The New York Herald Newspaper, September 23, 1876, Page 3

bo TMP HINGE OF HELL GATE Dangers from the Explosion Beereased by the Character of the Surroundings. DIRECTIONS OF THE SHOCK. Description of the Great Exploding Electric Batteries. CHE ELECTRIC SPARK. How the Lightning Becomes tne Pliant Servitor of Man. THE MINE READY. General Abbott’s Experiments on the Velocity of Vibration. THE LIBERATED GASES. In farther consideration of the question of danger ansing trom the Heli Gate explosion, it 18 necessary to inquire into the relations that cxist between the Hailett’s Point reef and the general formation of which We forms a part, as well as with others which differ from it in character. The danger of a local disaster bas’ been shown to be very remote on ac fount of the precautions taken at the works to guard againat it Beyond the posmble up- heaval of some of the rocky shell which immediately underlies the coffer dam, no extraordinary scattering of the rock can tuke place, and indeed it is more than probable that eveg this partially exposed portion will quietly subside into the depths of the excavation with the rest of the superstructure when the supporting columus are blown from under it, Distant Dutidings, such as these on Blackwell’s and Ward’s Islands ai in the direct line of the reef formation, but there is scarcely any possibility that they will bo seriously affected by the blast. This assertion is confidently made on the following basis of tacts:—The water immediately sur- Founding the reef is many feet deeper than the bottom of the excavation, Between Hallett’s Point and Ward’s Island the channel which intersects the formation is forty feet im depth; in the direction of the entrance of the Harlem River it varies between forty-ive and fifty-five feet deep. Northwestward toward Ninety- Bocond streot the depth is between flty and dity-five feet, westward toward Horne’s Hook, at the foot of Enghty-ninth street, another most thickly built up part of New York, it deepons to ninety feet, and southwest” ward, in the direction of Blackwell’s Island, the water Is seventy feet in depth. Thereiore a vast trench sur- rounds the reef on the water side, which intercepts, as \t Were, any transmitted shock to the extension of the teef beforo it can reach any distance from the centre of explosion, The only real connection between the biast and the main land is limited to a small area of Astoria which ties over the same rock system as that of Hullett’s Reef, But immediately surrounding the pot and (ntervening between it and the built-on part of Astoria is a deep marshy tract, which presents o kind of saturated cushion to the force of tho explosion, which will nave the effect of deadening it Considerably aud preventing any tremor of the ground, It will thas be seen tnat although tho charge in the mine is very heavy, naturo has surrounded it with a amber of safeguards, which are thoroughly reliable im their intercepting powers, The water will undoubt- edly transmit the shovk to a consideravlo distance, but not directly. Each particle or water will bo affected successively as by & wave motion, decreasing rapidly im toree which disturbs the water without moving it laterally, The (averted arch which the stratification of the rock forms under the river will transmit some of the shock, but ad indirectly as tho water, for obvious reasons, Tho only ues, therefore, that will ieel the force of the explosion with anything like ajar will be thoso which radiate vastward from the reef. Another important Point to be romembercd in connection with tne feat blast is that tho shock can only be deliverea ver- Mealy, because laterally the columns and charges are entirely isolated. 1t 1s possible, therefore, that an observer standing on the Palisades on the New Jersey side of the Hudson will feel the shock, if any 18 trans- mitted worth noticing, more percoptivly than an observer in the city of New York. The action af the explosion on the atmosphere will be o fill it in the Immediate vicimty of the last with & large proportion of nighly ilasiic gases, which will teud to expand it, weating a momentary vacuum over the blasted rock nto which a heavy draught of air will set frcm all tides at once. This may cause the demolition of somo sanes of ylassin the houses near the works, but wil: ot ve felt in New York to any greater extent than as + Vibration, THE BATTERIES, Among the chiet objects of solicitudo to the engineers of the work the condition and efficiency of the exploding patteries tuke a foremost rank, Auy misbap vecurring wo these would involve vexatious delay and failure, either of which would be welcome to New Yorkers mast at preseot. As explained in a previous article on ihe Hell Gate improvement, eacn group of holes has its >wn independent battery, and tue power of all the latter 18 concentrated s.multuneously, produc- ing a series of almost hronous explosions. | But, for convenience sake, and to yuard | Bganst the possibility of any of the cells of the batteries being neglected at the last momect, | they are all arranged in two frames aud protected from danger by the bomb provt shelier described beiow. The accompany ing cut shows ono of these frames com: | pletely Ntted with the troughs and the elements tor the development of the electric: current. The acid aeed is a mixture o! bi-chromate of potash and diluted sulphuric acid, into which are plunged ” zinc =oand carbon, the ir 7 at once acted on by the acid. In the sketch these tlenmenis are shown lilteu out of their troughs by a pers so as to ruspend the development of clec- sPieity until its required for use, When Ul wme arrives this framework, on which the ments are suspended, is lowered by means of a rack wud plaion, worked’ by a crank, on the battery ends until the zinc and carbon are iinmersed, From this moment the positive and negauve wires decomo charged with eleciricity, which only needs the | slosing of the circuits to send a spark through every — sartridge and thus