The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1885-10-16
HELL GATE OPEN

Flood Rock Torn Away and the Passage |
Cleared Successful Accomplishment OF
an Herculoan Task of Submarine Engln-
eerlng - The Explosion Witnessed By
Thousands.
NEW York, Ce tobar 10.-The most In
tense excitement existed in this city this
morning on account of the great ex-
ploslon at He'll Gate, whereby Flood Rock
was to be removed at eleven O'clock.
Thousands of timid, but anxious, spec
tators were hurrying forward 10 witness
the great event. Horse cars on the East
Side were filed to their utmost capacity,
effcctually blockading 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 fearful of 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 final work. Then explosion took
place at IL .13, vibrations being felt in
New York and Brooklyn. 1t is estimat-
ed that the progress Of the vibration was
at the rate of seventeen hundred feet per
second. In the neighborhood of the
Post-oflce vibration was felt. AT Halo
Brooklyn Bridge was filled with people,
from Brooklyn and New York, aud, for
wonder, the police did not inter-
fere. As viewed from this
of vapor, 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 sight-secrs
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 thousand feet away from the
mine. At II :12 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 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 noise. But second before the
report was heard, persons looking
toward He'll Gate saw rare and grand
picture. A great mass of foam, white as
snow went into the air to distance o
perhaps Two hundred feet, falling back ii
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 intt
the air in q perfect shower, but wer'
covered and almost hidden from vie W b,
the great mountain of foam. vapul
covered the troubled waters immediatel,
after the explosion, but the watchin.
thousands could discern plainly tina
Flood Rock was no more. ALI New York
from Harlem to the Battery south
and north to Bronx River, fel
shocks, for there were three of them
lasting over one minute. The current o
| q
little battery went over q single wir
under the river to heavy bichromat
battery on the rock, which diffused cur
rents through twenty-four Independent
circuits into the mine. The inner ends
of those wires were united by bridg
of fine platinum wire. The heat commu
incated in this way made the first explo
sion In the mine. Mary Newton, daughte
OF, General Newton, aged eleven, closed tn
key which sent the current through tn
wires and fired the mine. General New
ton was slightly injured in the neck b
the explosion Of illuminate torpedo
He claimed the honor Of being the onl
man hurt. The daughter of Genera
Newton, who pressed the button, is tn
same one whose baby fingers brou2t
about the great explosion OF nine year
} ago.
When the water subsidized 1t was of
peculiar yellowish color, and an odor {
carbolic acid filled the air, which WI
unpleasant to inhale. The crowd on Ian
, and water cheered wildly and wave
, their hats, and the steamers blew the
whistles. Nothing was left OF Flood Roc
save little pile of fragments and stone
on which rested solitary derric
wrested from its position and almo
covered with ruins. Scarcely had I'll
seething massiof yellowish sea becan
J calm before steamers, tugs and rowboa
made for the scene in an attempt to
| first to cross the place where minu
! before lay one of the most dangero
j reefs in these waters. stalwart oal
man in a little red boat was the flrst
:, reach the spot. At Flood Rock, whe
previously there was only from four
five feet of water, now is found fro
j. four 10 six fathoms. 1t was intended
buoy the place, but Captain Somers,
t the Lighthouse boat, John Rose
found no necessity for so doing, aud "