New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-17
A DISAPPOINTING BLAST.
FAULTY WIRES PREVENT A CROWD FROM
ENJOYING A NOVEL SIGHT.
GOVERNOR HILL AMONG THE SPECTATORS
RAIN ADDS TO THE DIscoMFoRTs OF THOU
SANDS WHO HOPED TO SEE GIGAN-
SANDS WE
TIC UPHEAvAL OF ROCK
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUNH.1

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUNHJ
Albany, June 16.-what was intended to be one OF
the greatest blasting operations that the world mas
ever seen was considerable of failure to-day at the
South Bethlehem quarries. Governor Hill, who wit
messed the blast in company with 1000 other persons
vas much disappointed. II was upon the programme
that 5000 pounds Of dynamite TO be used In tear
ing down three ledges Of rock each thirty rect hgh
thirty feet deep and 400 feet long. 1t was esumaed
that these three ledges OF rock TO be dsodged wegho
I'm all 10000 tons. p. Cainan, the owner OF the
ouarrv in which the ledges Of limestone rock are
situated thought that they could be blown down with
one large blast But the electrical expert who had
charge of the wires and batteries connected with the
dynamite cartridges in the rock made mistake some
how and there three separate blasts IN place OF one
Tons of rock indeed detached from the race Oh
the quarry but being detached separately the eneo'
was not astonishing. Mr.. Calinan was
much ANNOYED by the occurrence. lie had
been getting ready for the gigantic blast
for two months past. Only two years ago by blast
less stupendous than that planned for to-day Soooo
tons OF rock were detached from the quarry. Inc
rock detached put into stone-cr7isher ana u'c
material thus obtained sold for road building
Mr. Callinsn's workmen May began to driu holes
In the rock for the blast Of today by SathfuaN
1sst rhe worlmen had drilled 1872 holes thirty
feet deep In portion of the rock $50 feet long and
ninety feet high A drill Of enormous size was used
The holes thus made were loaded with dynamite. IL
Is ncksh business but it was accomplished Safeiy'
Five thousand pounds of dynamite wore used. Mr'
Callinan heretofore has managed his own DhSuhs
operatios but he recently engaged the Edison General
Electrical Company Of New York to supervise oday's
blasting In view Of its immensty. William 5oons an
expeYt of the Edison Company, came TO South Bethle
hem 10 conduct the work, and he connected the l3n
dynamite cartridges within the quarry iy wire with
a switchboard placed in shanty situated upon nil
1000 feet distant. Excursion tralps from New YORK
and Albany brought 1000 persons 10 South Bethlehem
upon the West Shore Railway about 3 O'Clock this
AFTERNOON Governor Hill was upon one Of the Albany
trains accompanied by Attorney General Tabor Coond
T. S. Williams, Labor Commissioner Peck, Charles X
sfnner Deputy superintendent Of Public Instruction;
the Mayor Of Utica and State Engineer Sweet. AT
o'c1ock the multitude present thought that all wac
IN readiness for the blast. Governor Hill
was placed in the shanty containing the switch
board The crowd clustered upon the hillside opposite
the mine at safe distance. A deep ravlno divided
the two hlrs from eoch other, t'et containing the
mine and that winch held the multitude. Miss Helen
Callnan, q pretty daughter Of the owner Of the
quarry vas stationed at the switchboard and at 80
p. m sh. pulled the electrical lever.
Every ,ne looked at the cliff, expecting TO see
It squirting fire and to see the rock crumblng by
thousands OF TONS while the air should reverberate
with the Of the explosion But there was no
explosion M soons, the electrician, ran out Of the
shanty and begin inspecting the wires running to the
quarry. He searching for the break In che con-
nection between the battery and the dynamite cart
ridges This examination took him an hour. Mean
while tho crowd waited. It rained part Of the time
and 1t was no alhVation that an Albany brass band
played, Walt TIL the Clouds Roll By" At last
man standing upn the brink OF the hill above the
quarry gave a signal, and sprang back to safe po
sition. Miss Csllhan again turned the switch, and
again no explosion olowed. Mr. Callinan bitterly
disappointed and Unhappy. He rushed over TO the
quarry and held a consultation with the electrician
They both decided that the circuit broken and
could not be Immediately reestablished They there
fore agreed to di1d. the blast into three portions and
10 fire those portions with "plunge" Battery placed
in the forest.
At p. n. the frSt blast was fired. Thousands OF
tons Of rock dsfodged, but a whole the blast
was disappointment TO those who expected TO see
Vesuvus-lic effect 0ne-half hour later another
blast ired, which, Governor Hill put IT,
"itself paid the price of admission" The right faco
Of the cliff suddenly fell outward, large rocks were
shower Of sbnes, though from volcano. fell upon
the roof Of he stone crusher donse cloud OF dust
for few meInents hid the face Of the cliff When it
1oeted away large chasm discerned in the face
Of the 'lif. About twenty minutes later s another
blast fired. This far louder explosion than
any which had preceded It. II had almost the effect
OF an earthquake. The double face OF the big wall was
into the luaTy Mr. Calnan said We have thrown
down abut 10000 tons of rock by the three eX-
plosions had expected to get about 10000 tons Of
fock ty single blast"