Year: 1876

timd,y, before unknown, tended to make all silent
and thoughtful.


ALONG TEK RIVER


Along the East River on South street. from
Hamilton ferry TO Broome street, between the hours
OF one and haliaast Two, steady OF would
be viewers OF The explosion pressed their way uptown
ward. Every ferryboat that arrived from Brooklyn
was crowded to rcpleton with people. almost the en-
tire number being men, while the residents OF the
First, Fourth, seventh and Thirteenth of this
city had their dinner something earlier than usual
that they might be on hand In the vicinity OF the
Mill Rocks when the great affair took place Walking
up South street hardly single pedestrian could be
scen walking down town. Tho entire concourse had
cCmmon Destination and all were strainng them
selves to arrive there as possible. IL was
remarkable fact ,hata majority Of these persons were
without umbrellas or course everybody talking
about what they were going to Few of the
opinion that no danger attached TO the carrying
out OF the great blast but few thought that any
result would attend any rot in tho immediate To-
cality Of the rocks.


At tho loot OF Grand street large crowd gathered
around the ferry houses and piers early as two
O'Clock. Numbers boarded the steamboats, which
landed at the foot Of Grand street. though many
compelled to stay ashore for want Of room the
steamers. Those who were lett formed themselves into
groups and conversed about what they wanted TO see


As tho appointed time approached pcrceptiblc
quiet came the crowds excepting such iocu-
lar remarks rs "Our time comm. Harry; better say
'eoodby.'" ~ think 1t would pay some body to get
broom and sweep up the pieces in few minutes. "
Tho minutes went on. but no sound beard
About the time announced slight rambling sound, as
oi distant thunder which audible only Tor about
two seconds noticed by soe but not believed
10 bc what all wero awaiting. 1t was however, proba-
tha pn,sa of fhe o.inu Gvo mi innt pc tn
three the crowds began TO become inpatient and sew
era made known their belief that either the attempt to
explode the rect had failed that 1t had been post
poned. Still they waited aud Il was not until the
steamboat Sylvan Stream arrived from the scene that
those waiting were made aware OF the result


.FEox MASTHEAD


HERALD reporter, anxious TO see what effect the
Conclusion would have in midair at some distance
from the spot asconded the oremast of the Liverpool
ship Sayoir Fairc, lying the loot OF Grand street
He climbed up to the royal yard, and, standing on the
loot ropes, leaned over the yard, with umbrella
hosted much TO the amusement OF the crowds in the
street below, who did not to fully comprehend
how a man who was sufficiently unseamanlike to use
a parapue us protection from the raln could sue
cced in attaining such height a ships mast. In
this situation, about 100 feet from the waters surface,
the preparatory gins could be distinctly heard. The
noise OF the explosion perccptble. The
The atmosphere thick that the naked eye could
not discern the OF the blast, but tho rumblng
sound caused by the explosion came swiftly down on
the wind and created sort OF numbness in tho air.
which was experienced for something less than two
seconds. There was other shock accompanying the
concussion and tho vessels remained without
tremor, whilo deck the sailors unaware that
tho explosion had occurred.


AT HUNTERS POINT


from early morn the people were on the qui vire.
eagerly discussing the expected results though but few
took any OF the precautions recommended Tho Ro-
man Catholic church OF ST. Patrick the only pub
lie building IN which doors and windows ali
thrown open. Tho inhabitants generally hurried
toward Astoria, only to be halted south of Halletts
Cove and there to wait until after tho explosion was.
over to rail at 1t and exclam "Is that ally Every
hill top back Of the city had its crowd and each group
when the shock had been felt and the dull boom
heard, expressed disappointment for, though the
sound came, nothing could be seem The shock was
felt evenly throughout Hunters Point Dutch Kills and
Bssville. Mr.. Byron Hay, who was at work repair
Ing the locomotive belonging to the Long Island City
Improvement Commission stated hat tho repair shop
which is built vein OF solid rock, which was
blown up yesterday, was visibly shaken, the shock
beng If something was moving under
it, Iour or fve movements being notice.





before he heard the explosion ana then he knew
that General Newton had accomplished his purpose.
The citizens on the lines of Jackson, Mount Vernon
and Greenpoint avenues, who had remained at home,
fc, the shock less distinctly and but few ac
Knowledgcd that they had not heard felt IL at all
At the bridges over Newtown Creek the keepers who
remained the structures felt nothing but heard what
they deemed was the report but on both sides of the
creek parties the land feh the shock simultaneously


AT Paynters Hill, the vein OF rock extending from
the reef blown up TO Queens County Court House and
under Newtown Greek; Dutch Kills, directly OF
Hunters Point and three quarters OF mile from the
OF the explosion the vibrations four in number
short, and distinct partaking moro of the
nature OF shudder than waving motion, the sound
of the explosion following and hall seconds later
In the tube test the bubble of air shook gently but
ex,remties did pass line marked in the centre Of
the tube. The water in the tumblcr quickly ag-
,ated and then subsidized quickly. The pendulum
movement was failure, the combined effects OF wind
and rain preventing it from making mark.


WILLIAMSBURG


the feeling greatly divided to the best place to
witness the operation No fear Of any disastrous
suit consequent upon the event OF the day reaching the
Eastern district was felt by anyone, though many-to
save window gass--rascd their sashes As soon as
the noontde meal had been concluded there was gen.
oral movement Tor the place OF vantage, thousands
crossing the various ferries only TO be disguised
with the crowds in New York city and the inability to
obtain car rides. Many, therefore, crossed back to
Long Island, finding scarcely better state OF things
for every and other vehicle employed in swell.
ing the vast crowds that covered the hills In
the rear of Williamsburg Had the weather
been clear splendid view Of the rise of the water
could have been obtained from the Cemetery of the
Eyergrcens and all along the elevation Kno as Ridpc
wood; but the mist and the rain prevented this so
that the only evidence the patient crowd had that Gen.
eral Newlon's promise had been fulfilled a tremor
of the ground and dull, heavy report seemingly no
louder than that Of big gun. IN fact while svme of
the crowd persisted that they felt the ground move
others persisted that they did not, and II was only
when word came from houses close by that they had
been shaken that Of the parties believed that tho
affair had been concluded