demol the reef. The batteries | i are about the most pertect 6ver constructed such a purpose, The acid bath into which the zinc | and carbo! Act instant og power of the battery is extraordinary, itis not lasting, forthe zine 13 soon | wonsumed. On this account the union of the elements mil not take pluce uct! a few moments ve'ore the Mme of figiug, when it is oxnected the wlectricity will tain the highest stato of tension. This lat ‘er quality im the mysterious fluid is wiat wight be termed the energy of separation, *r repuision, at the point, of development, vy the decomposed electricity the positive and the Begative iluids being mutually ropellant Tho quantity wt electricity developed is an entirely differen, thing trom its tension. explain the difference 1 be necessary to revert to the first stages of electrical development and gradually reach the explanation re- ferred 10 by tracing the connection between cach stago of the process, THE DEVELOPMENT OF RLECTRICITY. The celebrated Gaivau: made the first practical dis- covery in relation to the development of electricity whilv conducting some anatomical experiments in 1786. He found that by unitin, the lumbur verves with the crurai muscles of a dead frog by means of a tonoecting medium composed of iron aud cupper convulsive motion was impa-ted to the frog's leg. He at onee this phenomenon to eleciricity in- herent to the frog's body, did not recognize atthe Ymo that it was due io coniact of two heterogeneous tnctals, Volta, peria; 8a cioser observer of such mutters, at once suw that the power was devel- oped by the metallic union, and invented Telrom the Voitgic pile, which is the basis of all later forms | tor developing lectricity oo this — prinerple. Chix pile consisted of alternate plates of zine and copper, with intervening olds of cloth aatopatcd with acidulated water, This arrange- Meus of the metals producod electrical separation atonee, the action of the acu on the zine being the Bhret exciting cause. ‘Ibe separation of t poment furs necessitate: Heut ol the of one of the m Lit Wements calculated to produce e, yomposition = or separation, all we iuctors of eleciricity, Now, at the | brought up to th NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER top of the pile so formed, supposing that it is constructed of successive plates of metal and cloth, Soaked in veidula'e! water as described, the pos: trict'y Wil accutnulnte, While= at the bottom the gative Uuid will katuer, each repeliiug the other, but | seeking tu recompo-e off (he pile, If wires or cop. | are attached to euch end the pue will | dso much by their length, and ahd negative fiuids wil flow respectively to their euds. ires be prolonged to aoy length and the electricitics will still keep flowing along them in the effort to escape from the batiery aud mect ut a neutral point. Now if the ends of the wires which constiute what is called # circuit are brought close together, #0 as to touch, the two fluids at once unite and reas- sume 1p that condition ther place in the atter composing the batiery. Hut in the meantime the action of the acid on the z'ne is going oD continuously, and electricity is being constantly ae] atthe baitery. Therefore, a continuous tow of the Huds is taking place along the wires toward their point of union between the poles, The moment the ends of the wires are separated the currents cease, and begin again only when tue wires are connected, Now this ts exastiy the relative condition of the wires.and the butterips at Hallett’s Puint until the operator presses (he fring key which unites the ends of the wires forming the circuit, We will sappose that the zine and carbon—for the carbou vow takes the place of the copper of Voita’s pile—are lowered into the troughs of acid which take the part of the saturated cloth pad beiore described, the currents uo not flow, although a large quavtity of electricity is at once developed aud ‘uted at each battery. ‘The jatter assume the character, relatively, of cannon loaded; the quantity o: the electricity curre. sponds with the quantity of powder in the gun, but U teusion of th» electricity can only be compared™to the explosive sir eugth or concentrated energy of the pow- der. Although this comparison is not strictly correct, inasmuch us the energy of the powder is latent while that of the electricity 1s active even while attho battery, | but for Want of a simpler explanation of the phenoine- bon it will answer tue purpose, The tension of the electric fluids is entirely dependent on tbe character of the elements used to deveiop them, but is tucreased in proportion to the strength of the battery in such elements, The quantity of the electrieity, on the other hand, depends on the area of suriace of the plates im- merged in the acid, as well as on the rapidity of devel- opment. such 1s the power that will be created on next Sun- day afternoon and heid im the prisons of the great datteries until a single touch of tue operators finger ona little ebony key will liberate 11 and send it on its mission of destruction through tho vauited galleries E < and the rugged coumns of the Haliet’s Pont excavation, The continuity of the pos- | five wires which lead trom the positive poles of the batteries through every — primer of their respective groups will, as before explained in the Hxiacp, ve maintuined in the centre of euch ex- ploding cap vy a short lengto of platinum wire, which, when the current flows aloug ti, will become red Lot and will fre the filling of tuiminate of mercury, caus- ing the instantaneous ignition of the dynamite charge. The negative wires from the ucgative poles of the batteries will connect with the cups of mercury onthe main circuit closer, and the currents will unite when the positive Wires drop into these cupz. Although the passage of the current wiil be almost as Tapid as thought itsel’, @ fracticuul part of a second will intervene between the moments of explosion in each charge, because of the resistance offered by the wire to the passage of the electricity. ‘bis imeconceiv- ably short delay im the movement of the currents hus boen taken into vonsideration by General Newton in rogulating the strength of the charges. 