The National tribune., 1885-10-15
HELL GATE BLOWN UP
Flood Rock Destroyed by lao Tons of
Dynamite.


honeycombed within the past nine years,
under the direction of Gen. John Newton and
the officers Of the United States Engineer
Corps. The explosion was effected through the
agency of 2S0.O00 pounds of rackarock, a
new and powerful explosive, and dynamite:
The object of these operations was the removal
of the immense reefs and masses of rock that
have been so serious an obstruction to the
noSsage of vessels in and out of New York
harbor. At the point known as "Hell-Gate,'
the nayigable channel was very narrow,
mere trough. rendered douhly dangerous by
the swift currents aud eddies formed around ana
among the rocks by the ebb and flow of the tide.
The work is regarded as being thoroughly sue
cessful. The explosion was witnessed by many
thousands of people, who crowded the East
River shore on both sides and filled numerous
excursion steamers. No mishap OF any conse-
ouence resulted, which fact was great reiiet
TO the people of New York, many of whom
feared serious disaster to lie ana properly.
While whistles were blowing and hundred
Thousand people crowding the shores of two
cities. a little girl of IL years with shining
brown hair and soft eyes stepped from the
steam yacht Runaway TO the landing place at
Astoria and walked to a little house that STANDS
on the wharf Gen. Ncwton's officers saluted
her. She was the Generals daughter, Mary.
Gen. Abbott, commander of the troops at VIII
let's Point held in his hand little instrument,
from which two copper wires ran out along the
turf to the water. There they disappeared In
the whirlpools that washed the base of the
formidable Flood Rock. Standing about the
little girl were several ladies, group OF United
States officers and few private citizens
At last the boats around the reef complete
their work Signals are exchanged, whistles
Shrek cheers rise from the multitudes, and IN
10 minutes all the boats have sailed away ex-
cent the one which will carry away the work
men last to leave the reef.
Another signal is given, and this boat also
blows her hoarse whistle and steams swiftly
from the rock. 1t is now II minutes past
III o'clock The party i'll the little house
stands in breathleSs expectation. Gen. Abbott,
in charge of the electric key, takes 1T In his
hand to see for the last time that it is in work
ing order He glances at the great rock which
still breaks into thousand eddies the waters
of He'll Gate.
Little Mary Newton, with her flowing hair,
stands beside Gen. Abbott, and she, too looks
at the great reef. Then she lifts her fair, white
hand and places her dainty finger on the key.
There is moments pause.
Now" saws Gen. Abbott. quietly.
The child's white finger presses the key, the
earth trembles and lofty dome of milk white
spray leans into space. Ten thousand shouts
fiji the air from the crowds up and down the
river: steamboats, shrek and the flags salute
the event. The Niagara of water melts away
and Flood Rock, with its terrorS, has disap-
peared.
THAT is what call science" exclaims a
large man in citizens clothing. Il worked
with Gen, Newton years ago and knew he
would make no mistake"
The nearest large buildings to the scene of
the explosion were the institutions on Ward S
Island which are used by the Emigration Board
and BY the Charity Commissioners. The Emil
grant Insane Asylum and Refuge is only seven
city blocks away considerably less than half a
81 Enn
Allister adjoins the asylum, and not far re-
moved are several small detached buildings,
such as hospital pavilions, belonging to the
Commissioners of Emigration. Next in order
of distance comes the large Verplanck Hospital.
On the other side of the island and trlfie fur
ther removed, facing the shady lawns of beau
tiful Ravenswood, on the Long Island shore,
are the Homeopathic Hospital and Inebriate
Asylum, and the great New York City Insane
ASYLUM with its army of patients under the
care of Dr. Macdonald. This asylum was about
the most distant of all the Wards Island build
ings from Flood Rock.
The inmates of all these institutions, except
few whose bodily or mental ailments were
such that they could not be removed, were
taken out of doors in good time before the ex-
plosion. Every precautiOn that could be sug-
gested was taken to prevent injury to persons
or buildings in case OF some unforeseen accident.
The doors and windows of all the buildings
were lett open, SO Unal Inc SuOCh WOulu uCCt
with less resistance; heavy pictures aud orna-
ments in the rooms of the doctors and officials
were taken down; crockery ware and fragile
things of that sort were arranged SO that they
could not fall and break, and the globes were
removed from the gas jets and chandeliers. Al
though these precautions were taken, the re-
suit fully justified the predictions of Gen. New
ton that neither the buildings nor their In
mates would be harmed.
Gen Newton arrived at Astoria on the De-
partment yacht Runaway at half past nine He
inspected the laying OF the wires, went up to
the lighthouse then boarded the yacht again
and visited the rock. He was one OF the last to
leave it. Lieut.. Derby was the last person ON it.
1t is perfect success" said Gen. Newton
after the explosion, $50 far as / can judge.
Dredging will be commenced Immediately. The
loose rock will be thrown into deep water or
carried away"
do you think the cartridges have all gone
Off"
al think SO from the nature of the explosion,
but we shant know that definitely for three
years or until all the debris is removed"
Gen. Abbott said that the officers at Willet's
Point would set to work Immediately to figure
out the absolute results. So far as they could
yet determine the explosion was successful 1t
would require some time to make the sound
ings and find what change had been made in
the channel. 1t was now in the hands of the
Lighthouse Department.
A Lighthouse Department boat set to work
to buoy out the channel Immediately after the
explosion. As the engineers predicted, it was
found to be clear for 26-foot sweep without
any dredging. The directions Of the currents,
however, have been much modified.
Four instantaneous photographs of the ex-
plosion were taken by the engineer officers at
the firing point. The cameras were operated
by electricity. The same current that exploded
the mine operated the first camera which gave
picture of the rocks, just starting in the air,
something that no one saw, as it was too close
to the shock. The Others follow 1T intervals of
10 seconds, showing the explosion in all its diff
ferent forms.
The hundreds of people on the Brooklyn
Bridge neither saw nor felt the explosion. They
could hardly believe that it had occurred. A
slight rumble was felt at Flushing In East
New York the shock was distinctly felt. At
College Point and Ravenswood Point there was
slight treHOr. People in Brooklyn had taken
great precautions to prevent accident from the
explosion. Many thought its effects might be
very far reaching. The hour was anxiously
awaited for When the shock came il sounded
like thunder clap miles away and felt like a
faint earthquake shock. At Mount Vernon
and throughout Westchester County the report
was distinctly heard, but the shock was not
noticed except by those watching for it. At
Morrisania there was a loud report like the ex-
plosiOn of a cannon. AT Tompkinsville, S. L.,
the blast was heard but not felt. There was no
DETECTION of the compass. The shock was very
noticeable in the lower part of New York. The
City Hall trembled for the space Of five Sec
onGs. In Astoria bottles were shaken from