four o'clock
In a score of places the town was on fire . Explosion after explosion followed , and by their light , crowds of soldiers could be seen crossing the bridge . Hour after hour the grandeur of the scene increased , as fort after fort was blown up by the Russians . At four o'clock the whole camp was shaken by a tremendous explosion behind the Redan , and a little later the magazines of the Flagstaff and Garden batteries were blown up , and the whole of the Russian fleet , with the exception of the steamers , had disappeared under the water , scuttled by their late owners . At half-past five two of the great southern forts , the Quarantine and Alexander , were blown up , and soon flames began to ascend from Fort Nicholas . The Russian steamers were all night busy towing boats laden with stores , from the south to the north side , and when their work was done , dense columns of smoke were seen rising from the decks . At seven o'clock in the morning the whole of the Russian troops were safely across the bridge , which was then dismembered and the boats which composed it taken over to the north side .