1tis obvious that while the energy of one cbarge is being exerted that of an adjacent one ig not yet developed; therefure, a sec- tion of the rock mass is realiy being detached irom the main body belure ihe cartridges that are inserced in it are iired. This, of course, ‘reduces the resistance to their evergy, and unless they were graduated to their work they would simply represent rock bombs exploding in the headings instead of doing their wbare of the general demolition of the reef. The batteries, of which there are two of the construc- tion shown in the illusiration, are placed for sufety sake under a bomb-prool shelter built expressty for the urpose, It would bavé m easy enough to have [rected them fer out OI harm's, wi y, Dut su many dill culties attend the protection of the conducting wires over rough ground, and to avoid the bare possibility of ap accidental interruption of the current, the engi- neers havo wisely placed these inytrume: tothe shaft. The bomb-proot is a broad ba: constructed editice formed of massive traming sheeted with plauks and covered on sides and top mauy feet thick of with masonry. By this means the cinef instruments necessary for a successtul eXplosion of tho great mine bp beglbte from harm, ready to be used again on the Flood Rock or any other of tho obstruc- tions at Hell Gate that are marked for destruction. THE MINE COMPLETED—¥LOODING BEGUN LAST NIGHT. ‘ ‘The deep lines ot thought and anxiety that for the past two weeks marked the faco of General Newton were somewhat less strougly defined yesterday morn- ing, and as the day wore on apd it bechme ovident that the dangerous work of priming the 50,000 pounds of ay- amite would be completed before cvening the General face wore an expression ofdeep content. ‘The caus of his former uneasiness was not any doubt of the per- fect correctness of his calculations or of the ultimate success of his plans, but there were @ thousand von- Uingencies which might arise to make trouble in one form or another, Residents of the vicinity might have become frightened and circulated protests against further progress in the work, or they m:gbt have ine- morializod Congress to save their property from destruct: “by preventing tho daring of such am enormous quautity of explosive material. There were a8 dozea other things, any one ‘of which might havo intervened to have caused delay and annoyance, and it was thero. fore no wonder that the General was irritated at the delay caused by the nof-arrival of dynamite for sev- eral days. Notwithstanding his great anxiety and inward vexation, however, he never permitted a short word 10 escape his lips to any of the per- sons under bis commana or to a singlo one of the numerous visitors who applied from day to day for admission to the tunneis. The appearanco of the works yesterday was essentially different from that presented on any former oceasiun. At an early hour it became apparent that the large force of men engaged in inserting the primers would complete the entire 189 groups in the cuarse of the afternoun. The force consisted for the most part of the men wio had inserted the main charges in the holes, assisted by a umber of others. These :men worked in parties of four, ove of whom took the prituers or explodent cartriages, from the box; one made tue conrecuiuns between the ends of the wires and coiled them, and the fourth held an umbretia over the head of the ieading workman, who carried a written chart of the groups und tho munner in which they were to be tilled, As box alter box was lowered into the sbaft, each one coutaining | the premers for an entire group, With ali the wires at- tached, and it became certatu tbat the work would be | compieted wuring the day, a gang of men was set at | work cicuring out the excavation. Instead of THE DEATHUKE SILENCE which usually prevaiis about the works, by the broken only pg of steam from the excape-pipe of tke tw keep the mine free of leakage waver, ied with the ring of the hammer | and toe duil grating of the saw, the crash of simasning timber and ‘the clang of the macninists’ wrench Aguinst the iron pipes. All thd sawhorses ana pianks used for weafloiding in Working at tho holes in the ceil- ing were dragged vut into the open shalt, whence they were soon hauled up to the surtuce of the earth by the derrick erected for boisting up the excavated ruck. One party of workmen {cll upon the pumps in | the sbait, and in a short me they were taken to | pieces and landed upon the surface. Avotber party | was eogaged in trausporting the discarded heaps of plugs aud strings from the holes to a distance frum the shail; carpenters sawed and bammered vigorously in the wpen shaft, coustructiug the wooden pipes or | cases through which the wires were to ou thetr | way 10 the battery; electrical mechanics arranged the wires und plates of’ the big battery in the bemoupro and moving bitherand th ther,superintending tue whole busy scene was Captain James Mercur, the able and courteous aesistunt of General Newton. The pumps once removed, water began to gain in the tunnels, and the workmen, incited to more vigorous efforts, had | long vetore dark inserted the Jast primer, maae tho Just conuection and withdrawn from the excavation. fhe entire 4,000 holes were primed in avout eighteen hours. All the wires were then passed through the wooden tubes beiore descrived and their ends were | house. The entire of wires were U day aud will be again tested by the and the manulacturer jointly to-d ce wud finally been measured, To-day the wires will be retested and united | in systems of eight groups, cack group consisting of twenty holes. This arrangement wil be made in ac- cordauice with their resistence. Ail the groups of pracy Ucally equal resistance will be counected in sets, The number of