EXPLOSION IS IHE BALA. HISSAB.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 13, 15 January 1880, Page 6

EXPLOSION IS IHE BALA. HISSAB.

Si&h rur.G, Cabul, 16. h Oct. To-day, fain rtiy after 1 o'clock, the camp waß ulurmed by an explosion of gunpowder in the arsenal, in the Upper Bula Hieaori Captitin Shsfto, of (he Ordnance Doptirfment, had for several days past been exatniuing the erscnil, &nd making prepara'ioos for the propar storage of ihe vast quantity of powder, anvnuaiMon, ami s'oiej iounJ in it Up to yesterday evening, 150 ihoueuud pouada of powder ami many million cartridges hid been found in varioua godosvaa iv the pl«'ce. The powder wai in j»ra and dibiae, and o;uch of it spilt about, rendeiiog j/reat c :ut.iou necssary ie oxaaiinatiou. The 67 h llo^iujaut wes eucaoipeJ in the Ameoi's directly below the 'ail oa whiclj the arsousil stmdd ; »ud the firat intirnfttion they received of tho espbbi.:n waa a loud report, followed

by a shower of bullets, cartridge-oases, and debris. The gar Jen was enveloped in c thick cloud of smoke and duat, ivbioli made it impossible for the men io see the extect f the explosion. On this clearing away, it was found that •:be south- pastern corner of the areenal haJ been- partly blown down, bnd. a thick araoke was still issuing from it, while continual explosions of email quantities of powder were still going on, and a perfect fusilade from the exploding cartridges. It was at Grst feared that the six companies of. the Goorkhfts garrisoning the Upper Bala Hiasar would have suffered fearfully ; but luckily their tents had b9en moved near the walls this rooroioc. Thoir casualties, however, were heavy enough, bains; a aubidar-nnjor and tweoty-one man missing. Nothing hae been heard of Captiin Shaflo, who was seen in a powder godown just before the explosion, but bis pistol with the stock missing was blown down into the 67ih's quarters ; anJ now, 10 p.m , there can be no doubt of his fate. Working parties were about tobe sent up to examine the scene of the explosion, wheu it became known that the maga-> zinc had been only partly destroyed. Un.Jer theae circumstances the 67th and Goorkhas were ordere! to cle-r out, without delay, and all the inhabitants were oiao forced to. leave. The entrance to the -arsenal from near the Risidency was found blocked by rubbish, but Dra Bourke, Duke, and Simmonds, with two British soldiers,worked round over the moat up to the southward wall, and brought out five wounded men after much difficulty. The 67th piled areas just outside (he main g&te, but fearing further explosions, Sir Frederick Eoberts ordered them to move into the open field. Our worst fears i were realized, for v just before four o'clock a second explosion occurred, quite eclipsing the first. The shock was tremendous, aud was felt even in camp, while all Cabul was shrouded in smoke. Bocks, stones, and bulletß fell over the city, aud four Afghans standing inside the gate were killed ; while two of oursowara and another bystander were badly wounded. But for our troops being moved away, the result would have been terrible. In the first explosion Corporal Grey, of the 72ud, a signaller, was blown from the roof of the Ameer's house into the garden and killed. The arsenal is still burning fiercely, and the explosion of cartridges exactly resembles file firing. It is said that the largest godowns containing most of the powder are still untouched, and we are awaiting an explosion, the effects of which upon the city may be terrific-. Minor explosions occur about every hour ; the loss of so- much valuable material is greatly to be regretted. The origin of the casualty will perhaps never be known. There are not wanting those who talk of Afghan treachery, but the most feasible" explanation is that of an accidental igni* tion of loose powder. Friction tribes, caps, pieces of iron, and cartridges were scattered all over the godowns, and only yesterday a friction tube exploded when trodden upon. The dangerous nature of the work was fully appreciated by Captain Shafto. To-day news was received of an attack by Ghilzais on the Shutargarden on the 13fch inst. 3,000 of them assembled behind the sangars on the Surkai Kotal ; but 300 ?of the 3rd Sikhs and 21st Native Infantry drove them off, after five hours' fighting. The enemy resisted most obstinately, throwing stones as our men jumped info the sangars. Forty were bayoneted, and their total loss "was 150 killed and wounded. Two killed, and Captain Waterfield and 12 men wonnded on our side. ibiAH Fung, 17ih October. Only ema'l esplosious have tuken place during tbe nigh», and the arsenal is now a sijuokiug heap. ... fciAH SUN©, 17th, thro' Jellalabad, 22nd October. Yesterday -parties of Cabuleea were engaged ia the dungetous work of examiniu<j the arsenal, the ruias of which ure still burning. Three of ihe • largest, godowns containing a vast 'amount of powder were found intact, and w-/>rn »t op.cc eartbed over to save tlnro Iro-n another outbreak of fire. Capfaiu Shfcfto's body and the bodies of the Qoorkhas were dug out of the ruins. Li the nrsenal, half the eastern anJ moat of the southern wal'a have baen levelled ; aud it bas now been decided to destroy once and for all the whole , of the Biltt Hisaar. Tiiore is generally saiisiuctioa in the forco nt this decision espjei-illy as Cabul has botn secured. 'I he builJiugs and walla of the fortress -were shaken a good de>l by the exu'oaioaa. L* t nigbt a high wind (on ,(ni (ho rl'MJtia in the araenal into fliin»i', uiiij d»a tiered powder and cartridges Wi.ro (.'oosume i. Fortuuately tha wind oropp' d at li o'clock, or ihe remaining stores of gunpowder mi^ht have exploded. It baa now beon ascertains] that the number of Bngliah Suider cartridges in tUe areecal was 850,000. Most of those h-.-.v-i been destroyed.