The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-05-02

reef and Flood rock
and the feat, one of the most difficult and
daring in the history of civil engineering,
was watched with the keenest interest by
the entire civilized world 1t could not be
accomplished in little time, and the first
explosion did not occur till 1876 It's sue
cess was perfect and General Newton won
plaudits and honor from the scientific men
and organizations of every country.
1t was not until Oct. TO- 1885, that the
second big blast was set off. 1t was quite
as successful as the first, and since then
the once turbulent waters of He'll Gate
have been as placid as river, and the
benefit to commerce has been almost in
calculable For this achievement General
Newton was made member of the Ma
tional Academy Of Science and an honor
ary member of the American Society of
Civil Engineers.
John Newton was born in Norfolk Aug
"a, 1923. He was graduated from the mil
itary academy at West Point in 1912 and
stood second in his class-a notable one, for
it included William S. Rosecrans, John
Pope, James Longstreet, Henry l.. Eustis
and others who were scarcely less eminent
in after years. From 1S42 to 1916 he was
assistant professor of engineering at West
Point and was promoted into the engineer
corps as second lieutenant. During 1858
he was chief engineer of the Utah expedi-
tion, but for the remainder of the time un-
til 1860 he was engaged in the construction
of Notifications and other engineering
works along the Atlantic and gulf coasts,
having in the meantime, July l, 1856,
reached the rank of captain.
When the civil war broke out he was
chief engineer of the department. of Penn
sylvania. Then he held "A similar appoint
ment in the department of the Shenan-
doah, and from August, 1861, till March,
1862, was assistant engineer in the con-
struction of the defense in Washington.
In August, 1861 he was made major and
in September of the same year brigadier
general of volunteers. In December, 1865
he was brevetted major general Of the
regular army. His commands and ser
vices during the civil way may be sum
married. as follows
In McClellan's campaign of 1862 he COM
manded brigade and fought at Gaines
Mill and Glendale South Mountain and
Antietam, for the latter receiving the
brevet of lieutenant colonel in 1862. He
commanded division at Fredericksburg
and also at Gettysburg, and received the
| DfeNeU Ol COlOnGl III loOO lOT his S6fNlCba
during the latter engagement. He was in
command of the First corps from July to
December, 1868, and the second division of
the Fourth corps during the invasion of
Georgia from May to September, 1864. He
was engaged at Rocky Faced Ridge Re
SAGA, Dallas Kenesaw Peach Tree Greek
and Jonesboro, and the siege and capture
of Atlanta. From October, 1864 to June,
1866, he was in command of the district OF
Key West and Dry Tortugas. For his ser
vices at Atlanta and Peach Tree Creek he
was brevetted brigadier general, and at
the close of the war major general of the
| United States army.
Besides his great engineering work at
He'll Gate, he had much to do with the forti-
fcations in the vicinity of New York, the
construction Of the fort at Sandy Hook,
etc. In 1879 he was advanced to the rank
of colonel and in 1884 TO be chief of en-
gineers with the rank of brigadier general,
Upon his retirement from the army he
was made commissioner of public works
of the city of New York by William r.
Grace, then mayor After his term of serv-
ice in this Office he was engaged in yari-
GUS engineering works Of Importance. In
1888 he was made president of the Panama
Railroad company, and held that position
up to the time of his death.