Year: 1869

Progress Oh the TASK OF Removing the


distractions.


The New York Tribune OF this morung says:


On tuesday brief description was given OF
drilling sunken rocks. Considering that it IL
an entirely new invention, and has never yet
been thoroughly tested, Mr., Shelburne's expe
swift currents OF Hell Gate must be considered
as eminently encouraging. AS was intimated
TO convey the exhaust steam from the
engines enclosed In and sunk with the
mushroom" was found too flexible and TOO
small. A larger and firmer one had To oe pro-
cured frOm Boston, causing delay which pre-
vented any trials OF the drill from being made
on Tuesday. Yesterday the new pipe was
severely tested in a very swift current and
found TO work satisfactorily. Assuming the
machinery of the drill to be In working order,
the first problem is to keep the floating derrick
stationary while the holes are being bored. The
Wallace, the boat which has been chartered by
Mr.. Shelburne ls about 60 feet long, and quite
shallow, yet on Monday II was found i'm possible
to hold her with several large granite
were Intended for use only as temporary
moorings while four holes, six feet deep,
should be made by the drill for the insertion OF
ring. bolts To these, which are marked out
like the bases on u base. ball ground with refer
ence to the pitcher, cables Will be extended
Fl ON the Wallace. which will then be as firmly
fixed as though tied to q wnFrf. Yes erday tue
first hole was drilled and the first ring bolt
inserted While the tide was still running
strongly, and contrary to the advice Of her ex:
perienced commodore, the Wallace steamed
out over the Frying Pan, and dropped one of
her powders overheard. AT first the current
slowly carried the vessel along the huge stone
dragging on the bottom, but at length the
ancnor caught in the rocks below, and the
Wallace was brought to. So far so good;
but work must be done before the turu-
Ing of the tide. The p0nderous "mush-
room" Is swung out over the boiling waters
while the diver lncases himself in his horrid
hablliment. Both speedily find their way to
the bottom. The diver sees that the drill Is In
proper position. and everything being reported
right, AT lest Mr.. Shelburne gives the word to
turn on the steam. II works to perfection.
Standing by the anaconda like steam pipe, you
can hear distinctly the machinery In operation
below. An hour passes, and the tiukling of
little bell gives the longed. for information that
O hole six feet deep has been sunk in the Fry
Ing pan Rock. The ringing of this little
bell Is one of the most beautiful ideas
embodied in the Invention. 1t is done by
electricity, and is,: in fact, the Atlantic cable
on a small scale. Mr.. Shelburne pals a cord,
and presently another tinkle of the bell In
forms him that the drill is Withdrawn from the
rock, and that the mushroom" is ready to
root Itself In another spot. And now the d YER
with q ring. bolt six feet long SIT edge ham M err
and other Implements, descends e2ain, and in
an amazing short space OF time Is drawn up to
announce that "he has stuck q PIN" There
not being time TO shift the position of the Wal.
lace, anchor again, drill another hole, and get
off this tide, the mushroom" Is hOsted on
board, and we start back for Jersey City. To-
put in. When all are down, and the Wallace
permanently moored, Mr.. Shelourne will be
ready to work night and day, and soon He'll
Gate will be shaker by the discharge of nitro
glycerine and the diabolical Frying Pan and
Pot be shattered.