vattery cells used for each system will ve | increased in accordance with the resistance offered by | the groups of whici it 1s composed, ‘About 1,000 ickets of admission to the guard steam- boats were printe, abd Do less than three times that number of direct applications been recived vy in charge. There will be five of these chartered by the govérnment officiaie 19 plosion on Sunday, They will start from different pters along the East River in time to reach the scene of the blas—tabout two o’clock— thus allowing them time to clear the river of cralt be- fore the mine is exploded, THK GUARD STRAMBOATS, One of the steamers will leave Peck slip, another the | foot of Broome sireet, a vbird the ioot of Twenty-third sireet, a (purth the tuot of Ninety-third street and we jon of the tfth has mot been decidea upon, A warning gun will be fred from we government drill souw (Wenty-tive miuutes delore the explosion 1s pro- duced and a final gun will be fired ten minutes before the tim The siphon was opened last night and a couple of feet of water admiited jute the mine, Tho flooding will be compluted to-day, GENKKAL ABBOTT'S EXPARIMENT. A Heranp reporter, learning that General Abbott, of the United States Engineer corps and chet ot the vor. pedo service at Wiliett’s Point, tatended to make some experiments with reference to the big blast, Urove out last night to that gentieman’s residence at the place indicated to make ingutries in regard to the mattor, General Abvoit was found at home, and, upon learning the object of the reporter's visit, proceeded very courteo to put bim_ in possession of some interesting facts. “I do not care,” said he, “to «co into) 6the=—detaila = of | ocher incts, | it was beneficent ip fact or certain in its conclusions, | A practica, engineer has already giveu his opinion that my plan just at present, for it may not be successful, and in that case the publication could do no good. | am going Lo try but one experiment, It is very desira- bumerous scientific reasons jon of the @ tine which it takes: percept. pags overa given dis- tance. These facts would have direct relation to the theory of earthquakes and other important scientific discussions, 1 Lave made a number of experiments in that direction in connection with my torpedo experi- ments here, but there never betore has been a chance for such’ an experiment on such a grand scale as iB offered = by =the. —s monster blast of + General = Newton. = 'To__facilitate my experiment the Western Union Telegraph Company have placed their lines at my disposal, and all the ruil way companies on Long Island bave agreed not to roll any cars fora period of tilteen minutes after the time of the explosion, unless something of extraordinary importance necessitates them. ‘The velocity of the Vibration will be determined by a telegraphic wir All the wires on Long Island are worked by batte: in New York. Just belore the time of the explosion all the wires leading to places other than Fresh Pond Junction, Jamaica or Springtield Junction will be dis- connected, leaving these places in continuous circuit with Astoria. I will stand beside General Newton when he touches the key which 1s to send the electrie thrill through the mine at Hallett’s Poiut, aad Twill have there a smail battery and an arrangement of re- lays invented for the purpose and so arrauged that the expiosion of tho mine wiil itself send a signal down the line to the places | have mentioned, at each of which will be stationed an observer. The. instru- ment at each station will = thus ~—_ record Simultaneously (for the time occupied by the electricity in traversing that distance 1s too minute to Le susceptibie of ineasurement) ut every Staion the exact tine of the explosion, Each instra- ment will record it by making a dot upon the ordinary telegrapuie band of white paper. The instant the dot is made the observer looks through a very delicate im sirument we bave made for perceiving the vibration, At is called a Leisomeier and consists of a litue cup set upon a level surtace and filled with clear mercury, Across the centre of it 18 stretcved a line so fine as to be invisible to the naked eye. The instrument is so delicate that it will indicate, by the shaking of the mercury, the vibration caused by a horse’s hools four hundred feet away Weil, the observor WILL LOOK THROUGH 4 CAREFULLY ADJUSTED TELE- SCOPK ‘at this bair line, and when the mercury marks the ar- Tival of the vibration from the great last he will strike the key of the telegraphic instrument with one band, causing it to make another dot, and when the vibration ceases be makes a third dot in the same way. Now, a8 the band of paper on which the dots are made ix mov- ing all (ue time at a uniorm and precisely calculated he distanee between the three dots will indi cate exactly the time ol the arri 1 the vibration and its duration. Besides the stations nentioned there Will be one at Willett's Voint here ana another at West Point, the latter being more than flity miles distant, . There will be no telegraphic com- Munication with the latter ;lace, but the calculations wiil be made with chronometers, and the sume result will be secured. All the observers will be otticers of the Engineer corps, and each will have with bim as as- er of private soldiers Liew it harge of the insirume ts at Spring- féid Junction, Lieutenant Kingsland at Fresh Pond Junction, Lieutenant Young at Jamaica, Lieutenant HELL GATE. No. 1—Large Exploding Batteries ana Frame Under Bombproof ! Shelter. ‘ will be so many individual blasts the shock will be greatly lessoned. This would beso if there was ap appreciable time between each explosion and the one following. In tat case the vibration produced by each blast would oniy be proportionate to its individual force, But in Hell Gate itis entirely different. All the Diasts virtually go off at once, and hence produce con- current vibrations in the rock, approxtinating in power to one biast, with aggregated material, This