Hell Gate

Hell Gate, or HURL GATE, named by the Dutch settlers of New York Helle Gat, is a pass in the East River, between New York city and Long Island, formerly very dangerous to vessels from its numerous rocks and rapid current. As early as 1851 attempts were made to blast away the obstructions; the operations which in 1885 finally freed the navigation are described, with an illustration, in the article BLASTING.