The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-20
fine News.

Odesss-the effect produced on the fortf cations
and esher defenceso the place by the bombardment
being much more competcth was at first stated.
In the of few hours the forts batteries and
military stores, were totally destroyed, and twelve
ships of war sunk by the fire of the combined squad
ron. Two powder magazines belonging to the Rus
Hans blew up during scton, and it is said that
number Of woiaxnen who were in them at the time
were killed blythe explosion. The loss of life the
Russian side is not stated, but ON that of the
allies there were emily eight men killed
and eighseen wounded With shat consideration
FOR commercial and neutral inter ests which was &c
lie expected.from the previous declarations OF THEN
respective governments, it Is stated that the COM
manders of the combined squadron took care that
no injury should be INFLICTED the city on foreign
ships. No mention is made of any attempt 80. land
troops, 50 that it will be seen that in this, as well as
in several other important particulars, the previous
accounts, derived through Russian sources were not
only guilty of sins of omission bat commission, the
srggeStio tdli as well as the snnessio ueri having
been literally employed by the telegraph agents.
The combined squadron sailed Immediately after the
reduction of the place for sebastopol, taking with
them as prizes thirteen Russian ships laden with
, munitions of war.
The report that Omer Pacha had advanced at
the head of 10000 men, towards the DobTudscha,
and given hattie to and defeated General Luders,
between Siiistria and Rassoga, compelling him to
retreat towards Czernavoda, with the loss of great
. number of guns and large amount of military
stores, was generally discredt8d in Paris, and its
/, nOnappearance in she columns of the Moniteu may
be looked upon as proof that the French govern
mem do not attach any faith to it. On the Goth of
.AprH q Turkish flying corps crossed the Dan
ube below Silistria, in order TIC destroy the
Russian strand batteries; hut speng over
matched at place called khaleresh, they were,
after several hours hard lighting, compelled
to retreat. 1t is stated in one of the Paris papers
that the Russian army in the Dobru<1schs had sus
pended its march in obedience to the orders of Prince
Paskiewich; but, considering the positive orders
previously given by the Emperor, this ruPor may
have as little foundation the thousand other re-
ports that ere circulated by interested emissares on
both Sides
Sir Charles Napier is keeping strict wax Oh and
ward all the ports in the Baltic, and it IS said
that nothing in the shape of Russian ship cookie
shell can escape him. The Russians, aware of the
advantages to be derived from the employment of
gunboats in shallow waters, have armed upwards
Of eight hundred for this service. The British ADM
steamers to operate against this foiila.
An incident Of the war, having apparent connee-
ton with this country, had created prodigious
sation amongst certain English quid qsncs, who
perpetually on the watch to discover fathless
and treacherous tendency on the part of Brother
Jonathan 1t appears that on the lst s,ilor, named
Castor Fouqne. who represented himself as second
mate of French brig Vile dc Marseiles, called upon
Il - Il RIA =
he had swan or shore from Russian frgate which
had captured his vessel. The capture, according to
his account took place at about twenty leagues
from Cardiff, on the Welsh coast The frigate first
hoisted English and then French eoors, and ontLer
captain and crew Of the brig trying TO escape in
boat they were fired upon, and the captain and
three men were killed. The frgate he reportedhad
gone up the Channel. In the newspapers which
published this account it wss further stated that the
Admiralty had sent two steamers in search of the
interloper.
A London journal which has already distinguish
ed itself on two or three occasions by the publica
sion of startling intelligence, derived in all proba
bility, from the spiritual telegraph Immediately
came out with a statement connecting this occur
renee with the rumors respecting the destination Of
the Grapeshot, which appeared few weeks since
ma thc new anu tDat the
shan frigate in question other than the latter
vessel. It further stated that the Admiralty had
received positive intelligence that such was the fact
Thereupon comes out another London paper, the
Shipping Gasdtc, with short paragraph, announc-
ing that it had caused Inquiries to be made that
morning at the Admiralty, and that there was not
one word Of truth in the statement from beginning
10 end.
Amidst such a variety OF conflicting assertions
cannot Of course, take upon ourselves to decide
what foundation there is for the first part of the
story. We can only place before our readers such
evidence happens to fall within the sphere of our
own knowledge.
In the first place, supposing the statement of the
sailor to be true to his ship having been captured
by Russian frigate, may il not be connected with
the fact announced short time since by one OF our
correspondents at Rio Janeiro, of Russian frigate
having sailed from that port on her return to Eu
roper The description given by the Frenchman of
sbe vessel by which the Vile de Marseles was at
lacked is more reconcileable with the supposition
that she was the irgate in question than the Grape
shot which is only small eel Of about $50 tons
burden.
This hypothesis is strengthened by the following
communication, which we received yesterday, i'm.
medately after the publication OF the Europas
news -
FRIDAY, May 19-lIsP "
Captain James wheeler arrived from New Orleans this
morning per Crescent CITY, reports having the bark
Grapeshot riding al anchor on the Belize on this day
week Also reports having seen Captain Baxter in the
city previous TO the sailing Of the steamer No doubt the
officers Of the Crescent city viii confirm the report
II. W CAMERON
In addition to the above, we have since received
statement from another correspondent, who, we
have TO believe. possesses authentic informa
ton on the subject, in which he anirms that the
Grapeshot still remains at anchor at Belize, near
New Orleans and gives as the motive Of her long
delay at the latter place the following explanation
He states that the stock of muskets which were
shipped on board this vessel, were purchased OF
George Law by an agent Of Santa Anna, on the OK