Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-10-27

CD IT, sinking several lfaWleTh, kllllnB
two fishermen and wounding about a
score Of others.
II Is stated that the Russian war
ships fred live shell without giving
any warning or even using prellmi-
nary blank shot.
Due to Russian Fright.
1t Is suggested that the unfortunate
incident is the outcome of n dread
that has bounded the Russian naval
authorities that the European waters
are studded with disguised Japanese
torpedo boats and mlne-laylng vesseis,
bent upon destroying the Baltic feet
before It could reach the fairly open
sea.
The Daily Telegraph suggests that
Judging by information supplied by
persons who were actually present
when the catastrophe occurred, mid.
night is the usual hour at which the
commodore of the fishing fleet signals
by rocket 10 the boats under his com
mand the direction they should take
on the morrow.
So far ms has been ascertained, no
one Witnessed such signal However,
IL may have been made and the com.
mander Of the Russian feet may
have given way to panic and have
imagined that these rockets. suppos
Ing them to have been fired, were sig.
nais from some clandestlne hotilla
bent on destroying his squadron,
Only Explanation.
This hypothesis, msubstantlal AZ It
IL, can alone explain this wanton at
tack upon unarmod boats engaged IN
a most innocent pursuit.
When the war ships opened fire 1t
was at first supposed by tho men in
the trawlors that they were dlscharg-
ing blank ammunition, and man
. held up fish he was cutting in the
glare of the aearchlight to show what
he was doing. ThCn the whistle of
Hhots was heard, and the trawlers hur
riedly began to cut away their nets
and withdraw.
Then II was seen that the British
trawler Crane was sinking. Another
vessel went to her aid. TO rescue her
crew. A horrible sight met then
eyes On the dock lay the headess
corpse OF the captain, while the first
mate was dead with half his head
blown away. The boatswains hand
was shot off and Ave other men were
grIcvously wounded.
Vessel Found to be Sinking.
The Russians fire was maintained
Tor 20 minutes to half an hour, and
was apparently delivered from quick.
firing guns, When the war ships
sailed away southwark, rockets were
sent up from one of the trawlers,
The Moulmein steamed in the drec-
ton of tho spot Indicated, and on
getting near cries were heard, and IN
was found that the trawlor Crane had
been SO badly damaged that she was
sinking. Another trawler of the
Gamecock feet had arrived and was
taking OFF some injured members of
the Cranes crew
War Ships Names Unknown.
The news OF the outrage rapidly
spread In Hull AMI thousands of per
sons assembled in the neighborhooa
OF the docks No information could
be obtained regarding the names or
the class of the war ships which fired
on the trawlers.
Another telegram from Hull says
that the fishermen can assign no rea,
son for the attack by the war ships
The only suggestion is that the trawl-
era. appearing suddenly to the Rus
slams, caused a momontary panic on
board the Russian war ships. They
were stcnmng In line and tho leading
ships passed without incident. though
most OF the vessels turned their
searchlights on the fishing fleet for a
period long enough to show the Rus
slams the identity of the strangers
After the greater part of the squadron
had steamed by the vessels opened
fire Nearly all of them took part in
the firing
Two fishing boats were sunk by
shells and two others were badly
hhuldktNt bub lNhiuihth uhbui, w
fishermen are known to have beer
killed, and 1t Is believed that the en-
tire crew OF another, tho Wren. perish
ed when their craft went down, a;
both boat and crew are missing.
The vessel known to have beer
sunk Is the steamer trawlor Crane
Captain Smith and Mate Leggett o
this craft were beheaded by n shot
and IL Is said that every member o
the crew was wounded. Eighteen
wounded men are here under treat
ment.
Lights Flash: Then Attack.
While the crew were watching tn,
war ships searchlights we're flashes
upon them, in the glare Of which tn
Moulmein's crew observed what the,
took to be torpedo boats approaching