The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-24
Ships of the Russian Baltic
Fleet Make Attack.
On British Fishermen In the
North Sea
VESSELS ARE SUNK.
A Number of Those on Board
Killed or Wounded.
Peaceful Signals We're Ignored
by the Cars Men.
Great Britain Forwards Earnest
Protest to st. Petersburg.

Hull, England, Oct. PA. NJ. Jack
son & Co., solicitors for the owners OF
SO Hull fishing boats, have notified the
foreign office and admiralty of an at
tack on the Hull fishing feet by the
Russian second Pacific squadron, COM
monty known as the Baltic fleet, COM
manded by Vice Admiral Rojestvsnslxy.
The official information is that, short
ly after midnight Friday, the Russian
squadron fell in with the Hull fishing
fleet in the North sea. The first portion
of the fishing feet passed safely. Then
the Russian ships turned their search
lights on the British vessels for some
time and little later opened fire.
The steam trawler Crane was sunk.
and the decapitated bodies OF her skip
per and mate have been brought -
Hull. The boatswain and other mem
bers of the crew, who are understood
to be seriously wounded are on board
a mission ship. The only slightly in-
jured member of the crew has arrived
at Hull.
Signals Ignored.
The steamer trawlers Moulmein and
Mino have arrived at Hull seriously
damaged by shouts, the latter having
16 holes in her hull. 1t is feared that
the other damage was done to trawlers
and that at least one more was lost
with all hands.
trawler crews 1t appears that the ad-
miral of the fishing fleet burned green
flares to show that they were harmless
fishermen, but these signals were ig-
nOred.
Eighteen injured men are here un-
der treatment.
one trawler. the Wren. is missing
and it is feared she has been sunk.
There were many distressing scenes
at Hull during the day and night, rel
atives inquiring after friends
Great Indignation.
The news has created an intense SEN
sation and indignation in. Hull The
Moulmein arrived with her nag at half
mast. Hel skipper states that the
trawlers were fishing about 22O miles
east by north of Spurn Head at 1o'clock
Saturday morning, the weather being
haZy when the outlines Of several YES
sells, apparently warships, sailing in
line, were dirn1y seen. Whilst the crew
were watching the warships, search
lights were flashed upon them, in the
glare of which the Moulmetn,s crew OBJ
served what they took to be torpedo
boats approaching, apparently with the
intention of boarding the Moulmein
They steamed away, however, and soon
the fishermen were Mortified to find they
We're being fired upon.
First one and then another trawler
was struck by flying shot. What seem
ed to be a round shot went through the
Moulmein galley. The Mino, lying near
by, also was struck with many shots,
but, fortunately, the damage was above
her waterline and none OF her crew was
struck.
Lasted Twenty Minutes.
The bombar rdment lasted about twen-
ty minutes. When it had ceased, the
fleet sailed southwark and some of the
trawlers sent up rockets The Moul-
mein steered in the direction of the
rocket Soon orders were heard and
the Crane was found sinking, with an
other trawler taking off some of her
rr1r-.- IL TT Il 10
moved to a mission ship and the bodies
of Smith and Leggott were placed
aboard the Moulmein. The other men,
with minor injuries, were put aboard
the trawler Seaguu, which at late
hour had not arrived at Hull.
Crowds have gathered around the
dock here but no further information
is available.
started for London to consult with the
authorities there
No motive can be assigned for the eN-
traordinary procedure of the Russian
warshipS.
Story of Survivor.
The only survivor of the Crane who
has vet reached here is ]. A. Smith,
son of the deceased skipper, and VINO.
with the captains of the Moulmeln ana
Mino is going to London to consult
with the authorities. Young Smith
was asleep in his bunk when the fir-
ing aroused him. Just as he was get
ting uD. a SnOI STRUCK TIE
and penetrated to the forecastle,
smashing a lamp near which he was
standing He rushed on deck. where
the searchlights revealed the horrible
sight of his father and Leggott lying
headless and the deck strewn with the
injured 1t was soon found that the
vessel was sinking and signals for as
sistance were sent up.
Smith and others concur in the de-
tails of the firing that have already
been given.
According to other reports, the af-
fair occurred 200 miles off Spurn head.
( The Russian ships were steaming in
line. The leading ships passed with
ont incident. though most of the YES
fsels turned searchlights on the trawl-
| ers long enough to prevent any mis-
| take as to identity. After the bulk of
| the squadron had passed, it opened
fire nearly all participating in the fir
| ing. The Crane was struck below the
water line and raked above deck.
gott had their heads carried clean
| being seriously wounded. Another
| trawler also was struck, but the Sea
Gull which brought the news to Hull,
| has no particulars as to her fate.
Lansdowne to See About 1t.
London, Oct 24-1.23 P. M.-Foreign
| Secretary Lansdowne VIII arrive in Lon
! don from the country this afternoon. I'm
: til then no official action will be taken in
regard to the North sea incident, in which
the Russian second Pacific squadron sank
one or more British fishing boats and kill
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