The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-29 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION IN THE CRIMEA.

LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.

Despatch from General Sir W. Co drington

(From a Supplement to Tuesday's Gazette.)
WAR. DEPARTMENT, Nov. 29.
Lord Panmure has this day received a despatch and its
enclosures, of which the following are copies, ad-
dressed to his lordship by General Sir William Codring-
ton, K.C.B.

Sebastopol, Nov. 17.

My Lord,—On the 15th inst., about 3 p.m., a terrific
explosion shook the army and spread heavy destruction
in the immediate neighbourhood of its force ; even here,
at Head-Quarters, two and a half miles perhaps distant,
it burst open and broke win lows, all felt the power of
it, and the high column of smoke, with shells bursting
in the midst and around it, told too well the cause, and
showed the danger of all within its reach,
It was not long before we were on the spot. To the
sudden burst had succeeded a continued and dark ilrift
of smoke, which told its tale of continued fire and danger;
constant bursting of shells was going on, and the ground
was covered with bits of wood, musquet balls, and splin-
ters of shells from the first heavy explosion, which had
strewed the ground with destruction, and killed and
hurt very many people.
100,000 pounds of powder had exploded in the French
siege train, set fire to all the stores there, and to our
neighbouring English park where all was fiercely burn.
ing, whilst the tendency of the light air at first threat-
ened a second and as serious an accident from powder,
not eighty yards off, for the roof of the building had been
damaged and the door blown in by the shock.
Some general officers had fallen in and marched part
of their divisions down, others sent some in fatigue, some
with stretchers for the wounded, all exerted themselves
with the French with an energy and disregard of danger
that was admirable ; blankets were taken to the exposed
store, placed and wetted on the roof by water being
passed up in buckets ; the doors were covered with wet
blankets and sandbags, and in a short time it was re-
ported and looked safe, though the closeness of the fire
and frequent explosions could not allow the feeling of
security. Many detached though small fires were burn-
ing, and the ground of both the French and English
parks, a space of 150 yards across, was a mass of large
fires, some of fuel, some of huts, somo of gun carriages,
boxes, handspikes, and rope.
The fortunately light air had rather changed its direc-
tion, and by breaking up and dragging away things a
sort of lane was at first first formed, the fires cut off, and
gradually got under control, because confined to smaller
though fierce fires, but manageable.
I saw everyone working well, and I know that French
and English took live shells from the neighbourhood of
danger to a more distant spot, and at a later period
parties threw what earth the rocky soil could give upon
the fires, and helped much to subdue them ; all was sate
about 7 p.m., and a strong guard and working party
posted for the night.
The army was under arms the following morning be-
fore daylight, and everything being quiet I ordered the
divisions to turn in, and continue the working parties in
the roads, which I had counter-ordered for that morning.
The exploded powder store was situated in the ruins
of some walls which had advantageously been made use
of for the purpose of shelter ; it had been the store of
supply to the French attack on the Malakhoff front, and
it contained the powder which had been brought back
from their batteries.

It is at the head of the ravine, which, as it gets to-
wards Sebastopol, forms the steep and rocky valley of
Ravin du Cardnage.
The Light Division was on the ground which it first
took up in Oct., 1854; the Rifles on the right, then the
7th, the 33,1, and 23d ; on their left the 34th Regiment,
which subsequently joined, was on the right front in ad-
vance ; and the vacating of a spot of ground by the Sap-
pers' camp enabled me, when commanding the division,
to place the Artillery and Small-arm Brigade on the
immediate right of the Rifles.
The French subsequently brought their main siege
train and store to the position it has now fur some time
occupied.
Daylight showed the damage, of which I have given
' ' "

your lordship an outline in another letter. Bat the more
important and sad part is the loss of life, and the
wounded who have suffered.

One officer and 20 non-commissioned officers and men,
killed ; 4 officers and 112 non-commissioned officers and
men, wounded ; with 7" missing, show the sudden and
fatal power of the shock, which not only destroyed in
its immediate neighbourhood, but wounded, by shell
and splinters, some at a distance of three-quarters of a
mile.

The loss of our Allies is distressingly heavy.
I have, &c.,
W. J. CODRINGTON,
General Commanding.

The Lord Pa►nmure, &c.

