New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-11
THE SPECTACLE FROM WARDS ISLAND.


Az EXPANsE OF WATER RISES FROM SHORE TO
SHORE.
The view from the southern end of Wards
Island beyond doubt the finest afforded for the full
effect the explosion for the whOe broldaIde OF the
tremendous display was exposed to those fortunate
to be standing the shore The southern end
OF the and is shaped like the large end Of pear and
this expanse Of shOreliuo gave the fullest and most
direct view OF the splendid display. At early hour
Inspector Steers and the captains under him with their
hand the police boat Patrol distributed
the among the island ON Wards Island Captain
with eighty in charge; these he dstrb-
uied along the wall around the island. Two policemen
stood under a rude flagstaff on the Juttns point of
masonry Flood Rock. Inspector Steers kept
the Patrol moorel to the pier in the Harlem River on
1he Ward Island side
Emigration Commissioners Stephenson and starr were
early at the state Enl-rant Hospital to that the
instructions for disposns Of the patients carried
ont. There DO OF the inmates, only twelve Of
whom were confined 70 their beds. The dozen wcre
removed TO the riverside paylOu AT the north end Of
the sland-one-,tory structures with board ceilings The
others. clad In extra clothing were sent out upon
the grounds All the windows OF the hospital and the
adjacent buildings opened. At the Insane Asylum
Superintendent Macdonald took similar precautions
regarding the lGi7 patients Of that institution, sending
all but forty, confined their beds. the
open ar The forty put on the OJr aud their beds
turned them to them from any falling plaster
The southern end OF the island received a steady
increase OF population from those who had passes to
cross the Medora, the steamer plying between the city
and the island The clumps OF trees afforded delightful
place OF yiew and people gathered under them or
scattered themselves slope the open spots free
from brars aud tail weeds. Row boats Piled around the
island in large numbers and cCa-Onaly came near
enough o be warned OF b. the police. Flood Rock, d-
recy below and ia the middle OF the river 10 ali appear
ances was OF course the great centre Of interest SIX
teen men we're counted by those having opaagascs as
anonr VisIbla the first DOat-lOJd
OF workmen left Flood Rock 1--WE or SIX appeared
20 be remaining Commissioner Stephenson stood on
the wall Of Wards Island. Commissioner Starr kept at
a safe distance the background. OTTO Wcs,cu, Of Wcs-
seN, Nickel Gross, friend OF both, stool near All
three are Republicans Mr. Stephenson sought 10 learn
from the others who the remaining men on Flood Rock
were At length ifstruck by happy thought he
claimed: 81 have it, its Hill and his stan. They're go-
ing up with Flood Rock" The Rcpubca, laughed and
one Democrat looked grave.
At seven minutes TO IL the Patrol began summonng
every species Of waercFaf into line at the mouth Of Tho
Harlem River, forming apparently compact array OF
boats from the island to tn Ssw-York shore. Tho
Castleton Rugged the New York beach, while the sylvan
Dell lay loaded down with humanity In midstrcam.
like line of boats lay becalmed from the island TO As
torla few minutes before the explosion q naval
launch warned yenturesome rowboat OH the danger
ground but the boatmeu, to be daring possible,
had rowed boldly a point only third half the
way from Flood Rock to Wards Island AMI there they
waited the climax. The warning whistle sounded and
All WAS expectancy. At 1l:l3 those standing the
southern end OF Wards Island saw huge expansc Of
water and spray rise If by magic in the East River
IL spread from shore TO shore rising II seemed al first
200 feet high. sober calculation makes 1t one-half
that height The picture presented was that Of huge
iceberg sprung from the waves and frozen for sec
ond The highest point was near the centre, and then
Mt almost regular intervals columns OF water at
Diminished heights. 1t was like picture from magic