The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-02
GEN. JOHN NEWTON DEAD.
The Famous Engineer Who Blew Up
Hell Gate Rocks.
New York. May I-Gen. John Newton
died today.


John Newton was born In Norfolk. Va.
August -. lS23. He was graduated al the
United States military academy I'm 1s42.
standing second in the class that included
Henry L. Eustis. William $. Roseclrans.
John Pope, Seth Williams. Daniel II.
HIN. Earl Van Horn. James Longstreet.
and others who held high commands dur
Ing the civil war. After being promoted
Into the engineer corps as second lieu
tenant. he served as assistant professor
Of engineering at the United States mil
itary academy. and then In the construc-
tion Of various fertilization and other en-
gfneering works along tho Atlantic ami
Gulf sea coasts until 1850, except during
isiS. when he was chief engineer OF the
Utah expedition. He had attained the
rank OF captain on July l, 1SsS. At the
beginning Of the civil war he was chief
engineer OF the department OF Pennsyi-
wanna, and then had n similar appoint
rIent IN tho department OF the
,sntli March iss2 was assist a n,
engineer In the construction OF the de-
fenses Of Washington City. lie was made
hrigadier general of volunteers Septafn-
her =, 1861. and had charge of a brigade
In tho defense Of the capital. During the
Pentr ssilar campaigns he served m the
actions at West Point. Gaines NH and
Glendale. He continued with his COM
mand In the Maryland campaign. parti-
cipating In the forcing Of Champion Gap
and the battle OF Antistam. Gen. New
ton Ted division in the storTring of
Marye Heights IN the battle ~ F'rssd-
eficksburg. was made major general Of
volunteers on March 30. fSsa. and then
took part In the chancellorSville cam
paign and ia the battle Of Salem Heights
In the subsequent Pennsylvania cam
pSlSn ne succeeded 20 command of the
First corps on July >. iNs3 after the death
OF John +. Reynolds. and commanded II
IN the last days Of the battle Of Gettys-
burg. lie was hrevettesi colonel for serv-
Ices IN this action, and engaged In the
| pursuit Of the Confederates 10 Warren
ton. Va, and IN the Rapidau campaign
| during October and December 1853. lie
was placed In command of the Second
| division Of the Fourth corps of the Army
| ~ the Cumberland under Ger. Oliver q
| Howard. In May. iSsi. and participated in
/ the invasion OF Georgia. taking active
| part In the engagements. including the
/ hattie 81 Peach Tree Creek Ca. thar e,sli-
minated N the capture Of Atlanta in Sep
/ iemher, 1854. Subsequently he had com
/ mand Of various districts IN Florida untn
/ he was mustered out OF volunteer service
/ In January. 1854. after receiving. on March
IL isA The brcveta % major general in
T tfiH volunteer ARMY. anil those 81 hyx "a.
der general and major general fn the
regular army. lie received his regular
promotion as lieutenant colonel OF engi-
+ ueers on December 3 iSes. amf IN Ap~tl
+ 1870, was made experimenting engineer
! or che construction Of the defense- an +Aa
Long Island side ~ the \arrovvs entrance
: 20 New York hari,or. also Of the improve
+ nents Of tho Hudson river ard of the FOR.
at Sandy Hook. y J he was also a
member ~ the hoard ~ engineers "a
! carry oar In 9etsu the notifications ~
I fhe deferses IN the vicinity ~ New YORK
+ These and other similar engineering gt,-
! ties principally IN connection vftN tha
hArhor ~ New York occupied his atten-
ton until ne retirement on Aus7,s, =
iSA tfss well -kssewn as-htes-.sry,nr. ~
! thiS kind SaS tire removal 90 the ohsfruc-
lions ~ Hell Gate channel the ftarorts !, ,
waterway between Long Island sound ara
hAst river These, known IS Wal}st's
reef and Flood ro~k were dufv fnss ara
exploded on September 81 fS7g. ana on a.
to6or 10 Ks All of TIRE problems that
were Involved IA the preliminary stems
Cf tAIs great work Mere completed ana
conscien tiousiy studied and the accuracy
/ ~ his solutions was shown IN thc exact
| ceTrcsponiencs C results With che objects
that he sougai. The proposed enlarge
/ uaeng cs Harlem river the improvement
- the Hudson river from Troy 10 New
York ana II tGe channel between Nex
Jersey ami staten Island. and ~ harAcrs
on Lake CAamplain, were likes-jss under
ass charge. lie was aaVR need 20 tha raa <
- colonel on June - fS7p an1 % chief q
engineers Win rank ~ briSa3isr general.
On Mara s lSSA The once ~ conarafz-
sioner ~ pua stc works la Saw York city
had been FOR some ftnas awarded ~ pc
I utjeal prefeFneut. An8 E became pe-eS-
sarv 20 secure cor = srsa ~ superior
skin sra scientific training In Rcco-si-
soee Win these requirements. Mayer
Wialar3 n Grace - August 81. fSS7. aa-
e. tstst Ger Newton 90 thss o~3eR lis
servsces as consuIttug engineer have b*en
repeatedly Sought. and hr has Invented
stHau7 drifting apparatus fhaf have heea
nsssi u removing ros-ks iH NsM fork har-
beg. ne Nas cSnste3 Ia membership f8
gre National Academy Of Sss4nunss in TS7s
a9a - hon0r2 ~ nfenahsrsAsp IN ghe Amer
iean society ~ CtvH Engineers In 80
fay several wars GAS pc kxsa been EsrsS-
Gsnt e ne Panama Railway Company.