The Osceola times., 1885-10-17
HE'LL GATE OPEN.


Floed Rock Torn Away and the Passage
Cleared succsssfui mplishment Of
IN Herculean Task Of submarin Engi.
neering - The Explosion Witnessed aBy
Thousands.
NEW YORK, Octobar l0.-The most In
tense excitement existed in this city this
moraing on account Of the great ex-
pioslon at He'll Gate, whereby Flood Rock
was to be removed at eleven O'Clock.
Thousands Of tlmid, but anxious, spec
tators were hurrying forward TO witness
the great event. Horse cars on the East
Side were filed TO their utmost capacity,
efectually blockadius the routes, owing
to the inability of the horses to draw the
heavy weight. Brooklyn Bridge rapidly
filled with thousand Of people curious
to see "somethlng," yet fearGua q dam
ages that might occur at towers or
anchorages. Every available space on
house tops of convenient altitude was
secured for the purpose OF witnessing
the flual work. The explosion took
place at llil3, vibrations being felt In
New York and Brooklyn. 1t is estimat-
ed that the progress OF the vibration was
ut the rate OF seventeen hundred feet per
second. In the ncighborhood OF the
Post Office vibration was felt. At :l5
Brooklyn Bridge was filed with people,
from Brooklyn and New York, aud, for a
wonder, the police did not inter-
fere. As viewed from this
point there was vast CLOUD
Of ,apor, which was soon waited away
by the wind. Steam launches from the
Brooklyn Navy Yard guarded all ap-
proaches to the terrible dynamite mine.
A hundred en- In bright uniforms OF the
United States Engineer Corps guarded
the river front on the Long Is
land shore, while great many
of the Metropolitan police were stationed
at intervals along the New York
shore to keep venturesome sisht-seers
out Of danger. The beautiful weather
and clearness Of the atmosphere brought
| the doomed rock within the vision of
| thousands gathered at different points
for miles around. There was perceptible
excitement among the inmates OF the
great public Institutions on Wards and
Blackwelrs Islands, where 1t was feared
the shock Of the explosion might cause
| some disaster. The engineers were just
about a thousand feet away from the
mine. At II :l2 precisely one OF the party
| touched the little key of the battery.
Instantly 1926 dynamite cartridges, pro-
truding from that many holes drilled in
the mine were exploded, and the 240, 900
pounds OF rack rock packed back OF the
| dynamite cartridges went up a second
later. Flood Rock went up too.
The report was not as loud as was ex.
pected. Three pieces OF heavy ordnance
discharged simultaneously might make
as loud a noise. But second before the
report was heard, persons looking
toward He'll Gate saw rare and grand
picture. great mass OF foam, white as
snow went into the air to distance OF
perhaps two hundred feet, falling back in
wild confusion, to be met by swollen up
heavals that came with and after the dull
report that shook the biggest buildings
in town. Big pieces OF rock went into
the air In a perfect shower, but were
covered aud almost hidden from vie W by
the great mountain Of foam. A vapor
covered the troubled waters Immediately
after the explosion, but the watching
thousands could discern plainly that
Flood Rock was no more. All New York,
from Harlem to the Battery south,
and north to Bronx River, felt
shocks, for there were three Of them,
lasting over one minute. The current Of
electricity let loose by touch on the
little Cattery went over single wire
under the river to heavy bichromate
battery on the rock, which diffused cur
rents through twenty-four independent
circuits into the mine. The inner ends
of those wires we're united by bridge
OF fne platinum wire. The heat commu-
incated in this way made the first explo-
sion in the mine. Mary Newton, daughte r
of General N wton, aged eleven, closed the
key which sent the current through the
wires and fred the mine. General New
ton was slightly injured IN the neck by
the explosion OF u illuminate torpedo.
He claimed the honor OF being the only
man hurt. The daughter OF General
Newton, who pressed the button, 10 the
same one whose baby fingers brought
about the great explosion OF nine years
ego.
When the water subsided 1t was OF a
peculiar yellowish color, aud an odor OF
carbolic acid filled the air, which was
unpleasant to inhale. The crowd on land
and water cheered wildly and waved d
their hats, and the steamers blew their
whistles. Nothing was left OF Flood Rock
save a little pile OF fragments and stones,
on which rested solitary derrick,
wrested from its position and almost
covered with ruins. Scarcely had the
seetning massof yellowish sea became
calm before steamers, tugs and rowboats
made for the scene in an attempt to be
FIRST to cross the plac, where minute
before lay one Of the most dangerous
reefs In these waters. A stalwart oars.
man In little rel boat was the first to
reach the spot. At Flood Rock, where
previously there was only from four 10
five feet OF water, now Is found from
four TO six fathoms. 1t was intended to
buoy the place. but Captain Somers, OF
the Lighthouse boat, John Rogers,