principle is seen in soldiers croesing a bridge. They dare not keep step. Each man communicates his individual motion to the bridge, and, if ull do likewise, there is concur- Tent vibration which wouid break down the strugture almost us specuily as if the same shock were given by @ unit of power. We henco may be pardoned if wo believe there is eneugh doubt about the issue of this explosion to jus- lity us in saying to men, wotnen and children, don’t be foolishly rash, RJ. 8, BROOKLYN'S ANXIETY. Great anxiety prevails among the moro timorous Brooklynites pending the explosion at Hell Gate on Sunday next, There can be no doubt but that all ears in the City of Churches will be stretched to ca report of the copenssion, and the result of the to property in the vicinity of Astoria wi'l be look in anticipates “extras.’” Many boarders of Astoria ave emigrated to Brooklyn during the past week, doubtless with the idea uppermost that ‘distance lends enchuntment to the view.’ The indications are that the afternoon services iu the churches will be sparsely attended on Sunday. ABOUT THE GASES, New Yorx, Sept. 21, 1876. To tue Epiror or tux Herat: Within the past few weeks the Hxkatp has given its readers a complete description, in its most minute de- tails, of the great engineering operations guing on under Hallet’s Point Reet, but I have not yet seen any allusion made to the probable nature and effect of the | gases cmanating trom the combustion of the 40,000 | pounds of dynainite, [tis known that among the pro- ducts of the combustion of nitro-glycerine are ammonia and hydrocyanic or prussic acid, besides other poison- ous gases. Now, although it ‘may be said that any Of these poisonous gases will be to a great extent dissolved in the water throug? which they will be forced, yet, owing to the fact that these gases are of a volatile nature, they will not be held in’ solution long, bot will evaporate and contaminate the air. It would be very interesting to know the probable amount of these dangerous gases that will be liberated, and its eflects on any ono in the vitinity of the explo- iow. who sbould be 9 unfortunate a3 to inhale its subtle vupors. As each meusure of nitro-giycerine witlexpand into over 3,000 measures of gas on explo- sion, thero must necessurily be @ great quantity of paisonous vapors iberated. CURIOUSLY INCLINED READER, ANOTHER WHO FEARS GAS, To Tux Eprror ov tax Heraup:— Will you aliow me to make @ remark {n connection with the monster explosion of Sunday next? As re- gards the ‘eared stock I believe thore is no ground for Main No. 2—Bombproof Shelter for Exploding Batteries Near Edge of Shaft. bl bey at Willett’s Pomwpand Lieutenant Bass at West oink General Abbott thinks that the vibration wiil be hardly percepuble at West Poiot, and that it will not be felvat ail beyond that place. As to the value of the experiment the General bas not any idea that it wiil bave any of a pecuntary, or, at least lor a tine, of a practical one. [vis a purely scientitie question; that, hike ali other questions of the kind, it will provanly bave practical value when taken in conpnection with It usually happens,” said the General, “that our scientific “men wiil over one fact, from the pure love -of science, and another man svon discovers another fact which fits into the first, woen the two combined are found to have a atilty, aud some practical man who knows nothing of science comcs along, brings it to the notice of the world and finds an application for it, by means of which he makes a for- tune. The mechanical details of the experiment the Gen- eral did mot care to make public uutil they have been tesied. A CAREFUL CRITICISM. To Tux Eviror or Tus Heratp:— Your recent article on the coming explosion was both benovolent in design and possibly scieutific in assert:on; but it docs not necessarily follow that At 18 customary to decry isan alarmist any one who | ventures to suggest that General Newton may err in bis predictions respecting the results of this ex- plosion, But whoicsumo warning greatly differs from ignorant alarm, Wheoever # man has a reasonable doubt respecting any dangerous issue be is justified in expressing bis opinion, and may be culpable 11 he with bold i, His design is not to produce unnecessary mental excitement, but to 80 put meu on their guard that they may escape possivie danger, In this ight he 16 a benelactor, rather to be praised than viamed, The question, then, is this:;—Is there 5 agpcetmbed that Generai Newtou may be mistaken? We, persou- ally, do not think be is to any great extent, but at ihe sane Lime aftirm there 1s suilicient rvom for a doubt on which to urge men not to rashly expose themselves, there 18 more danger to be appreponded than General Newton will admit, But, apart from this personal i still remains @ iact that bi preuiction respecting this blast is based iy op theory, This idedly the most extent tithewal explosion ever attempied, and by virtue of its vast extent and peculiar surroundings it may develop a new factor not heretolore discovered iu all hie previous Ozperience, He is using forces that have never 'veen fully tested under exuctiy similar cireumstunces. Any preuiction based on cre it has been reduced. to actual and unvarying table to miscarry in practice. the world is sil rations, Years ago the philosoper Lard. ner cloarly demoustrated that m vessel could the Atiantic, Moa o! ~ cotivineed by his purely ic logic, but years ago the throtth thousands of swimming engines whistled bis theories to the wind. Pract philosophers and cultured Congressmen booted dowu the idea that @ continuous eleviric current could be formed getween Wastingion and Baltimore, but to-day England aud America whisper under 3,000 miles of water that they were mistaken. In euch of these cases the force was greater and the resistance less than | png. was anticipaied. We then have a right to doubt the aby 6 of science in a case like the preseut, all Of 18 poasivinties have bob veon tested by experi- ni. If