The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-08 00:00:00

DISASTER AT ACRE.

On the 6th of November, three days after the fall of
this redoubtable fortress, and when the British were still
rejoicing at having achieved, in three hours, and with a
loss on their side of only 22 killed and 44 wounded, that
which even in its then inferior strength withstood 11

assaults of Napoleon, and was only taken on the 12th with
a sad loss of human life, they were doomed to suff,r a
disaster, the origin of which is likely never to be cleared
up, though, in all probability, it has arisen from the loose
manner in which powder appears to have been conveyed
from place to place by the enemy during the defence of it
against the Allies, for it seems the approaches to the
works from the several magazines are literally one con-
tinued train of powder, requiring the greatest vigilance to
rem.ove, so as to avoid such consequences as the one we
are about to relate. _ _ _

A column, at least 500 yards in height, of thick yellow
smoke and dust, with a loud and simultaneous report, suc-
ceeded by a white smoke and the bursting of as many as a
thousand shells, spreading in all directions far beyond and
all aroun4 the ships of the fleet, some of which, and among
them the Wasp, being only about 100 yards from the shore,
announced the explosion of another powder magazine
wi•hin the fortress of Acre ! In five minutes after the
officers who landed from the shipping to the succour of the
sufferers, among vhom there might be shipmates
and mcssmates, encountered on the road those who had
fortunately escaped carrying to the boats for conveyance
on board, for medical aid, the maimed and wounded, which,
together with the killed, are said to amount to 280, of
whom at least 150 are native women and children. We
have been unable to ascertain how many are the sufferers
in the British fleet, but we understand that as many as
fifteen marines are killed, and had it not been the hour of
dinner, the number would have been considerably increased.
Among the seamen the! e are several wounded, and of the
officers, Brigadier-General Sir Charles Felix Smith,
R. E., very slightly ; Captain Collier, R N., of the Castor,
leg broke, and other injuries and bruises, and Lieutenant
Johnson and the Rev. Mr. Kitson, both of the Princess
Charlotte ; from which ship Mr. Warre, mate, with a
working party, were ordered to clear out a magazine full
of powder and shells, which was on fire from the explo-
sion; this perilous service was happily performed without
any casualty, notwithstanding the doors bad been shat-
tered. By the applying of wet bales and blankets, by
dusk the chances of further damage were considerably re-
duced, though the fire was not entirely extinguished until
a late hour of the night. Nothing could exceed the in-
trepid conduct of the parties employed, who even mounted
the burning roof, braving all danger, in order to introduce
the hose of the engine, playing upon the fire. The Prin-
cess Charlotte had two of her marines killed and nine
wounded, besides scvcrsl seamen, and the officers, belong-
ing to her above-named.

