The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-11 00:00:00

FATAL AFFRAY AT SMYRNA.

The Smyrna correspondent of the Semaphore of Mar-
seilles, in a letter dated the 28th ult., gives the following
account of the disturbance which was mentioned in a
telegraphic despatch :
"On Wednesday last M. Vekbecker, Austrian Con-
sul-General, informed the Sardinian Consul that a thief
was concealed in a Sardinian house, and demanded an
authorization to search it. The request was granted,
and in the afternoon ten Greek boatmen, all known to be
assassins, entered the house by force, and there seized, not
a pretended robber, but M. Costa, a Hungarian, Aide-de-
Camp of Kossuth, and who had just returned from the
United States. Not being able to oppose any resistance
to the sbirri, excited by the reward of 3,000 piastres
which had been promised to them, M. Costa was gagged
and handcuffed, and pushed into a boat in such a brutal
manner that he fell overboard, and was with great diffi-
culty saved. He was then conveyed on board an Austrian
brig-of-war called the Hussar, which had arrived on that
day, where he was thrown into the hold and put in irons.
This act of barbarity, which, unfortunately, has been
often repeated of late years, c•mmitted against the law
of nations, roused the indignation of the European popu-
lation, and the emigrants in particular, finding them-
selves no longer safe, uttered cries of vengeance. Ali
Pasha and the Consuls warmly offered their good offices
in order that the prisoner should be handed over to the
local authorities ; but the Austrian Consul would not
listen to them. On the following day the American
frigate St, Louis entered the port, and the captain was
informed by the Consul of his nation that a refugee, who,
he thought, had a right to the protection of the United
States, was detained on board the brig. The captain and
the Consul immediately went on board her, but the per-
son in command said that he knew nothing of such a man,
and that, in fact, no prisoner was on board. These
gentlemen then proceeded to the Austrian Consulate,
where, after a scene of the most violent kind, they
obtained from M. Vekbecker an avowal that M. Costa
was on board, and that they might interrogate him.
On returning to the Hussar the American captain said
to Commandant Schwartz, When I came on board a
short time since you lieutenant lied to my faee ; the
meanest of my cabin boys would not have been guilty of
such cowardice. Where is the prisoner ? I wish to see
him.' As Commandant Schwartz hesitated, the American
captain added, Bear in mind that if the prisoner
claims my protection, and has the slightest right
to it, I will remove him myself, and not allow him
to remain another minute on board. Unfortunately,
the generous efforts of the American captain were
useless. The prisoner prevaricated and betrayed
himself so much in his replies that he did not give
his defenders the slightest chance of saving him. As
soon as this result was known on shore the emigrants
rose in revolt. In the afternoon an attempt was made to
assassinate the officers of the frigate, who were luckily
warned in time to escape the stilettoes which were
already raised against them. Everything leads to a fear
of a tragical issue to the affair. It was known
that the Italians had formed a project to attack the
Austrian Consulate, to set fire to it, and to kill the
Consul, unless Costa was set at liberty. The Turkish
police did not show themselves. The Consul armed his
household. and the emigrants did not conceal their
intentions. In the evening about 200 emigrants as-
sembled round an English coffeehouse, where three Aus-
trian midshipmen were seated. The owner of the house
recommended them to leave, but no sooner had they got
outside than they were attacked with a cry of Death to
the traitors!' One of them was fortunate enough to
escape unhurt in the scuffle, another was knocked down
by a blow on the head from a heavy stick, and the third,
when pierced with daggers, had strength enough to
throw himself into the sea, whence his body was taken
out on the following day, and he was interred. He was
a fine young man, 18 years of age, and the only son of
a field-marshal. Every one deplores this victim to
popular passions, and blames the brutal conduct of M.
Vekbecker. For the last four days all the approaches to
his hotel have been guarded by Austrian soldiers, and no
one is allowed to approach. Ali Pasha, the Governor,
has energetically protested against this despotism ; he
has sent off his officers to Constantinople with an ac-
count of the affair, and the Austrian Consul sent off, at
the same time, his account of it to M. De Bruck. The
refugees have sworn to assassinate the ten Greeks em-
ployed by M. Vekbeker, and on their side the Greeks
have sworn to kill ten Italians for every Greek
that may be injured ; and as the latter are the most
numerous it will be easy for them to keep their word.
No arrest has yet been made, although the assassins are
well known. It is said that the Italian refugees are
about to be expelled. That would be justice ; but ought
• not justice to fall on the author o fall this mischief ?"

