New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-24

~ $1,000 n was considered prudent TO march
these men up 20 camp, in case the Rufeians mgn.
think proper after the explosion, 70 dreo' neevy nse
on ,he suburb. and TO avoid al mex Of easuahies,
sbonld anv of the buildings fall from the concaseon
This moyement was q sufficient intmation that the az
posiop of part Of the docks was az hand out 10 oa
ton oil servants and men on sugas gong tne A.
the Redap and subsequently Gordon OF septres was
drawn around 10 prevent oteers OF any person iiy'
approaching within the neighoorhood OF The docar
where there was the slightest danger from the expo
son A. n turned out, however, these precautions
ICED unnecessary for the mines were 40 laid That
he Effects OF their explosion were confined to very
limited sphere OF action. . T.. L.
,ooI;t;on ON this occasion the one placed to the
west of the lock through which vessels formerly en-
coed into the great BASIN In addition 10 this dock
tbe French have to destroy another drydock on the
at side Of the entrance lock, the lock itse which,
with lts sides aud foundation OF cut masonry and mag
pfcent foodgae has the appearance OF another dock
end half the BASIN II understood that the engineer
ing operations are completed for the demolition OF the
whole Of these structure and that the object in de-
mosling one portion only 10 test the accuracy OF
certain calculations with regard to the quantity of gun
powder necessary for efectng the desired result lie
Quantity actually employed IL said to have been
little over 1900 pounds English, or 1000 French ko-
The French engineers have followed somewhat
different plan from the English engineers Tor the De-
struction Of the docks. They have trusted principally
IN oaaries carried across and beneath the bottom OF
the dock They have also, however, parallel with
each side horizontal gallery, to blow out the ounda-
zion ard lower part Of each side wall. In the docks
10 be DESTROYED by the English perpendicular shafts
have been sunk at frequent Intervals along the SIDES
for the purpose Of blowing the whole OF the SIDES IN,
ward Lattery also galleries have been constructed
beneath the foundations o. the bottom OF each dock
60 that their demolition must be very eflec;ua Ar
rappemeuts have been made i0f nfulg the Engsh
mines by a voltaic battery. The French nine on
Saturday were fired by means OF trains oil lad gun
IOwdeT and fures.
The report of the explosion was by no means loud
II ves heard in camp but was generally supposed to
he the bursting Of some OF the Russian prolecthes
among the buildings of the town. Nearer to the scene
of the explosion tremplous agitation OF the ground
was f.lt and til was followed by the peculiar COM
pressed sound-more Ike the rumbling OF distant
ihupder than the usual report OF gunpowder hred rom
within metal-which always accompanies suoterrane-
ous discharges. Simultaneous with the noise OF the
blasting the air over the situation Of the dock became
thick with smoke, stones and rubbish. large quar-
tiy among which masses of considerable SIZE
rose pept ndcuaIy upward, while al the same TINE
bower If masonry was hurled from each side upward
and curvipp toward the center. The greater portion
of these blocks and fragments of stone appeared TO
fall downward into the vacant space vi the dock
cnrcey apv were observed TO fly far beyond its limits
dense clond of smoke filed and rested the place
of ruin and this continued hanging over It tor con-
siderable time, for there was no breeze 70 wan II
away No sooner had the explosion occurred-tne
crash of the falling masonry had scarcely died away
from the ears-when the sharp reports Of several
hollis about the docks and neighboring buildings tod
that the enemy had been no unobservant spectators o
the scene They hoped to hit some of the troops whom
tbev susuect.d to u in the neighborhOod OF the eNpO-
sionn tbc nature of which they doubt understood
hut as usual fired without effectmg any INJURY OF
causing casualty. az. - /.
1t is remarkable how very few casualties have ia
ken place among the sappers and arherymen, ana IN
the six comranes of the men of the 18th Regiment,
who have been quartered in the Karabelnaya during
the operations connected with the mining Of the docE
Il Exnn sha m
notwithstanding the constant IRE oil 'he enemy. IN
m a short time ago when shell entered company
cookipg.house whence the men could not readily e.
cane and where, in consequence, several were
wounded not a casualty had occurred among the ieth
REGIMENT The Russians appear TO have the range Oh
oil Tie nrncual points and moreover, seem 10 nave
men ALWAYS on the lookout, who make signals 10 the
eunners in the batteries whenever q party OF troops
are observed moving in the town, for no sooner II
group exposed TO view than II Is fired at. One princi'
pal source of security to ou men l., OF course the
number of stone buildings OF the town. these not
only intercept the missiles OF the enemy as they ia
toward the ground, but afford toeraby safe means OF
shelter when well-dected shell falls too dangerously
close not TO be- if possible, avoided by hasty flight.
Report says that all the preparations will be COM
pleted for lie demolition of the three docks TO be
destroyed by the English in the course OF week from
the present date. The arrangements would have been
finished adv had il not been for the large quantity
of water which has found its way INTO the shafts and
GALLERIES excayated for the reception OF the blasting
powder. 1t appears that the reason for .ne WAFER
while those connected with the French mines have re-
mdned dry, is their relative position with regard to
the termination of the Karabelnaya ravine, between
the Redan and Maakof hills, aud at short distance
from tLe dockyard wall. The three docks IN charge
of the English are separated from the end oil thus ra
yine-where an enormous amount OF water had col
lected and formed mmensc pond or reservoir
ony Wv an artificial causeway, constructed al an enor
NOUS expense of labor by the Russians during the
formation of the dccas, and through this earth the
water gradually percolated.
Under ordinary circumstances the water OF the Md
die or Karabelnaya rayiae would drain through the
soil and find IT, way to the Kaabensya creek or har
bor and in this direction the water collected in the
shafts he's now had TO be conducted after much labor
hv pumping and other of drainage. 1t would
have been more easy TO drain the shafts through
the great basin into which the three docks open but
tLi. would probably have led TO flooding portion of
the French works When the time shall arrive for the
destruction Of the English portion OF the docks il Is
hoped that their destruction viii be complete that
of the French dock already demolished, and if the
three are demolished at the instant the effect viii
be proporiCnaby striking IhaS heard stated
that the floor OF the dock Just destroyed by the French
engineers mas not been 20 efectualy and completely
broken Up ssit anticipated t.wOuld be by the
ploion but hardly believe that this can De asceaned
while il mains encountered with the ruined masonry
at present heaped over its surface.
The weather has been much mllder since The a-t
mail left. During the daytime there has been con.
slant thaw and has only been after sunset that the
Temperature has reached the freezing point.
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