New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-03
THE ATTACK UNPR0VOKED.
Only Russian Warships Sighted
No japanese on Trarlers.

Hull, Nov 2.-"That George Henry Smith
and William Leggett were at about 1890 a. m.
on October %. while out fishing with travis
aboard the British steam trawlcr Crane, with
Board of Trade marks exhibited and regulation
lights burning, killed by shots fired, without
warning provocation. from certain Russian
vessels at a distance about a quarter OF
a mile"
This is the text of the jurys verdict at the
coroner's inquest the fishermen victims of
the North Sea tragedy. At the request of the
British government, represented by the Earl
OF Dysart Solicitor of the Treasury, this con-
servative award was rendered by the first court
of inquiry preceding the sessions Of the inter
I ational tribunal. The government asked the
jury not to find a verdict OF wilfu murder OF
manslaughter, because delicate negotiations are
going on, which should not be made more diff
cult; and they ought not to let any one think
they had prejudged the case before having
heard both sides" In consequence the jury
simply set forth the facts proved by the testi-
mony of physicians experts on explosives and
the trawlers themselves. To the verdict the
jury added the following rider:
On this occasion, probably the most mo-
mentous in the annals of the British Empire,
the jury would record their appreciation of the
efforts made by the government interested to
arrive at a satisfactory conclusion OF the mat
Of the world.
st. Georges Hall, large auditorium which
had been specially fitted UP for the OCCASION
was inadequate to accommodate the crowds
that wished to listen to the testimony. The in
terest was intense. and there was some excite
ment, but demonstration occurred. A great
number of people gathered in the vicinity OF the
building to await the verdict, and the space IN
side the hall was filled. The British govern
ment the Board of Trade the owners of the
Gamecock fleet and the relatives OF the dead ana
wounded fishermen were represented by copn-
sci. but the Russian government did not have a
representative.
The proceedings occupied only about three
hours The medical testimony showed that the
deaths of Smith and Leggett were the result Of
shell and machine gun wounds, and an expert
Identified fragments of shells by private marks,
which he said were undoubtedly Russian the
captains and mates Of the trawlers tesuheo
that while they were engaged in their regular
work the ships of the Baltic feet in two squad
rons emerged suddenly from the haze and.
throwing the glare OF their searchlights on the
Camecock fleet, without warning and disregard
ing fare green lights, the asherman's signal
and though within speaking distance Of one YES
sell began a cannonade, which the fishermen at
first not realizing the danger, enjoyed. think
hour
To each of these witnesses was put the vital
question regarding the presence of a foreign
vessel or torpedo boat. Each with equal posi-
tiveness denied that at any time preceding or
during the firing was a Japanese. British or
other foreign vessel seen by them or the accom-
panying fishing fleet, 1t was also stated that
there were no Japanese among the crews and
that none of the trawlers carried arms OF any
description One Of the shippers. replying to
question by the coroner said that during the
FIVE weeks he was in the North Sea he had not
seen any warships until that night
This closed the testimony. Counsel for the
treasury then made the suggestion with regard
to tho nature of the verdict. with which the
coroner agreed and without delay 1t was so
returned, with an added expression OF sympathy
for the relatives and friends of the dead and
injured and of appreciation of the calm ana
courageous manner in which the fishing feet re-
manned at it's duties after the terrible expert
ence."