we examine more closely io detail we do not find all jear remov Yourlay great stress on the fact that because thero the slightest apprehension, for I have seen once at Cherbourg, France, 40,000 pounds of mining powder exploded at a time and the vibration of the ground at | a distance of 860 yards was hardly perceptibie; but ihe real danger was the poisonous gas produced by the consumed powder. Ata distunce of 500 yards many persons feil as if sruck with thunder, and were drought again to life with great dilliculty and suffering violent pains of en- trails at the distance of three miles the gas broug y the wind annoyed many hundred persons who wero in a church. As I know that the gas from the nitro-glycerino is mueh more dangerous than the mining powders are, I thought proper to send you these remarks, ag the water may not be able to suppress the large quantity | of the escaping gas on Sunday. G, FEUARDENT, A SABDATARIAN’S PROTEST, We regret that this explosion {s to take placo on the Sabbath, Thore is really ro neod for it, and ft ty dis- respectiul to that large and worthy class of our citi- zeos who revere that holy day. But apart irom its moral aspect, 1t is the worst day of the seven for such an exhivition. Every man is released from his buste ness and can go tosee it. The rosult will be an im- meuse crowd, weil sprinkled with roughs, and hence dillicult for the polite to control, and should there be more than anticipated damage, it will only be incre: rerowd. The argumentyabout fewe ing on Sunday is weak; self-presereation aud motives will keep olficers and cargo atu safe yday. When the water is turned jato tho vd distance chambers the works will really be ina more secure condition than at any previous time since the work of patting {p the explosives began, ‘The water will effec- tua!ly keep out foreign substances and prevent any jar- We hence believe the appointment of Sunday ts wrong, inexpedient and annecessary. In s0 doing the government sets a bad eyample, and can hardiy carry out consistently unday laws whiie giving the peo- ple the biggest show of the season on that day, thereby detrauding them of that rest and quietness fo which THE PLATR GLASS INSURERS. New York, Sept 22, 1876, To tes Epirok oy Tim Hekaty:— We notice in the Heraxo of to-day the statement that the plate glass insurance companies are alarmed about the coming explosion at Hell Gate. The “Lloyds” Pinte Glass Insurance Association, speaking for them- selves, feel no particular anxiety abyut it, believing no rious damage will be done and the * ’ necessary. Promise to meet any claims a them on this account within forty eight hours notice. J. W. GREGORY, G. BEEMER, } Managers MAMMOTH CLAM BAKE. About 600 citizens of Brooklyn, among whom wero many of the political notavilivies of the Ciy of Churches, attended a mammoth Rhode Island clam bake, which was at McUloskey’s Bath Park. The bake way « grand affair in ite way, everything present in the way of sbeil fish being Oxed in the styie which bas made the name ot Rocky Point famous. The bake was under the supervision of O. B. Marshall, who has from Sthode Island, and who managed the bake in verys good%tyle aud with punctuality, A number of the American team were present, including General Dakin, and two members of the Scotch toum, the Australian team «iso being represented. It was first clam bake these gentiemen bave seen, and they enjoyed their experience heartily. The exe nb boat py hour brought home to Brookly: ¢ number of guests thoroughly satisfied wiih the day’s pleasure. 23, 1876.-TRIPLE SHEET. Thirty-One Deaths from Yellow Fever at Savannah Yesterday. IN CHARLESTON. : THE DISEASE The Typho-Malarial Fever Increasing in Baltimore. SAVANNA, Ga,, Sept, 22, 1876, Tho total number of interments to-day were thirty five, of which thirty-one were trom yellow fever. GREAT ALARM IN CHARBLEStON—THE DISEASE SPREADING—TRACING IT TO THE BRITISH BARK SYLPH—THREE SMUGGLERS THE INFECTION AND DIk. Cuarestoy, Sept. 22, 1876, Yellow fever is certainly epidemic here, und a per- fect stampedo has resulted. ‘The tirst case of the dis- ease bas been traced to tho British bark Sylph, which came trom St, Thomas with a clean bill of heaith, and which was permitted to come to the city alter a ten days’ quarantine, Belore the vessel loft quarantine some men went on board to smuggle cigars; three of them took the fever, and all of them died, Two were residents of Sullivan's island, and died there, The Island had heretofore been thought exempt from fever, ‘The Orst cage was reported on the 12th of September, but was suppressed by the Health Officer, So iar there have beon about twelve cases, six of which have died. SIX NEW CASES. To-day half a do The weather is exceedingly tavorabie for the spread of | the plague, and leading physicians are advising all unacclimated persons to leave the city, The steamers which ply between this port and New York have been notiied that they will be quarantined, and reluse to fell tickets to passengers, All steamers, however, bring and carty full freiguts, The season 1s so far ud- Vanwed that it is hoped that a disastrous epidemic will be escaped ; but the fatal type of disease and number of deaths in Savannah give a very gloomy outlook. RUIN OF THE PALL BUSINESS, ‘Tho fall business of Charlesten has beon almost en- tirely ruined. In less than a week from now the fever will either develop into an epidemic or be suppressed, A STRICT QUARANTINE AT WILMINGTON--PRE- VENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST CONTAGION BY LAND—ACTIVITY OF THE HEALTH BOARD, Witaixctox, N. C., Sept, 22, 1876. There has beon no yeliow fever hero so tar this | season. Tho eity is iu a very good sanitary condition and every precaution is used to prevent the introduc, tion of the disease, A strict quarantine is in force aguinst all infected cities, both by land and sea. Ves- sols arriving bere trom all points south of Cape Fear are not allowed to come to the city, nor to communi- cate with