FATAL EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP ABOARD SHIP.—
CARDIFF, JULY B.—An explosion of fire-damp aboard
ship in these docks, which ended in loss of life, serious
injury to several others, and much damage to the
vessel, formed the subject of a lengthened investigation
yesterday before Mr. L. Reece, the coroner. The pro-
ceedings were more than usually important, from the
circumstance of so many ships, laden with Welch coal,
exploding of late. It appeared that the barque Inde-
pendent was lying in the Bute Docks, and had taken in
250 tons of Aberdare coal for the West Indies, when a
quantity of gas, which had generated in her hold, sud-
denly exploded with fearful violence. The deck-beams
were snapped asunder, the entire deck was blown up
between the fore and main-mast, and the long boat,
which was stowed near the hatches, was thrown up a
considerable distance. Deceased, one of the seamen,
was standing on the deck at the time, and the poor
fellow received the full force of the concussion. He was
dreadfully burnt, as were others of the crew. They
were forthwith removed to the infirmary, where the
deceased died on the following day. The other sufferers
continue in a sad way. The cause of the accident could
not be learned, but it was stated 'that the explosion
could not have happened without a light being intro-
duced in the hold. The jury returned a verdict of
".Accidental death," with a hope that every care would
be exercised in shipping cargoes of coal from the port.
NEW MARKET IN COPENHAGEN FIELDS.—The fol-
lowing is the architect's estimate of the further expendi-
ture which will be necessary for the carrying out of this
project :—Enclosed market, with pens for 42,320 sheep,
and rails for 6,794 bullocks, 125,721/. ; roads on the
land, 25,0001., or if paved with granite, 12,0001. more ;
lairs for 3,000 bullocks, 54,000/. ; lairs for sheep,
2,800/. ; public slaughter-houses, 13,0001. ; private
ditto, 11,700/. ; taverns and clerk's residence, 11,000/. ;
public-houses, 15,000/. • enclosures on north and east
sides of market, 5,5001. ; total, 278,7211. The total
estimated expenditure is put down at 343,221/. The
estimated revenues are—Tolls and market charges,
8,704/. ; sheep pens and bullock tyres, 650/. ; lairage
for 3,000 beasts, 3,9001., at 3d. per night, for two nights
each week, say average 601. per week, 3,1201. (the usual
charge is 3d. per night) ; lairage for 8,000 sheep 2,1211.
125., at is. per score per night two nights per week, say
average 401. per week, 2,080/. ' • two public slaughter-
houses to slaughter 100 bullocks daily, 3001. ; six pri-
vate slaughter-houses, say 150/. ; two taverns, with
stabling, sheds, and paved yards, five public-houses, and
twelve banking-houses, 3,1501. ; total, 18,3501. De-
duct expenses at 22 per cent., or say 4,3501., remain-
ing 14,0001.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—HALSTEAD, ESSEX, SATUR-
DAY.—An inquest was held yesterday before Mr. Codd,
the county coroner, on the body of Miss Blackiston,
aged 21, daughter of Colonel Blackiston, of Thorpe,
near Norwich, who was found drowned under the most
shocking circumstances :—The unfortunate young lady
had been on a visit to Sited Hall, the seat of her uncle
Saville Only,' Esq., a numerous company having been
invited to the mansion on the occasion of a grand floral
fete, which tqok place on Wednesday. She then ap-
peared in cheerful spirits. On the following day she
complained of indisposition, and excused herself from
joining the general company. She kept her room, and,
upon being sought for after dinner, she was nowhere to
be found. The park was then carefully gone over, and
about 11 o'clock at night her body was discovered in one
of the ornamental- ponds contiguous to the mansion.
She was quite dead, and apparently had been so some
hours. It is almost needless to remark that the catas-
trophe produced the most painful sensation. The jury
returned a verdict of " Found drowned."