Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-11-04
FLEET
FIRES ON BRITISH
Russian Second Pacific Squad
ron's Actions Cannot
Be Explained.
N FISHING BOATS
No Motive Can Be Given for the Wan
ton Act-lntense Excitement Reigns
at Hull and Over Eng
land.

son a. CO., solicitors for the owners OF
atty Hull fishing boats. have notified
the foreign office and admiralty OF an
attack on the Hull fishing feet by the
Russian Pacific fleet, commonly desig-
mated as the Baltic squadron, COM
manded by Vice Admiral R~oJestvensky.
The official Information is that short
iy after midnight Friday the Russian
squadron fell In with the Hull fishing
feet in the North sea. The first portion
of the fleet passed safely. Then the
Russian ships turned their ~searchlights
on the British vessels for some time,
and a little later opened fire. The steam
trawler Crane was sunk, and the de-
capitated bodies OF her skipper n
mate have been brought TO Hull. The
boatswain and other members OF the
crew, who are understood to be Sc
riously wounded, are on board the mis-
sion ship, the only slightly injured
member of the crew has arrived at
Hull.
The steam trawlers Moulmein and
Memo have arrived at Hull seriously
damaged by shots, the latter having
sixteen holes In her hull. II Is feared
that other damages was done to trawl-
ers, and thai at least n more was
lost with all hands.
Fired Without Warning.
According to other reports the AFFAIR
occurred 200 miles off Spurn Head. 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 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 h wa
ter line and raked above deck. Skipper
Smith and Third Hand Loggett had
their heads carried clean away by a
shot. many IF the crew being seriously
wounded. Another trawler also was
sunk, but the Seagull, which brought
the news to Hull, has no particulars as
TO her fate.
The news has created an intense sem
sation and Indignation In Hull. h
Moulmein arrived with her flag at half
mast. Her skipper states that the
trawlers were fishing about 20 miles
east by north of Spurn Head at /
o'clock Saturday morning, the weather
being hazy, when the outlines OF sew
raj vessels, apparently warships sail
Ing in a line. were dimly seen. While
the crew was watching the warships
searchlights were flashed upon them, In
the glare Of which the crew observed
what they took to be torpedo boats APP
preaching, apparently with the inten-
ton of bombarding the Moulmein. They
steamed away, however, and o the
fishermen were Mortified to find they
were being fired upon. First one and
then another trawler was struck by
flying shots. What seemed TO be a
round shot went through the Moul-
mein. The Cominlo, lying near by, also
was struck with many shots, but for
~tunately the damage was above the
water line and none of her crew was
struck.
Bombardment Was Brief.
The bombardment lasted about TWEEN
ty minutes. When 1t had ceased the
fleet sailed south, and some Of the
trawlers sent up rockets. The Moul-
mein steered In the direction OF the
rocket. Soon cries were heard and the
Crane was found sinking with another
trawler taking of some OF her crew.
Those seriously injured were removed
to a mission ship and the bodies of
Smith and Loggett were placed aboard
the Moulmein. The other men with
minor injuries were put aboard the
trawler Seagull which at a late hour
had not arrived at Hull.
Crowds rave gathered around the
dock here. but no further information
Representatives of the fishing fleet
started for London to consult with the
authorities there.
No motive car be assigned for the
extraordinary procedure of the Russian
warships.
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 Of the Moulmein and
Mino Is going to London to consult
with the authorities.
Young Smith was asleep In his bunk
when the firing aroused him. just as
he was getting up a shot struck the
s~tarboard and penetrated to the fore
castle, smashing a lamp near which he
was standing. He rushed on deck,
where the searchlights revealed the
horrible sight of his father and Log
gott lying headless, and the deck
strewn with the injured. 1t was soon
found tha the vessel was sinking and
signals for assistance were sent up.
Smith and others concur In the de-
tails OF the firing that have already
been given.
From interviews with members OF
trawler crews 1t appeared that the
boats of the fishing fleet burned green
dares to show that they were harmless
fishermen, but these signals were ig-
nored.
Eighteen injured men are here under
treatment.
One trawler. the Wren, is missing,
and 1t is feared she a been sunk.
There were many distressing scenes
at Hull during the day and night, rela-
tives inquiriug after friends.
There is a rumor that the Great
Northern Fishing fleet was also chased
by the Russians. This report has not
yet been confirmed.