any one except through the health oflicers; but there 1s no quagantine against vessels arriving north of this or from Europe, Strict precautions aro used to prevent arrivals by land from infected cities, and careful and experienced health officers are on’ every train from the South, These trains aro not al- lowed to come here, but are stopped three miles trom the eity limits, where arrangements are made for the comfort o! the passengers, Disinfectants are freely used, and the haalth officers make daily rounds in the | city. In 1862 the first interment resulting from yellow fever was on August 12, and the epidemic disappeared With the frost, which did not como that year until the first week in November. that year was 446, This was the The first was in tho summer of 1821, ond visitation, TWO THOUSAND PERSONS PROSTRATED AT 8A- VANNAH—EIGHT THOUSAND APPLYING FOR BELIEF—A GREAT PANIC IN THE CITY. ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 22, 1876. It is impossible to find a correspondent im Savannah. There is no telling who is alive, and who is not, but the following 1s authentic, and 1s made up from private despatches, and from iterviews with people from “the afflicted city who are refugees here. Reports to-day show the heaviest mortality of any day since the fever set in, So great has been the fatality that tho best estimates put the deaths at fifty-six, and this aum- ber may be increased to sixty by later reports. This unusual fatality is due to the sudden coolness in tho weather following the equinoctial stor, This cool weather continues and an increased fatality may be looked for three or four qays to come. ‘The death rate 1s the highest ever known in Savannah, the greatest mortality known in the year 1864 boing fifty- one, Tho gloom and depression in the city 1# terrible, But even with this the exodus is smal Nearly every tamily have some patient who needs careful nursing and attention. TWO THOUSAND Casks, There are over 2,000 people sick with yellow fever at Presept. Ove bundred and eighty now cases Lave been reported to-day. Besides these there are hall as many more down with other malarial fevers, It is estimated that thero are only about 7,000 whites and 14,000 negroes in the city at present. The fatality is notably among the wealthier classes latte! The Rehet Com- mittee estimates, to-night, that tho daily expenses for the week vill bo at least $3,000 per day, and there is no accrued funds to depend upon. RIGHT THOUSAND APPLY FOR RELIG, Over 8,000 people applied for relief to-day, many of them representing large amilies, and the destitution is great, The negroes are, without exception, almost de- pendent on the benevolent societios, and are helped eqtaliy with the whites, A CALL FOR PHYSICIANS AND NURSES. For the first time since the epidemic official calls have been made to-day upon other seaport cities tor physicians and nurses, which will greatly increase the expenses, EXPECTED TO END IN NOVEMBER, The epidemic in 1854 evded with tho biack frost on November 10, and it is expected the seuurge will hardly end much sooner this year. Contrary to former ex- perience, the fatality this year increases with the prog- ross of the epidemic, HELP FOR SAVANNAML Every city and townstip in Georgia has assisted Savannah to tho best of theit ability; but matters have now passed beyond local control, and the State now appeals to the entire country for wid. Reports received here to-day state that there are over six hundred yele low fover cases in Branswick, in the State, which is pearly half of the population of that town, All of the above is authorized and authentic. NO YELLOW FEVER AT MOBILE. Monin, Ala,, Sept, 22, 1876. There wero fourteen deaths, from all causes, for the week ending at six o'clock P, M. September 21; one death was due to congestive fever, and no others from fever of any sort. There has been no yellow fever hero this season, and but little sickness of any kind. The Board of Health, howover, urges the importance of enforcing a strict quarantine against infected ports, in order to endeavor to keep the city in good sunitary condition. THE DISKASR IN BALTIMORE—A CASE GENUINE BLACK VOMIT—WHAT 18 TYPHO-MALARIAL FRVER? Ba.tiwong, Sept. 20, 1876 To rue Eorror or THe Herato:— The “typho-malarial” tover, alias “yellow fever,” is daily on the increase. One of the nurses died yester- day, alter a fow hours’ sickness, with genuino ‘biaek vomit.” To-day fifteen policemen have been @taiied ent or THE to mount guard in the iniected locality und to ingre ricken district. Masters, of New York, now in this city, visited the locality yesterday, and alterward had an interview with the Mayor, He serio-comicaliy told a reporter of the Sun that the Health Commissioner, Dr. Stewart, and Marine Hospital Surgeo the disease typho-malartal fever, beliot that it was truly 3 What the Heaith Board's idea of marching fifteen policemen to the seeve of infection is no living being but that sapient mine, They have no Jawtul right to res whojher sick or well, from ingress of egress to or trom their dwellings. 1b may do to test the “efficiency” of the men in dispelling caTcH | new cases have been reported | The official report ot deaths | OF egress to oF tom the houses of the pesti- | | | | tively at work takin | placed in | delphia, 3 SIN or epidemic poisons municipal espantoon und revolver, PRECA OXS AT NORVOLK AND PORTSMOUTH ACTION OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH —RELIZF FOR THE BAVA All SUPFERERS. Noxvork, Va., Sept, 22, 1876. The authorities of Norfolk aud Portsmouth are ac 1 possible precautions against All vessels arriving hereare rigidly inay ithe quarantine regula tions are enlarged at Weldon, All persons coming from Savavnah are notified that they cannot land in Portsmouth, and @ health officer boards the trains out+ side the city to see that the authorities are obeyed. No one really anticipates the fever here, but asa pre- cautionary measure th? two cities are being the best possibie