Troy Polytechnic
Institute, and others.
Upon the arrival Of the train at Port
Henry, four of the cars were run up on to
the Champlain and Moriah Railroad, stop
ping in front of the repair shop where a
lupsh pa,rnl oft tba rkx-
was taken to Minevillc, where tho train ar
rived at about noon, amid the din of whis-
ties from the locomotives and shops. As
the blast was to take place at 2p. IN. there
was ample time to look around in the
mine, which was taken advantage Of,
though the weather was very dlsagreeable,
as it was raining, and the few inches of
snow which had fallen in the night was
reduced to slush, through which the party
had to wade. On the north edge of the
mine, and overlooking the columns
to be blasted out, had been erect
cd an inclined platform and seats.
capable of holding two or three hundred
persons. On the west edge of the mine
was a shanty in which were the batteries,
to be used in firing the charges. In the
columns to be demolished had been drilled
100 holes, charged with about 5000 pounds
of "yigorite, one pound of which is said
to be equal to ten pounds of common pow
der. These holes were divided into three
sections, two Of which included three pillars
and the roof. which were to be exploded
simultaneously. The third section COM
prised a large over-hanging bluff Of ore,
the wires leading into which were connected
with Farmer battery. Some 5000 feet of
insulated wire was used in making the con-
nection with the Smith and Farmer batterc,
used.
As the time approached for the explosion
the people began to gather wherever view
could be got with safety, though not a
few considered half mile as near enough
to be to the mine. At the appointed hour.
at signal from Mr.. Brinsmsde. who stood
on the inclined platform. the first connec-
tion with the battery, which was to fire the
charges in the first two sections. was made.
THE EXPLOSION.
A loud report followed. and the roof and
a part of tho tops of the columns seemed to
crumble into small pieces. while huge Dol d.
ers were thrown into the air hundreds OF
feet high, and some to distances of nearly q
mile. The shock around the mine was i'm
perceptible, and all rushed eagerly to the
edge to see the result. The sight Of
course was grand, but the batteries had
failed to fire the charges in the
lower part Of the columns, and it was seen
that that part O. the work most important
was still standing uninjured. The best
course now would have been to gather the
wires conncctirg with this part, connect
them again with the battery and fire the
charges; but by some mistake. the signal
% eaoti0p thirA xrh,ch c
done. with the result to cover with its de-
bris the other wires, and the blasting was
thus brought to an end. But although it
had come far short of what was expected it
was estimated that at least 40 900 tons OF
ore had been brought down. enough to take
three months to elevate. Had the whole
work succeeded, it would have brought
down ore enough to require q year
to elevate Of course it was q
great disappointment to Mr.. Geo. q. Roe,
the agent and superintendent of the COM
pany, to M. Geo. Ii. Reynolds of New
York, the consulting engineer of the COM
pany. and to Mr.. Treat 5. Beach, the
inventor of the vignrite, all of whom have
been indefatigable in their labors looking to
this result. The failure is not attributed to
any want of knowledge, or painstaking on
thor part, but TO the weather. which
was the worst possible for the occasion.
The blasting over. the guests repaired to the
company's carpenter shop where was spread
upon fourteen large tables sumptuOus re-
past of meats. fish. salads. and other dain-
ties. while the thirsty part OF man was fully
provided for. The repast over. at the re-
quest of some of the guests. Hon. John
Bigelow made short speech, expressing
the thanks of the company for the courtesy
extended to them, and the pleasure they had
enjoyed.
j. b. Brinsmade. Esq, treasurer of the
Port Henry Iron Ore Company, responded.
lie said he felt sorry that he had not been
able to show them all he had expected TO. bul
he had not invited them there for the pur-
pose of display, but to show the ordinary
methods employed by the company in
mining ore lie spoke in the highest terms
of the three gentlemen above mentioned
who were loudly called for. but who felt in
no humor to speak.
At abOrt halt-paSt four, the guests took
the train and started Tor Albany and
Mlncvillc assumed its usual quiet. The
ore thrown down will be cleared away. the
uniired charges examined and repaired. and
the huge columns will yet have to give way
to the will OF man and the power OF elcc-
tricity ard vIgorIte. SawIr.