Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/801

* HELL GATE. 741 HELLMTJTH. tide, caused with the rising and falling of tho tide nuiiioious whirlpools and eddies, which rendered iiavi^iilion at times dangerous, always dillicult, and I'or large sliips impossible, although the depth in the torivious channel might be suf- ficient. The East Kiver receives the Sound tide from the east and the Sandy Hook tide from the south. The times as well as heights of these tides being dilTerent, additional force is imparted to these treacherous currents. It was claimed that one out of every fifty sailing vessels attempting to go through Hell Gate was more or less dam- aged by the rocks. A survey was made in 1848 by Lieutenants Charles H. Davis and David Porter, of the United States Navy, and in their report they recom- mended the destruction by blasting of Pot Rock, Frying Pan, and Ways' Reef, which lie between Long Island and Ward's Island. The first attempts at removing the obstruc- tions in Hell Gate were made by il. jMaillcfert, with whom a contract was made by citizens of New York. He commenced work in August, 1851, and by surface blasting operated upon the most prominent surface of the rocks and reduced them to an average depth of about six- teen feet. Congress, in 1851, appropriated for the work .$20,000 and placed it under the direc- tion of JIajor Fraser. The method was by sur- face blasting, as had been practiced by M. Mail- lefert. The reefs in this channel are largely com- posed of a stratified gneiss, and the layers, being tipped up nearly jjerpendieular, were unevenly affected by the action of the water, the softer parts being worn away and the harder parts left in vertical sheets or points. In 1866 Gen. John Newton, of the United States Engineer Corps, was ordered to make a survey, and pro- posed the construction of a drilling scow which should be securely moored at the site of opera- tions. The machine was constructed, and put into operation on Diamond Reef, near the mouth of the East River, in May, 1871. Coenties Reef was also operated on with this scow in alterna- tion with the work on Diamond Reef. These oper- ations proving satisfactory, the machine was taken to Hell Gate, where it was in operation nearly three years, and effected a great improve- ment in the channel. The fir-t really important engineering ac- complishment was the removal by tunneling and blasting of Hallet's Point Reef, which extended from the Astoria shore into the East River. By means of diverging tunnels and transverse gal- leries the reef was thoroughly undermined and nitroglycerin in cans was introduced into a large number of holes drilled in the pillars sup- porting the roof and in the roof itself. After water was let into the mine the nitrogen was exploded and the reef was destroyed, the debris being removed by grappling and dredging, so that there was a depth of 2 feet at low water over the site of the reef. The explosion at Hal- let's Point took place Septemltcr 24th, 1876, and was followed by energetic prosecution of work on Flood Rock or Middle Reef, where similar tunnels were construeteil. -After over 21,000 feet of tunneling had been constructed and holes aggregating 1 13,102 feet Iiad been drilled, ;iOO- 000 pounds of explosives were put into the holes, and water was let into the tuimel. The result of the explosion that took place October 10, 1885, and subsequent dredging, was to provide a channel of uniform depth of 26 fc>et through Hell Gate. HELLGBAMMITE FLY, or Helldevil. See t'OHVDAl.l.S. HELLIN, a-lyen'. A district town of the Province of Albaeete, Spain, situated 09 miles by rail from Murcia (Map; Spain, E 'S). In its vicinity .are sulphur springs and mines. The sulpliur-mines have l)een worked since Roman linu's, and their exploitation is still the principal industry of the town. It is a market for agricul- tural proilucts, and produces woolen textiles. pMpulation. in I'.IOO, 12,787. HELL'MANN, Gustav Joiiann Geobg (1854 — ) . A German meteorologist and geographer, born at Liiwen, and educated at Gottingen. In 1879 he was made assistant, and in 1882 tempo- rary head of the Meteorological Institute of Berlin. He was vice-president of the Berlin Geographical Society, and a director of the Mctcorologischc Zcitschrift. Besides his contributions to the lat- ter, Hellmann's more important works are: licpertorium dcr dcutschen Mclcorologie (1883) ; Meteorologische Volkshilcher (1891) ; Das Klima von Berlin (1891); SchneekrysUiUc (1893); Rcgenkarte dcr Provins Schlesien ( 1899) ; Rcgcn- karte der Provinzen Ostpreussen, West]>reussen und Posen (1900) ; Regenkarle dcr Provinz Bran- denburg und Pommern (1901); and the series Mctcorologischc Xciidnicke (1893-1900). HELLMESBEKGER, hel'mes-berK'er. A family of Austrian musicians whose founder, Geobg (1800-73). was a celebrated violin-teacher in Vienna. In 1829 he became conductor of the Imperial Opera, and in 1833 a professor at the Vienna Conservatory. He made several success- ful tours and composed considerable music for the violin. His two sons, Georg. Jr. (1830-52), and .Joseph (1829-93), were talented violinists. The former produced two operas, Die Biirgschaft and Die beidcn Koiiigiimen, and made a tour through Germanv and England. Joseph was first violin of the 'Hellmeshcrger Quartet' (1849-87) ; violin professor at the conservatory (1851-77), and director (1851-93); eoncertmeister at the Imperial Opera (1860) ; and soloist in the Court orchestra (1863). His son JosEpit (185.5 — ) is the most important member of the family. He was second violin in his father's quartet, and in 1887 succeeded him as leader. In 1878 he be- came a professor at the Vienna Conservatory, and after hiiving been a violinist in both the Im- ])erial and Opera orchestras, was made leader in 1884, and kapellmeister in 1887 of the Court Opera. His compositions are wholly dramatic, and include six operettas, produced at Munich, V^ienna, and Hamburg; numerous ballets; and some incidental music. HELLMUTH, hcl'mnnt, Isaac (18201901). . Enj;lish clergyman, born at Warsaw, Poland, of .Jewish parentage. He was educated at Bres- lau, became converted to Christianity, and en- tered the Anglican ministry in Canada. He foundeil Huron College and other schools, and was Bishop of Huron from 1871 to 1883. He then went to England to become Assistant Bisliop of Ripon. In ISS5 lie was made nvtor of Brid- lington, and in 189] chaplain at Holy Trinity, Pan. .Among his published works are: The (Irtii/iiic-iicsn and .i nthniticity of the Pentateuch (1867) ; and a Biblical Thesaurus (1884).