The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-14 00:00:00

FETE AT CREMORNE.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE MILITARY.
Last night Cremorne Gardens were the scene of a
grand fete, in aid of the Wellington College, established
for the children of our soldiers who may fall during the
war. The charge of admission was raised from ls. to
2s. Gd., notwithstanding which the assemblage was
much more numerous than upon ordinary occasions.
Extensive preparations had been made to give due eclat
to the proceedings ; the programme, in addition to the
attractions ordinarily held out, including the attendance
of no less than six regimental bands, together with that
of 500 soldiers, and three battering trains, to take part
in the "Attack on the Mamelon Vert, and Capture of
the Rifle Pits," a fete arranged to commence at nine
o'clock, and anxiously anticipated by the hundreds of
gentlemen and ladies who had paid an extra two shil-
lings for reserved seats, or one shilling for reserved
standing places. It was, however, nearly ten before the
officers in command gave the signal of attack. Sebas-
topol itself was very well represented by a huge pano-
ramic painting, extending, perhaps, about 40 yards, the
Mamelon being separately represented in advance, with
real trenches, protected by fascines and sandbags in
front of all, and well lined with soldiers of the "red,
white, and blue." The "battering trains," it mast be
confessed, if not altogether of an apocryphal nature, were
if very modest pretensions, for it was seldom that any-
thing louder than the sharp crack of the rifle was to be
distinguished in the melee, although the 500 soldiers
were no doubt present upon the ground, and, sufficiently
impressed with the gravity of the events in which they
were called upon to take part, resolved to conquer, if
fate so willed it, or peiish in the attempt. Hence there
was a profuse expenditure of gunpowder, some of the
men having been served with as many as 40 rounds of
blank cartridge, and when the grand and final charge
was made, loud was the outburst of cheers which greeted
the banners of the Allies as they waved from the Rus-
sian works. Daring a considerable portion of the
attack, however, the spectators knew little of what was
passing in the trenches or before them, as a thick veil of
smoke effectually shut them ont from the view ; and
when the whole affair was at an end, hundreds were
quite at a loss to know whether the Mamelon bad been
captured or not.

The
attack was well arranged, and the effect was oc-
casionally very striking ; but, it is to be regretted, that
an accident occurred. Just as the Mamelon was sup-
posed to be captured, the stage erected for the advance
gave way beneath the weight of the soldiery, many of
whom were precipitated to the ground, a distance of 12
or 15 feet, and in the fall a sergeant of the Grenadiers
sustained a compound fracture of the leg ; another man
was taken up insensible from internal injury ; a third
had a bayonet through his cheek ; and, in addition to
these injuries, there were many dislocations, sprains,
and contusions, the greater part of the vast company of
spectators being all the while ignorant of the occurrence
of any such catastrophe. Every exertion was made to
assist the injured by direction of the officers in charge,
and by 12 o'clock about 25 men had been conveyed, in
cabs or on stretchers, to the military hospital in Roches-
ter-row, Westminster, where several surgeons residing
in the neighbourhood hastened to give their assistance
to the resident medical officer. Upon inquiring at the
hospital, we were informed that no case was likely to end
fatally, but that it was impossible accurately to state the
extent of the injuries inflicted until to-day.
At the close of the attack the usual amusements pro-
ceeded at high pressure ; and Cremorne was never
perhaps seen to greater advantage than was the case last
night.