sanitary condition, and should the worst happen there could pot be w repetition of the frigutfal experience of 1855, ACTION OF TH BOARD OF MEALTE. The Norfolk Board of Health held a special meeting to-day and adopted the following :— ssolved, That all steamers and vessels coming from Bale eb Hired to atop at Quarantine until examined by our |‘caith Utfiger, and. if found to be in good order, with no sickness on board, toat they mey be allowed to come to Norfolk at the diseretion of the Health Officer. The Health Officer bas been ordered to carry out the resolution. (RELIEF FOR THK SUFFERERS, Last night the two cities appropriated $1,500 for the Savanvab sufferers, with an appropriation for the ex- penses of the nurses sent forward, The private con- tributions are also large, and all naval vessels in port are making up sums for the fund, Numerous ter tainments are on foot having the same object. the appearance of yellow fever. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND, Mr. FS. Lathrop, Treasurer of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to obtain relief for the suf- ferers by the yellow fever at Savannah, acknowledges receipt of the following additional subscriptions:— Wawrbury & Co + $100 J. S., by post. ‘ ‘Taitle & Waketl Ware, Murphy & € Jonathan Boers... Robert L. Maitland, HH, Cammann Henry ©. Swords, . Wilham sioore. . . L. Von Hoffman & Co, ° Tupker, Carter & Co i Wood, 0 & Colgate, “4 Pentold, Chatieid ¢ ©, BR. Robert, Jr The Judd 1. Hall, Bradi M rf 1. 3. Negus... Snow & Burgeas James Lenox , BK. G. Arnold & Co, (additional). S8e oRuRSEERBESSSSRSESEE BE D. J. Ely & Co, Seeded 200 Amsinck & 100 Kowiand & Hump 100 100 100 100 E, ¥ 100 Charles Luling & Co 100 Hewlett & Torranc 100 William Scott & Sous, 100 Lanman & Kemp. 100 Booth & Linsiey Ezra Wheeler & Co. Hard & Rand Dymond & Jobn O*Donohue’s s Mayer Bros, & Co, (additional)... Hiimers, McGowan & Co, Edwards & Maddox Gosslor & Co..... Sushman & Hurlbut. eriek Sturges Wright, Brown & Co, Huntington & Porn..., Wiiham H. Phillips, Leopold Schepp Archer & Bull Pendergast, Bro: Morewood & Uo, Janssen & Uo. “A Friend’, SRBERRERESSSSSSessss Total.....00.. dies $3,475 Previously ‘acknowledged. 4,078 FRANCIS 8. LATHROP, Treasurer. The followmg subscriptions are acknowledged by George Yonge, Treasurer Railroad Agents Committee, at his oflico, 409 Broadway Amount previously acknowledged. Mrs. 0. Duer, Je. RW. A. Grand total. Franeis T, Garretison 10 0 Frederick Prince... a 25 00 By Rt. H. Thayer, Agent Port Royal Route. 25 00 N va 2 00 100 00 10 v0 100 00 35 00 30 by sees seeeesee se neeseeeee se $2,304 00 Eckman, of Savannah, Ga. (office No. 9 Thomas Street), acknowledges receipt of the following contribu- tons to the tund for the relic! of the yellow fever suf- ferera in Savannah :— Amount previously acknowledged. Total, i Lackemeyer, Kinroth & Co... 50 Archer Pancoast Manufacturing 60 Jay, Langdon & G 50 A ei 1275 aunah, Ga. (oflice No, 63 the following contrieu- Amount: previously acknowledged.............. $880 The Leroy Shot and Lead Manufacturing Com- pany... 25 Thomas KR. Harris . Schwurz & Spohr. v0 Holzman & Deutschberger. 10 i Dp acl Suvauoah contributions a baits mounting im the aggre RECAPITULATION. Acknowledged by the Chamter of Commerce. Acknowledged by George Yonge. Ackvowledged by 8. H. Ecktoun Acknowledged by Messrs. Ferst & Co, Acknowledged by 8. F. & E. J, Knapp. + $7,550 304 Total......... RELIEF FROM BOSTON. Bostox, Sept, 22, 1876, An active movement for contributions to the Savam nah Relief Fund is progressing among the shoe and the cotton trades in this city, and large amounts have already been pledged, It s estimated that by the first of next week $8,000 will have been contributed by Bos ton for the beneiit of tbe people of Savannah who re Quire assistance THE HEALTH OF PHILADELPHIA, THE PRESENCE OF TYPHOID FEVER—SUFFERERS IN THE ITALIAN’ DEPARTMENT. PiiLapeurnta, Sept, 22, 1876, To tux Epivor or Tux Heraip:— The Jem, of September 15, contradicts an article im your paper in regard to the heaith of the city of Phila. In contirmation of your statement allow me to coniradist the /ten’s assertions “that whi occasions the fever, and not the water, and that Are uo cases of typhus or typbotd fe re day to inquire about tne condition of bealth among foreign exhibitors, Eutering the main building at the main entrance, | visited tho first section, Italian De. partinent. Ou inquiring I iound that Mr. Ballerint «ied of typhoid fever; Emanuel Bellezza is not yet out of danger of typhoid ever; N, Bellezza, Canant, Ses tint, Vallosis, Vughini—making mn out of seven. teen Italians in this department have sufferea from typhus aud fever, None of them are whiskey drinkers, L. BONNER. SMALLPOX AT SAN FRANCISCO, San Franctaco, Sept, 22, 1876, The Health Officer yosterday began a general famigm tion and disiniection of the Chinese quarier of the city, iu accordance with a recent resolution of the Board of Health, it view of the prevalence of swallpox. DEATH BY TH About five o'clock yesterday afternoon a scaffolding On the top floor of tho Museum of Natural History, at Seventy-seventh street and Eighth avenue, gave way, tbrowtng several laborers to the ground Daniel ning, aged fifty-five, was instantly killed; Martin bey, aged Aity-six, of No. 322 East Fifty-ninth street, had his Jolt arm broken and received other bruises; James O'Malev, azed forty-six, of No. 424 West Forty- first street, received a fracture of the rib; Wie liams, George Howell and Martin Marphy were slightly injured, O'Matey aud Kennoy were taken to the Ninety-ninth Street Hospial. Coroner Ellinger oid an inguost in tho case of Manning. be A SMART THIEF, ponte mony Aman giving his name as C, Brooks, and his real. dence ut No. 154 Hicks street, Brooklyn, entored the store of Peter W, Taylor, corner of Fulton and Duf- Held streets, last might, and, after picking out a dies mond ting 26, red it sont home. Te e r. Brook he lett the the case vad found the jo te place,