Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
A COMPLETE SUCCESS
Result Of the Big Blast at
Portsmouth, N. d.
10000 PERSONS SAW IT
ELECTRIC SPARK DISCHARGED
46 TONS OF DYNAMITE.
Event Climax Of Three Years Work.
Which Involved $3.50, ooo-Thres
Acres Of Rock Removed.

PORTSMOUTH. N. H.. July 22-stand-
Ing on tiny balcony. like mound OF
earth. with blue sky above and sunlit wa
ters rippling on either hand. Miss Edith NJ
roster. dainty picture in her light -colored
gown. gave the slight touch to the elec-
trio button at All this afternoon which un-
leashed the titanic force Of the fifty tons
or dynamite. a scant thousand feet away,
and with mighty roar and reverberation
sent thousands of gallons Of water a hum
dred feet skyward, dislodged ton upon ton
of rock and wiped out Of existence Hen
derson's Point, for years a menace to local
navigation.
No injuries were caused directly by the
explosion. but In the terrific jam OF hun
dreds OF people through the gates OF the
Newcastle bridge many were hurt, though
none seriously.
From all over New England and New
York state came sightseers and engineers
to witness this greatest explosion In the
country's history. Since early morning they
poured into the city.
By early afternoon the islands and banks
OF the Piscataqua were lined with eager
spectators. Thirty thousand people had
come to the city. 1t is estimated
The Warning Blast
At $3.50 o'clock the warning blast Of a
whistle brought silence over the vast throng.
Then followed minutes of waiting, the thou
sands gathered standing with nerves tense
and glance riveted on the remnants OF the
mammoth cofferdam that had been broken
down to let the water cover the rocky point.
Not sound could be heard in the quiet
summer afternoon.
In a moment across the water came, al
most in a tumble, the four measured strokes
of the clocks of the city. People impa-
tiently glanced at their watches.
Five minutes after four Hurry up!
Hurry up!' came from the crowds on Pierce
Island across from the point.
Up on the hill back of the point a solitary
marine stood sentinel over the electric but
ton. Still, farther back. on an improvised
grandstanu, sat party Of two hundred
OF SO naval officers and their ladies' In
dainty summer gowns. Suddenly. while the
crowds waited and watched, from out this
group came Rear Admiral Meade, escorting
Miss Foster. Then. quick as fash, as she
touched the button. came two ceafening de-
donations in rapid succession
Effect Of the Explosion.
solid mass of matter rose hundred
feet in the air. and then slowly sank hack
again. Thin clouds of light smoke fioated
skyward from the center Of the chaos,
while at the corner Of the point nearest the
navy yard a heavy pail of dark broken
smoke hung for some minutes.
AS the waters closed over the scene OF the
explosion they broke into waves fully
twenty feet high. which surged up channel
and down channel, and over to Pierces
Island. opposite where they broke on the
rocks like the roar of the ocean.
Meanwhile the initial roar of the mighty
blast had been followed by hundreds OF
lesser reports, like the rapid fire OF artil-
lery. as huge planl s and great sections of
ruck, hurled skyward, began to drop with
noisy splashes into the troubled waters.
They fell almost within the of the
explosion. and no damage from them at all
was done. For a breathless minute the
hA ha liza
cleared away. the waters became calmer.
From the throngs upon the shore came a
mighty cheer; from naval craft and fac
tories In the city the shrill screech of
whistles. Ii was all over quickly that
the crowds scarce seemed to realize the
magnitude of the upheaval. Finally, the
rush for the city set in. and for an hour
and a half the railroad station was be-
sieeed by the crowd of returning sightsers.
AT All Hendersons Point lay lurking and
treacherous, solid mass of rock beneath
the blanket of water.
Tons of Rock Lay Broken.
A minute later, following the years OF
work OF an army of men and the success
of the explosion. the tons OF rock lay
broken into comparative fragments. with
only here and there a giant rock. detached
from the original mass. but supported by
scores of fragments. standing sentinel-like
out of the water.
The naval officials and the contractors
are delighted at the result of the explosion
The broken rock will now be dredged out
to a depth of thirty-five feet
Within ten minutes of the explosion sloop
yachts, power boats and rowboats came
swarming upstream and some of the
smaller craft passed over where the point
once lay.
Much lumber from the cofferdam hoated
about and men were out in boats securing
this. while others, spurred by a dealers Of
fer Of 81 a hundred pounds for fish which
were killed by the explosion, patroled the
vicinity.
No Damage to Property.
The explosion gave this city a slight rock
but so far can be learned. there was
no serious damage done to property in this
vicinity or to government property at the
navy yard.
There was a considerable exodus from the
city on the part of people who feared that
the explosion might assume dangerous pro-
portions
Windows throughout the city were left
open and breakable goods had teen packed
and stored away by many people.
Several people who had some of the much
coveted passes to the navy yard, which was
one Of the vantage points, became afraid
of being so near the explosion. and gave
their tickets away.
Gov McIane of New Hampshire with
Bartlett, on Badger Island. Many proml-
nent politicians of the state were also in
the city.
Camera enthusiasts were everywhere in
evidence.