The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-03
Under Hell cate (

=
The wonders in connection With the
excavations now In progress at Hell
Gate, IN the East river in charge oi
General Newton, are, perhaps, known
to but few OF the many millions Of peo-
pie of the country. Although one OF
the most gigantic feats of OWL engi
neering and perilous undertakings, few
persons residing within hailing distance
Of the great works have the slightest
idea OF the danger to which are exposed
the human bees who are laboring, year
after year, in the construction of a
honey-comb out of the solid reck form :
ing the bed of the river, which when
completed, will be filled, not with honey,
but with the water now serenely flow
ing oyer it's roof. A Journal reporter
yesterday made an exploration of the
subterranean works opposite Ninety
second street. The present operations
we're Immediately otter the termination
of those ut Hallet's Point, consequently
having been III progress about five years.
At high-tide there was visible about 100
square feet Of Flood Rock, and consid-
erabIy more at low water. BY the
removal of this great barrier to naviga.
ton at this point, 1t Is expected to
secure 1000 feet wider channel, with
an average depth OF twenty-six feet,
permitting the entrance by way of the
Sound Of the very largest ships. The
distance from the surface of the rock to
the floor Of the excavated chambers is
about seventy-fve feet the descent
being made by means of winding
staircase, with landings at intervals OF
abont twenty steps. Once at the bottom,
o general survey Of tho surroundings
revealed a labyrinth of chambers or
long tunnels, like avenues, hewn out OF
solid rock. Looking down the length
OF these, the vision was lost in impene-
| trable darkness i'll the distance. Gl1m.
mering lights fitted hither and thither
having the appearance OF twinkIlng
stars. Occasionally sounds OF voices or
of the clashing OF steel were heard
The engineer led the way down one
| avenue some hundreds of feet, across
| another westward, then southwark and
again crossing eastward until they were
! upwards of three hundred feet from the
main shaft or about two hundred feet
from the projecting surface of Flood
| Rock under the river proper, bearing
| toward the New York side and near the
| Nigger Head Reef.
Some PORTIONS OF the walk were COM
paratlvely smooth and dry, while others
were extremely rugged and not only
wet, but ankle and knee-deep in water.
The torch lily served to show ali these,
beng manly intended to guide the
bearer through the different windings
and headings, which are all lettered and
numbered at their entrance, viz, IN.
16-N. 27-S. 9-W. 49," etc. The
reporter. consequently, after crawling
through low excavation, Strengthened
himself only to step foot or two into q
stream Or puddle, coming out of which
he struck his head against some pro.
lecting rock or low roof. Then again,
ut certain points the water from the
river percolated through the roof, ire
quently extingmshing the torch. whiol
would be relighted from that of miner
one or two OF whom were met at almost
every turn.
'Clear the track north wardI" .camt
through the darkness in sepulchra
tones, and moment afterward dartec
by nlu.e with headlight, drawing {
loaded car Oh which sat the driver
The road being clear, the journey was
resumed. Suddenly u rush OF water il
heard. A fissure i'll the rock has glyel
way, and men hurry to the scene will
great quantities Of oakum, pieces of pine
and tools, aud III less than five minutes
the flow Of water is checked. Thu.
they have to contend with unforeseen
forces almost continually.
eff by accident" said the engineer
Gan opening would occur OF any mag.
nitude which we could not stop, tho
result would be terrible, for the great
pressure of water would quickly enlarge
the orlfice and tho escape of the mel,
would he impossible
In the new chambers men are bus,
drilling holes which are charged with
three ounces Of dynamite. The con-
c'lssion caused by the explosion of these
cannot be heard at the extreme portions
OF the mine, but there is pe1ceptlble
vibration of the works. There are at
present employed in the mine and on
the surface 1S0men. These are divided
INTO three squads, each working eight
hours, thus consuming the whole "a
hours. The day squad works from
A. II. until p. NJ, and the two night
squads from P. NJ until midnight ana
midnight to A. NJ. respectively. The
night squads DO all the minor drillings
| and all the blasting, while the day
squads are engaged IN removing the
debris OF the previous night, and drill
| Ing the apcrtures for tho great and
! final blast The men are provided with
rubber suits in addition TO their own
clothing, and with miners hat having
torch attached. which is the only
light by which they perform their work
IN the pitchy darkness. A narrow
gauge railway extends through each
ayeuue, upon which are run tram cars
Tor the conveyance of the rock and
sand to the main shaft whence it is
hClsted by machinery and dumped into
a lighter alongsile the rocks, and is il,
tuln towed to spot several hundred
yalds down the river, where there is a
hole l25 feet deep into which the debris
is cast. Near the shaft is large pas.
sage or room into which hot aIr is
introduced for the purpose of drying
the miners clothes. hundred stiits
hung there sizzipg on the pipes. The
temperature III the mine averages 10
degrees, and ls very pure, the air ma
chimes and compressers for working tho
compressed air drills being located OF,
the surface, as are also tho boiler and
engine, rooms used in hosting. By
this means the system If ventilation is
perfect. The holes now being drilled
EN.. l. 4 n