The daily gazette., 1879-09-20
FIRST EDITION..
Clearing the Christians Channel


ERR, NEAR THE OLD FERRY WHARF
DIvkR AT WORK. b.. -
A csrious looking frame work, rising
out of the Christiana, sustained by pill
Ing an equally curious looking piece of
machinery, from which jets of white
steam constantly issued, attracted the at
tentIon of many persons who dropped
down TO the wharf OH the Christians, al
the foot Of Front street, yesterday. Be-
side IL rode at anchor large scow, pro-
vided with stout block and fall derrick,
and MINDLESS, ropes and other hoisting
apparatus. The cation of these unu-
sual objects was about forty or fifty feet
from low water mar k, on the south bank
of the river, just in front of the sold fer
ry' rolling mill.
All Of yesterday morning the machln-
cry on the platform pufIed and snorted,
aud made Jacket that could be heard
long before the river shore was reached.
II soon became apparent to the close oh.
server that this piece OF machinery was
a blasting drill, af er which the reasona-
ble inference was that efforts were in
progress for the removal of the rocks that
have made this poiht in the river rather
dangerous for navigation for years past.
This Inference is COZ 0irect. Mr.. Cum
mings, of New York, who was awarded
the contract for removing obstructions
from the Chrstiana at this point, is now
at work upon his own supervision, and
the efficient management of Mr.. Thom-
as Locke, of this city. The job Ii an
extremely difficult one,as the rock forms
a solid ledge, and will require hard and
persistanL exertions to bring II to a sue
cessftil completion. Mr.. Cummings ex-
poets 10 remove about 90 cubic yards of
this solid rock, before winter sets in.
The operations of the wOrkmen are
quite interesting. The drill Is operated
by an expert diver, James McNamee by
name, who, clad IN his submarine appar-
el, goes down ". the bottom of the river,
adjusts the drll attends to its operations,
prepares the blast, fixes the hosting tao
kle around the broken rock, and attends
to all the other work that has to be done
below the water. Clad in his diving
harness, Mr.. McNamee certainly pre-
sents an odd appearance, and reminds
one of the members of Henry HudsOn's
ghostly banda represented on the stage
when "Rip Van Winkie's" vagabond
fortunes are portrayed to the admiring
audience. His feet are encased in shoes
with heavy, leaden soles, and a suit of
brown rubber envealops his form. On
his head, and this is what gives him his
curious appearance, is helmet of cop
per, bolted down to a breastplate that
rests upon his breast and shoulders. A
small glass sliding-case Is set in the front
of the helmet, and enables him to see
with tolerable distinctness while pursu-
ing his labors in his abnormal element.
On his breast is an iron weight of about
twenty-five pounds, ,and a similar weight
rests on his back. At the top of the he'll
met Is attached flexible rubber pipe,
connected with an air pump, by which
Mr.. McNsmee is furnished with the ne
cessary supply of oxygep,while pursuing
his labofs in his aqueous quarters. A
rope attached 10 his clothing, so. that he
can be drawn up at pleasure, completes
his outfit, and makes him ready TO de-
part at an IN stant's notice for bis work
shop in the water. Thus aged he can
work as handliy at the bottom of the
river as most men can on dry land, and
has been known to continue at work i've
and six hours at stretch.
Nearly all Of yesterday morning the dl-
yer was dulling and preparing the blast,
which was discharged about O'Clock in
the afternoon. The explosive material
used was pitro-glycerine, put up into car
tri ,ges, and the blast was discharged by
an electric battery. The shock of the ex-
plosion was scarcely perceptible on the
shore, but its effect in the water was
made apparent by II lumber of dead fish
that floated on the surface Of the water a
few minutes later. The blast, however.
Was very successful, and number OF
huge pieces of rock were loOsened and
broken of.
Then Mr.. McNamee made several
trips to the bottom of the river, and fas-
tenrd the hosting chain around some
pieces of dislodged rock, which were hois-
ted ON board the scow. Finally mon
ster chunk was grappl d and brought to
the surface, when being too heavy to
hoist on board the scow, 1t was towed to
the wharf, and slowed securely on the
shore, by means of skillful manipula.
tiOn of ropes and tackle, under the able
direction of Mr.. Locke. 1t weighed just
about four tons. Another trip was made
and several smaller pieces were hauled
up and deposited in the scow.
The work will! be continued for sever
al weeks, and the operations are inter
esting enough to repay one for the troub-
le of visit to tile locality. The scow is
named "Pibafore," and the worknen
number about q dozen, most of whom
are skilled opera ives in this branch ol
labor from the city oil New York.