Bernard de Tremelay and the Templars were first on the scene when a section of Askalon's wall collapsed; this followed an attempt by the besieged to burn the besiegers' tower, which backfired when a wind-change blew flames back against the wall. The Templars rushed through the breach, and Bernard (it is said) kept others out, to maximise Templar booty. His tactics proved disastrous when the besieged succeeded in closing the breach very quickly, shutting him and his men inside; up to forty of them were killed, and their bodies suspended from the wall, swinging the pendulum of morale again in favour of the people of Askalon [William of Tyre, who was hostile to the Templars, cannot be trusted over such details]. Baldwin III and other leaders, secular and lay, met before the True Cross, to consider the siege after the slaughter of the Templars. Opinions were divided: Baldwin and most of the lay lords wanted to stop the siege, while Fulcher the patriarch, Peter of Tyre, the other bishops and Raymond of the Hospital wished to persist. The clergy carried the day, and the siege was continued with such desperation that the tide of battle turned again and the Christians won a victory