ACRE, Nov. 2

On Friday, the 6th, an explosion of a powder maga-
zine took place, and the loss of life on this sad occasion
was indeed fearful. Captain Ford himself was on shore
on the spot a few hours before, and reports that a number
of poor Arab women were there, seeking among the ruins
the dead bodies of their husbands and relations. These
he supposes amounted to a hundred, and it is probable that
all met a melancholy fate by the explosion.
Captain Ford himself escaped narrowly, for be had been
sent to attend Sir C. Smith a few moments before the ex-
plth!lon, but excused himself, having felt too much fatigue
from his previous exertions.
The effects of the explosion were very remarkable.
Among the columns of dust which filled the air were per-
ceived immense stones (many of which fell near the Tahiri
Bairi, without however striking her), shells exploded with
horrible din, and bodies of men and women were hurled
into eternity ! Men in bolts going off to different ships
were wet through by the splash caused by the fall of stt,nes
and other heavy bodies in the water. The Stromboli was
struck, but providentially no one was wounded. At three
o'clock signals were made from the Princess Charlotte
(flag ship) for all the boats to go on shore and render as-
sistance. At four it was painfully known that many were
killed and wounded. Among the sufferers were Captain
Collier, of the Castor, who had his leg broken and a con-
tusion on his head. He is, however, doing well.
General Sir C. Smith, who was examining his horse,
had a toe broken and his horse killed.
The Chaplain of the flag-ship and twelve marines badly
wounded.
Twelve marines wounded and several missing.
Forty Turks killed and wounded, and about 100 Arabs,
men and women.
In town, oxen, asses, sheep, mules, horses, camels, &c.,
lie indiscriminately with mutilated human bodies. Al-
though Arabs are employed to remove the dead, the work
is one of much labour, cn account of the heavy stones
with which the bodies are covered. There is no support-
ing the dreadful odours that arise from the putrefying
masses.
Water is scarce and bad. At the time the Tahiri Bairi
left men were dying in the streets for want of surgical aid ;
the surgeons of the fleet were too few in number to do
what they desired, though their individual exertions-were
highly commendable.
Mahmoud Bey, with 2,000,000 of piasters, made his
escape, with about 20,000 people, during the night ; many
of them were next day seized by the mountaineers, or vo-
luntarily surrendered.
Colonel Schultz, a Swiss Engineer, after being badly
wounded, surrendered to Sir R. Stopford, by whom lie
was sent on board the Edinburgh, with orders to be well
treated.
He was afterwards embarked on board the Tahiri Bairi
for Constantinople, but ere he reached Beyrout he was suf.
fering so severely that Captain Ford landed him at the
English hospital there, where he will receive the very best
attention and care.
The ships in general, except the rigging, are little
touched.
Admiral Walker behaved nobly, bringing his ship close
in to the forts, with only two feet water under her keel,
and in a very exposed place. He was raked by a bat-
ter' on his quarter, and exposed to the fire of batteries
f on his beam. _

,/• ••••.,
He only lost four men killed and eight wounded. His
ship was much injured, and sailed yesterday (sth) for
Constantinople for repairs, and carryin4 1,200 prisoners.
The assistance rendered by the two Austrian frigates
was considerable, and called forth the thanks of Sir R.
Stopford.

BEYROUT, Nov. 7.

Our advices up to this date announce that Ibrahim
Pacha was at Z ihle, a ith about 12,000 men, but in a
state of the most abject despondency, owing to the con.
tinued desertions from his reduced army. A military
plan of his position had been drawn, and measures taken
to attack him.
The Emir Bechir with 5,000 mountaineers was above
him about an hour's distance, watching his slightest move-
ments and keeping him in check.
The Turks are seized with an enthusiastic desire of
taking him, every one individually hoping that he may be
the happy man.
In order to prevent desertion from his army, Ibraham
has formed the plan of taking women and children as
hostages from the neighbouring villages, and for every
' man who deserts one helpless hostage is to fall !
more than one instance his threats have been carried into
execution.
Ibrahim declares that, if driven from Zahle, he will fall
back on Damascus, and give it tio to plunder by his li-
centious soldiers.
All the coast from Scanderoon to Acre is now in the
possession of the Turkish troops ; large quantities of rice
and grain have boen found in many places.
With the exception of the Princess Charlotte, all tl'c
ships had returned to I3cyrout ; she was to follow in
two days, after some slight repairs had been effected.
We have just heard from an unquestionable source that
Hebron and Legia have declared for the Sultan, rind
Ibrahim is pretty closely hemmed in, whilst the spirit
of desertion is so rile in his army, that he is com-
pelled to keep his cavalry perpetually in motion round
the camp, to prevent the infantry from disbanding. It is
added that the scarcity of provisions has begun to be felt
by the Egyptians, and that they find great difficulty in
collecting anything like a sufficiency, although, to intimi-
date and ;ender subservient the inhabitants, Ibrahim con-
tinues to fire villages and slaughter women and children.
His cruelty is extended to even babes unborn, and we,
with our own ears, have heard one of his admirers (it
need not be said of what nation) announce with tri-
umph that the pitiless wretch has sworn not to leave a
pregnant woman alive in all Syria! Humanity shud-
ders at the deeds of the monster, but whilst a wise and
virtuous Monarch in France is repeatedly made the mark
of assassins, not a band is raised against Ibrahim.
SSIYRNA.—Sir Moses Nlontefiore„'accompanied by D.