The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-10-26
HORRIBLE BUTGHERlNG
OF ENGLISH FISHERMEN.
Baltic Fleet Sinks an English Yes
sci. Astonishing and mex
plicabIe Deed Said to
Have Been Perpetra-
ted by Russian
Men-Of-War.

| MSH-Ut-W6i.
Hull, England, Oct 23-A. NJ.
Jackson & Co., solicitors for the own
ers of fifty Hull fishing boats, have
notified the foreign Office and admi-
ralty Of an attack on the Hull fishing
feet by the Russian Pacific feet,
| commonly designated as the Baltic
squadron. The official information is
that shortly after midnight Friday the
Russian squadron fell in with the
Hull fishing feet in the North Sea.
The first portion of the fishing feet
passed safely. Then the Russian ships
turned their searchlights on the Brit
ish vessels for some time and little
later opened fire. The steam trawler
Crane was sunk and the decapitated
bodies of her skipper and mate have
been brought to Hull. The boatswain
and other members of the crew, who
are understood to be seriously injur-
ed, are on board a mission ship. The
only slightly injured member of the
crew has arrived at Hull.
The steam trawlers Moulmein and
Mino have arrived at Hull, seriously
damaged by shots, the latter having
sixteen holes in ber hull. It is fear
ed that other damage was done to
trawlers, and that at least one more
was lost with all hands.
| According to other reports the affair
occurred 200 mile of Spurnhead. The
Russian ships were steaming in line.
The leading ships passed without in
cident, though most of the vessels
turned searchlights on the trawlers
long enough to prevent any mistake
as to identity. After the bulk of the
squadron had passed it opened fire,
nearly all participating in the firing.
The Crane was struck below the water
line and raked above deck. Skipper
Smith and Third Hand Leggott had
| their heads carried clean away by a
shot, many of the crew being seriously
wounded. Another trawler also was
sunk, but the Sea Gull, which
brought the news to Hull, has no par
ticulars as to her fate.
The news has created an intense
sensation in Hull. The Moulmein
arrived with her flag at balf- mast.
Her skipper. states that the trawlers
we're fishing about 220 miles east by
north Of Spurnhead at l O'Clock
Saturday morning, the weather being
hazy, when the outlines of several
vessels apparently war stips, sailing
| in a line, we're dimly seen. Whilst
the crew we're watching the warships,
searchlights we're flashed upon them,
in the glare of. which the Moulmein's s
crew observed what they took to be
torpedo boats approaching, apparently
with the intention of boarding the
Moulmein. They steamed away, how
ever, and soon the fishermen were
horri6ed to find they we're being fired
upon. First one and then another
trawler was struck by flying shot.
What seemed to be a round shot went
through the Moulmein's galley. The
Mino, lying nearby, also was struck
with many shots, but fortunately the
damage was above her water line and
none of her crew was struck. The
| Dombardment lasted about twenty
minutes. When it had ceased the
feet sailed southwark. and some Of
the trawlers sent up rockets. The
Moulmein steered in the direction of
! the rocket Soon cries we're heard,
and the Crane was found sinking
With another trawler taking off some
of her crew. Those seriously injured
were removed to mission ship and
/ the bodies of Smith and Leggott were
placed aboard the Mculmein.f The
other men with minor injuries we're
put aboard the trawler Sea Gull,
which at q late hour had not arrived
at Hull
Crowds have gathered around the
dock, but no further information is
available.
Representatives of the fishing fleet
started late tonight for London to
| consult the authorities there.
No motive can be assigned for the
extraordinary procedure of the Rus
sian war ships.
The Only survivor of the Crane who
has yet reached here is J. A. Smith,
son of the deceased skipper, and who,
with the captains If the Moulmein
and Mino, is going to London to con-
suit. the authorities. Young Smith
vas asleep in his bunk when the fir
int1 aroused him. Just as he was get
ting up Shot struck the starboard
and penetrated to the forecastle,
smsshirg a lamp near which be was
standing. He rushed on deck, where
the searchliights revealed the horrible
sight of his father and Leggott lying
headless, aud the deck strewn with
the injured. 1t was soon found that
the vessel was sinking and signals for
assistance we're sent up.
Smith and others concur in the de-
tails of the firing that have already
been given.
Hull, Eng. Oct. 24.-Only one yes
sci has arrived this morning from the
fishing rendezvous in the north sea,
and this one was not near the scene
of the attack on the fishing fleet. The
latest report of the affair shows that