Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-16
Hell Gate Blown Up.

The nine acres of rock comprising the
famous Flood Rock, midway between
Wards and Blackwell's Island. New
York harbor, were shattered into frag-
ments at fifteen minutes past IL O'Clock
Saturday morning. The explosives
with which the tunnels were charged
went off simultaneously, and, so far as
examinations have shown, the reef was
completely destroyed. 1t is believed
that clear channel bas been opened
for steamers from the East river into
Long Island sound, and that the dangers
that beset mariners in those waters for
centuries, and which caused the old
Knickerbockers of early New York to
call the place He'll Gate, are forever
gone. About 100000 people witnessed
the spectacle from the surrounding
shores. Miss Mary Newton, the IL
year-old daughter of Gen. John New
ton standing ut the astoria steamboat
landing, touched the electric button
which set off the battery and caused the
explosion. She performed the same
act nine years ago for the Hallett's Reef
explosion, September "a, 1876. Gen.
Newton and Lieut.. Berry are satisfied
with the result of their operations. and
say that they will have the channel
cleared Of the broken rock before six
months. Among those who saw the
explosion was Secretary Of War Emdi-
colt.
Crowds on steamers and other points
of observation began TO get into posi-
ton early in the day, and watched with
anxious eyes the wOrkmen on the
island, who went leisurely about their
work removing all that was to be taken
off the rock. At ten minutes past II the
steamtue drew up to the island, the
dozen cool-headed workmen around the
mine Jumped aboard of it, and the last
human being to set foot on the crags
that menaced the lives of mariners for
centuries left them forever.
On the steamboat landing at Astoria
Miss Mary, the daughter of Gen. New
ton, the engineer of the great work, was
ready to blow the rock to pieces. At
lib the signal was given. She touched
the electric button, the current was re-
leased, and before the sixtieth part of the
minute had been ended Flood Rock was
shivered. There was dull, reverber at
lug report, and then mighty mass OF
water went up to meet the sky. 1t was
sight sublime. The water was as
white as purest snow. 1t went up in
three big blocks, each tapering into
peaks as it reached its highest altitude,
and glistening in the sun like molten
silver. The center peak was third Of
an acre wide at its base and yard wide
at it's greatest height, which seemed one
hundred feet. On either side of it were
two great blocks of water, which as
cended at least two hundred feet into
the air, and tapered of at the ends just
like any mountain-top, as seen in the
distance. The three great sheets of wa
ter seemed to pause few moments
when their highest altitude was attain
ed, and then they looked as if they were
snow-capped peaks transplanted from
the Sierras. AS they came down Slow
ly, grandly, solemnly, as beftted them,
the sun played against the glistening
sides and depicted every shade of the
rainbow. 1t was an enhancing picture.
The descen. of the mighty mass of water
took three seconds of time, and then
white foam was lost in the angry mud
boiling up from the bowels of the rivers
bed. The seething waters churned up
solid blocks of rock weighing tons
apiece, and sent the surrounding
waves rolling in upon the land.
Then as the rocks and mud sank from
sight heavy pillar of dark cloud shot
up. 1t had a sulphurous smell, for the
cloud contained all The noXious gases
that had accumulated in the mine in all
the years since work was first begun.
Then as the cloud floated up to meet
the sky the waters began to settle down
to their normal condition, the mist
cleared away, and the last sign of the
mighty blast was gone.
Flood Rock was the largest of the He'll
Gate distractions. 1t had an area OF
about eight acres, of which only about
$50 square feet showed above high
water mark. In order to disintegrate
this mass of rock it has been necessary
to tunnel it in every direction. There
were 81 galleries tunneled north and
south, and 46 running east and west.
The total length of the tunneling was
about four miles, and fully $4,000 cubic
wards of rock had to be bored out and
removed. There were l3, 2S6 chambers
constructed to hold the explosive mate
rial, in which were deposited about
A, 900 dynamite cartridges each 21a
inches in diameter, and weighing in the
aggregate 800, 900 pounds. Over 500, 900
feet of wire were used to connect the
cartridges with the electric batteries.
Mysterious Disappearance.
1at