The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-10-21


horse cars and in carriages and
poured their steady stream TO where
the blue-coated policemen and the
hues Of soldiers with cleaning bayo-
nets arrested their progress. On the
water. steamers and tugs and hum
dreds of rowboats, al filed with
people, lay awaiting the great explo-
sion. Thousands of eyes were fixed
on Flood Rock, which was soon TO
crumble TO atoms. The sheds and
houses which for nine years have
covered the rock, had been removed.
A solitary derrick remained there,
and from it foated a United States
flag. Workmen were moving rapid
ly about on the barren rock, and the
navy launches steamed hither and
tnither warning vessels that sought
to come through the Gate that the
explosion was about to take place,
and that they had better keep out OF
the way. The knowledge that tons
of high explosives were under the
innocent-looking rock, around which
the food tide lay with unaccustom-
ed tranquility was a powerful argu-
ment in inducing the shippers of the
various craft which sought to pass
that they ought to obey the man.
dates OF the straight and glittering
young officers who waved their
hands to them from the launches.
The interest among the spectators
was intense. Enough dynamite and
rackarock was to be exploded TO lev
el every building on Manhattan Is
land. The forces of science were to
be employed on a gigantic scale.
What would be the exact result no
one knew, though such veteran dy-
namiters as Gen. Newton, Gen. Alb
bott. Lieutenant Derby and Lieu
tenant Zalinski were pretty confident
that the giant forces which had been
conjured up could be properly con-
trolled. General Newton felt no more
anxiety in controlling the explosion
than he would haze felt in holding
the reins over a draw horse. The
dynamite was his slave, and while
realizing the great forces be was en-
ploying, he felt that it would obey
him. All through the upper part OF
the city windows had been opened
and pier glasses put to bed in prepa-
ration for the conclusion, which was
expected 10 break glass and tumble
down crockery by those who real
lied more he force employed than
the method OF its application. In
Astoria and on Wards and Randall Is
Islands tie same precautions were
observed. The atmosphere was hazy
but the sky was cloudless and the
scene was flooded with the bright
October sunshine.
The hour Of II, the time set for
the explosion, approached, and a
state of intense suspense took pos
session Of every one. The flag was
hauled down from the derrick and a
tug took the last man from the rock
and conveyed him to the shore.
There was a hush of breathless ex-
pectation. Minutes glided away,
and still flood rock reared its head
in the CLASSY space of deserted water.
The suspence became painful, and
one felt like crying out or moving
about rapidly.
General Newton's daughter Mary,
who nine years ago with the touch
OF her baby finger destroyed Hallet's
reef, pressed the key which fired the
mine at lib a. no., and like a flash
the barren rock disappeared, and in
its place a serrated wall of water
1000 feet long and 80 feet high at
its greatest altitude stood flashing in
the sun. 1t looked like a miniature
range OF snow-covered mountains
and seemed to stand stationary and
firm. Then, like Niagara pouring
over its precipices, it fell back. I'm
mediately the space between MIL
Rock and Hallet's Point was seeth-
ing mass of waves, some white as
snow, some smoke-colored, and
some black. They mingled and met
and dashed against each other in
wild confusion. showing sll sorts OF
turgid tints and colors. Some after
a minute could he seen dashing their
foam high slong the Long island
shore and over the rugged surface of
Mill Rock. To the west of the scene
of the explosion the waves were not
high, and a feet of rowboats started
for the place where Flood Rock had
been. The large boats approached
the place, but still kept at safe dis
tance. The air was permeated with
an odor of carbonic acid gas, which
was blown over the north part ofthe
city by the wind.
Flood Rock had been shattered
into fragments, but a few broken
rocks and part of the derrick which
had held the flag earlier in the morn
ing, could be seen above the surface
of the disturbed water. One of the
greatest engineering feats ever known
had been accomplished, the result of
nine years of hard labor and great
expenditure of money had been
reached and the show was over.
Then came the rush home of the
spectators, who will tell their grand
children of the day they saw this
great blow struck at Hell Gate
Those who have seen torpedo salutes
fired have seen more stately columns
of water thrown into the air, and the
sunset gun often makes more noise
than did the explosion of Flood
Rock. But high explosives never
before accomplished so great work
and the whole thing viii never be
forgotten by those who were pres
ent.
Hell Gate is narrow, rocky part
Of the East River, about one mile
east Of Central PARK and seven miles
from the Battery, or lower end ofthe
city of New York. The success of
the explosion removes a most troub-
lesome and dangerous obstacle from
the path of navigation at the en-
trance of Long Island Sound into
the East River. Nine acres of solid
rock have been lifted from their po-
sition at the bed of the river, and
Hell Gate will thus be made safe
channel for vessels of the largest