Delta chief., 1885-10-14
A BIG EXPLOSION.
Flood Rock In New York HaIbor, Blown
10 Pieces with Nearly 100000
Pounds of Dynamite.


Pounds of Dynamite.
New YORK, October 10.-The 2SO,-
eco pounds Of dynamite under Flood Rock, at
Hell Gate, we're exploded at 11:l3 a. IN. to-
day and the shock was plainly felt at the lower
end of Manhattan Island, New York.
In order to protect life and property at the
Flood Rock explosion to-day the most careful
and oquats police arrangements had been
perfected. A force of $50 policemen in addi-
tion to the Han Dor pol!ce were detailed near
the scene Of action, 800 OF whom were located
on the river front. Blackwelrs Island CON
tanned a detachment OF 100 men, while fifty
were on duty at Wards Island.
The bull liDgs on BlAckwell's Island were
cleared OF their inmates, including those In
the Almshouse, Workhouse and the Lunatic
Asylum, who were massed on the lawns at 4
safe distance from the explosion and carefully
guarded. In the Penitenusry the cell doors
were thrown open, and the prisoners were
.orducted TO The hall. The prison was sur
rounded by The police, of which large force was
stationed among the couyIcts to prevent their
escape or riot, and TO give aid in case II was
found necessary to reach the building All
points on the shore from which the rock could
be seen was densely packed with people. The
police were busy IN ket DING the crowd outside
Of The danger line. Ropes lad been stretched
across the river above and below the place
OF the explosion, and launches from 1.-THE
Navy Yard patroliCd the river TO zee that no
vessel attempted TO ass through.
At precisely II ;19 O'Clock the earth trembltd
.,,N ha ~ u, ~ ~.
the mighty upheAvAl Of the rocks and iimbers.
Up, up,wiih rlittering masses Of water until
It seems as II they would never stop. At a
height o; go fest the upilfted waters paused
and fell back again TO the river. A; this mo
meni whtn II the air for hundreds OF feet in each
direction was filed with the white masses Of
sparkling water, the spectacle was grand be
yond expression. .
Mary Newton, the II year old daughter Of
General Newton, who rs Chief Engineer, tAs
conducted the operations at Hell GATE since
their start, touched the button that sent the
electric current that exploded tho submarine
mines and shattered the mountain OF rock,
lifting It out OF tie bosom OF the sea, and
cru,hing It into a million fragments II was
Mary Newton, who when a mere baby, touched
on the ars, Hell Gate explosion, few fee,
from the point where she stood to-day.
The shock Of the collapse was felt only
slightly on the east shorc and the noise sound
cd Ike far-distant subterrAnesn thunder.
Where Flood Rock bad lifted Its strong back
msss of broken rock WIS seen, and on the top
OF II all a big derrick that had been left to It's
fate turned over on iis side unbroken. Imme-
diAtely after the explosion ere broke out In
the wreck and burned Justify amid the secth-
log waters. Four instantaneous photogra phs
were taken by the officers Of the corps OF en-
ginecrs from the arirE point, Astoria. As far
ss II was Possihle to Judge from the position
ard appearance Of the wreck, the explosion
had been an entire success, though for the
prcsent tho vicinity Of the blasted rock will be
even more dangerous than heretofore until the
TO * has been removed. The shock was felt
TO slight extent In the city. II was distinct
Iy felt in the City Hall building, that structure
trembling for the space Of i've seconds. AT
the County Court House the shock was also
distinctly felt In Tho upper part OF the build
ing the floor thook and the windows ,rcmblcd
when the explosion occurred.
The protector and dir, c,or OF these cIcava-
tions, which are regarded tmorg the leading
engineering fea,s Of the Nineteenth century,
Is the ssAve and unos,cntatious General John
Newton, a soldier OF the Phil Sheridan build,
OF medium height and broad shoulders and
that thick nefs through The chcs, characters
tic of Sheridan.
The eItcnt and character OF the obsiruc
tions in Hell Gate, to which Gen. Newton was
ordered by The Government TO suggest plans
for removal, were different from anything pre-
viously undertaken, and ncccssi,ated entirely
original methods. The waters OF Long Island
Sound IN flowing west with the rising tide to
meet the water OF New York bay were congest-
cd in the narrow and rocky confines OF He'll
Gate, where the land is but quarter OF mile
from shore to shore. Then to make the roar
ing tide which comes boiling through this mar
row passage still less navigablc great body OF
rock Hike an immense turtle reared It's back up
in the center OF the channel. This was called
Flood Rock, which the slight pressure on an
electric button, It is hoped, ctiectually re-
moved.
The following statistical table gives the more
interesting figures In connection with this
work: Extent OF rock crcavatcd, nine acres:
rock removed, $4,000 cubic yards; length OF
tunneling, 2l,Gs0 feet; drilI holes for car
tridgcs, 1880 feet; aggregate length OF car
tridgcs, twenty-five miles; weight OF explo-
sives, 100000 pounds.
A Break for Liberty.