Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-10-27

rage was perpetrated Saturday morn
ing by the Russian Baltic squadron on
the Hull and Gamrock fishing fleets
in the North sea. While sailing
through the fleet of trawlers the Rus.
sian warshlps opened fire upon them
and rained shot and shell upon them
for twenty minutes The headless bod
les of two fishermen were brought to
Hull last night. Over a dozen wound
ed fishermen are aboard what is known
as the Mission ship at Hull, and there
are reports, not absolutely confirmed,
that one or more of the trawlcrs was
sent to the bottom with all hands ON
board.
The following dispatch has been re.
ceived from Hull under date of Sunday
night:
Story of the Firing.
"a scene altogether without parallel
was witnessed at st. Andrew dock
this evening when two Hull trawlers
arrived riddled with shot. One of
them, the Moulmein, had her flag at
half staff. The report soon spread that
the fleet had been fired upon by the
Baltic warships. The skipper of the
Moulmein stated that the Gamrock
and Great Northern fleets were fishing
about 1870 miles east by north of Spurn
at O'Clock on Saturday morning.
1.-THE weather was rather hazy and
the outlines Of several large vessels,
apparently warships sailing in line,
were dimly seen. Whilst the men on
the fishing fleet We're looking at the
passing warships, searchlights were
flashed upon them. BY the aid of these
lights the men on board the Moulmein
noticed what they took to be torpedo
boats approaching them. At one time
it seemed likely that they would board
the Moulmein, but they did not do SO,
but steamed off. Soon the crews of
the fishing boats were Mortified to find
they were being made targets by the
Russian vessels
The bombardment, it is stated, lasted
twenty minutes and casued great con-
sternation among the crews of the
trawlers. When the firing ceased, the
Russian feet steamed away southwark.
Rockets Sent Up.
"Soon afterwards rockets were sent
up from one of the trawlers and the
Moulmein steamed in the direction of
the place indicated Getting near,
cries were heard, and it was found
that the trawler Crane of the Gamrock
fleet had been so badly damaged that
81 ~, ~
the Gamrock fleet had arrived and was
taking off members of the Cranes
crew. These included the engineer,
who had wound in the chest, sup
posed to be from splinter, and anoth.
or man who had his hand shot off.
These men and Others were placed on
board the Great Northern mission ves-
sci, where their injuries were attended
to. Those of the engineer were stated
to be very serious.
"These cases, however, were not the
most serious, for on the deck of the
Crane lay her skipper. George Smith,
and the sec md mate, John Leggott.
Both had their heads shot away. Their
mutilated corpses were placed on board
the Moulmein and were brought to
Hull, and some men whose injuries
were of a minor character, were placed
on board the trawler Gull, which had
not arrived at Hull at a late hour last
night.
Thousands Assembled.
News of the outrage spread rapidly
through Hull and thousands of persons
assembled in the neighborhood of the
docks.
MANY rumors are current in Hull
tonight. One is to the effect that an
other vessel of the Gamrock fleet was
sunk with all hands, but confirmation
of this report is lacking. There is a
further report that on board the mis-
sion ship are sixteen wounded men,
bnt it is not known whether this is
true. All the survivors agree that
when the Russians discovered their
mistake they simply ceased firing and
sailed away without Offering any as