(Enclosure 1.)
NUMERICAL RETURN OF CASUALTIES ON 15TII
NOV., 1855, BY- THE EXPLOSION OF MAGA-
ZINES 1N CAMP, AT FRENCH SIEGE TRAIN.
Royal Artillery-1 officer, 1 serjeant, 6 rank and file,
killed ' • 3 officers, 9 serjeants, 25 rank and file, wounded ;
7 rank and file, missing.
7th Regiment of Foot-1 rank and file, killed; 13 rank
and file, wounded.
19th Foot-8 rank and file wounded.
21st Foot-1 rank and file wounded.
'43d Foot-2 rank and file killed; 6 rank and file
li
wounded.
33d Foot-2 rank and filo killed ;14 rank and file
wounded.
31th Foot-1 rank and file killed ;14 rank and filo
wounded.
41st Foot-1 rank and filo killed.
47th Foot-2 serjeants, 3 rank and file, wounded.
49th Foot-1 rank and file killed ; 2 rank and file
wounded.
77th Foot-3 rank and file kiilod; 6 rank and file
wounded.
88th Foot-1 serjeant, 1 rank and filo, wounded.
90th Foot-1 serjeant, 2 rank and file wounded.
Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade —2 serjeants wounded.
2d Battalion Rifle Brigade-1 rank and filo killed ; 2
officers, 4 rank and file wounded.
Total-1 officer, 1 serjeant, 18 rank and file, killed; 5
officers, 15 serjeants, 99 rank and file wounded ; 7 rank
and file, missing.
Killed, 20; wounded, 119 ; missing, 7 ; total, 146.
W. L. PAKENHAM, Adjutant-General.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
MELBOURNE WHOLESALE PRICES CURRENT,
Argus-office, Saturday evening.
Trade still continues excessively dull ; excepting a
few transactions for the interior the past week has been
one of even fewer transactions than many of its prede-
cessors. Among other causes for this state of things,
the fact that the banks are taking steps to limit their
credits very considerably stands foremost. An impres-
sion is gradually gaining ground that the number of
firms engaged in trade, especially in the retail branches,
must be greitly reduced before anything like a return to
a healthy
state of things can be expected. In the mean-
time a want of confidence exists, and, except with
houses of known character and credit, there is little dis-
position on the part of the importers to make other than
cash sales. There have not been many additions to our
stocks, but the fair wind towards the close brought up
one or two general cargoes.
Grain-Scotch oats are firmer, and a disposition is
shown to hold out for higher rates in the face of large
quantities now over-due at this port, and of the coming
spring, with its promising supply of green stuffs.
Holders are of opinion that at the present rates ruling
in England exportations thence will entirely cease.
Building Materials-A. dulness prevails throughout
this trade. Prices are nominal for slates, and transac
tions in timber have been for small quantities only.
Groceries-There have been arrivals [of candles, but
prices have not given way.
Liquors.-A decline of from 9d. to is. per gallon has
taken place in brandy, caused by the receipt of large
parcels from Sydney, and by the fear that the ne-
cessities of some houses in that city will induce them to
make further attempts to realise in this market. Other
spirits are unaltered.
of English coal have taken place on
Metals.-The iron-Parket shows no signs of recovery;
sales are still reported ex ship at rates much below our
quotations.
d 'es
bun .
the wharf as low as 30s. per ton. There is nothing doing
in drugs.
MusoußNE LABOUR MARKET, Sept. 8.-Want of
employment is still the leading feature of this market.
Although many engagements -Sales
of both male and female
servants are daily taking place there appears to be no
diminution of the number of unemployed. The orders
from the gold-fields for female servants are on the in-
crease, and good servants are freely accepting a slight
increase of wiges over the Melbourne rates.
The Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company con-
tractors are offering Bs. per day for good navvies.
The current rates for the week are as follows :-
With Rttions.--Married couples, without families,
from 601. V 90/. per annum ; ditto, with families, from
501. to 701; gardeners, 451. to 551.; grooms, 401. to 501.;
stockkeeperet 451. to 601. ; hutkeepers, 25 to 351.; ge-
neral far%' servants' 20s. to 255. per week ; ploughmen,
20s. to 559. ; bullock drivers, 20s. to 255. ; do. on the
roads, Os' to 30s. Weekly rations consist of 121 b. beef
or mutton, 10ib• of flour, 21b of sugar, ilb. of tea.
without Rations-Compositors, is. 6d. and ls. Bd.
per thousand ; do., by the week, 1. 4s. ; pressmen, 51,
carpenters, Bs. to 12s. per day ; masons, Ba. to 12s. do.;
plasterers 7s. to 11s. do. ; bricklayers, 7s. to lls. do. ;
blacksmiths, 9s. to 12s. do. ; quarrymen, 108. to 12s.
do. ; wood-splitters and fencers, 6s. to Bs. per ton ;
labourers on the roads, 9s. to 10e. per day. Wood,
roster, and tents found.
Male cooks, 401. to 501. per annum ; female do., 251.1
to 301. ; thorough servants, 221. to 271. ; hourernalds
17/. to 221. ; laundresses, 251. to 35 1. ; nursemaids, 101 * Six artillerymen since accounted for and alive.-W. C.,
to 101._ 1 p.m„ lioTemWr

(Enclosure 2.)
NOMINAL RETURN OF OFFICERS KILLED ON
THE 15TH NOVEMBER, 1855.
KILLED.
Nov. 15.
Royal Artillery—Field Train Department— Deputy-As-
sistant•Commissary G. Yellon, by the explosion of maga-
zines in camp (at the French siege train).
W. L. PAKENHAM, Adjutant• General.

(Enclosure 3.)
NOMINAL RETURN OF OFFICERS WOUNDED
ON THE 15TH NOVENIBER, 1855.
WOUNDED.
Nov. 15.
Royal Artillery—Lieutenants F. C. Roberts, and W. J.
Dawson, dangerously. Field Train Department—Deputy
Assistant-Commissary H. Hodds, severely.
2,1 Battalion Riflo Brigade—Lieutenant W. H. Eccles,
slightly ; Assistant-Surgeon J. B. C. Reade, slightly.
W. L. PAKENHAM, Adjutant-General.

(Enclosure 4.)

NUMERICAL RETURN OF
VEMBER, 55
CA.SUALTIES ON 15Til
NO 18.
KILLED.
NOV. 15.
By explosion of magazines in camp(of French siege-train).
Royal Artillery-2d Comp. 11th Bat., Corporal William
Langley ; 2d Comp. 11th Bat., Gunner William Spence ;
sth Comp. 9th Bat., Gunner John M'Craeo ; sth Comp.
9th Bat., Gunner Samuel Torgoo,ie ; 7th Como. 11th Bat.,
Bombardier Daniel Lackie ; 6th Comp. 11th i3at., Gunner
James Ilemsley. Field Train—Serjeant-Conductor John
Dickson.
7th Foot—Private Charles Boyle.
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31th Foot—Private William McLean.
41st Foot—Private Joseph Latty.
49th Foot—Private John Irvin.
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W. L. PAKENBAM, Adjutant-General.