The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-08-17
A ROAR And A CRASH.
Tremendous Blast of Trap
Rock in the Snake
Hill Quarries.
A HUNDRED TONS LOOsENED.
Mrs. Bruggemann Touched the
Button and the Dynamite Did
the Resl-Camera Fiends'
Risks.

AT half past twelve o'clock today ter
rlflc explosion, which could be heard for
miles around, occurred at Snake HILL
Inc explosion was the result of an ex-
perimental blast in the quarries, and was
witnessed by big crowd of people. 1t
was the biggest blast that has taken
place in any quarry in this city for many
day.
Some days ago. Colonel Grimes, the
Warden at the Snake Hill Peuitentiary,
informed Freeholders Ellis, Noonan and
Ferry, who constitute the Penitentiary
Committe e, that he wanted several hun
dred tons of rock for the new steam
crusher. The men were blasting all the
time, but found that they were unable to
supply the demand.
After looking the ground carefully
over and consulting with the foreman Of
the gang. the Freeholders decided on q
org oiast. A huge ledge of rock on the
westerly slope of the hill 206 feet above
the Hackensack River was selected, and
1t was decided to drill eight holes and the
services OF an expert quarryman were
called in. Today was set for the big
blast.
AN INSPECTION PARTY.
On the train which left the d. L. & W.
qnepot at Hoboken this morning were
director Bruggemann. Mrs. Bruggemann,
Freeholder Pfngsten, Mrs. Phngsten,
Freeholder Noonan, r. II. Green, Prof.
PADDOCK of the High School, Architect
Goide and two camera "iends" prepared
TO take snap shots at the explosion.
Arriving at Snake Hill, the party
Journeyed to the westerly grounds along
opEr NNl
Warden of the Penitentiary, ,CountySuper-
intendent Cannon and County Collector
Dugan were among the others who drove
out. Freeholder Ellis, who has had charge
OF the explosion and arranged many of
lts details was not present and the crowd
waited for him.
AT noon he had not arrived and County
superintendent Cannon was about 10
give the signal for the explosion, but
Col. Grimes thought it advisable
to wait until half past twelve
O'Clock In the meantime all the
prisoners who had been at work in the
quarry were sent back into the Peni-
tentiarY. and the keepers warned all visi-
tors from venturing too near the big
ledge of rock.
The workmen had completed their
labors and were waiting for the signal
There were five holes Allied with dyna-
mite to a depth of five feet,
and three holes filed to depth of seven
feet. In all there were 200 pounds OF
dynamite. The fuse was connected with
wire which ran along the brow of the
hill and down the road to small house,
where an electric button was rugged Qp
and all that it required was for some one
to touch the button.
FOoLHARDY ARTISTS.
The camera fiends appeared to be fool
hardy. They planted their apparatus in
q h.
meath the big ledge of rock. 1'he keepers
who had witnessed many small blasts Of
rock warned them, but they
said they would take chances of
being injured to get good snap shop.
The experienced quarry man who had ar
ranged the blast promised that there
would be no danger but no one but the
camera fiends seemed disposed tn believe
him, and maintained respectful dis
tance,
ROAR AND CRASH.
At half past twelve O'Clock it became
evident that Freeholder Ellis was not
going to be on hand. and it was decided
to set off the blast. Mrs. Bruggemann,
the wife of Director Bruggemann, was Sc
lected to touch the button. At the proper
signal she did SO.
There was deep, muffied sound, fol-
lowed by long roar, as the tons of rock
crashed down the slope of the hill. The
camera fiends were hidden from view be-
mind huge clouds of dust.
When the clouds rolled away the
camera fiends were discovered aud the
crowd journeyea up the hill to see what
effect the explosion had had
Everybody said it was a success.
Over one hundred tons OF rock
were moved. Most of it was showed
backward distance OF 20 feet. The blast
was admirably arranged by Thomas Ma
guire. and there will be many of them in
the future.
After the blast all the visitors enioyed
the hospitality of the genial Col. Grimes.