The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-10-27
RUSSIANS SINK
BRITISH BOATS
BALTIC SQUADRON OPENS FIRE
ON FISHING FLEET.
COMPLICATIONS MAY RESULT
England Demands Immediate Redress
and Gets Her Navy Ready FOR
Action if Necessary-Many
Men.Are Lost.
COMPLICATIONS MAY RESULT

Hull, England, Oct. IA. M. jack
son q Co., solicitors for the owners Of
SO Hull fishing boats, have notified the
foreign Office and admiralty of an attack
On the Hull fishing fleet by the Russian
Pacific. fleet Commonly designated as
The Baltic s%quadron). The official in
formation is that shortly after midnight
Friday the Russian squadron fell in
with the Hull fishing fleet in the North
sea. The first portion of the fishing
deet passed safely. Then the Russian
ships turned their search-lights on the
British vessels for some time and a lit
tie 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 wounded, are
on board a mission ship. The only
slightly injured member of the crew
has arrived at Hull. The steam trawlers
Molmein and Mino have arrived at Hull
seriously damaged by shots, the latter
having 16 holes in her hull. 1t is feared
that other damage was done to trawlers
and that at least one more was lost
with all hands.
.u... Two Beheaded.
According to other reports the affair
occurred 200 miles off Spurn Head. The
Russian ships were steaming in line.
The leading ships passed without Incl
dent, though most of the vessels turned
GQnrnh IOhfC on thn kvn 49,
enough to prevent any mistake as to
identity. After the bulk of the squad
ron 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 Loggott had their heads car
ried clean away by a shot, many of the
Q being seriously wounded. Another
trawler also was sunk, but the Seagull,
which brought the news to Hull, has nc
particulars as to her fate. The news has
created an intense sensation and indig-
nation in Hull.
Tells of the Affair.
The Moulmein arrived with her flag
at half mast. Her skipper states that
the trawlers were fishing about 220 miles
east by north of Spurn Head at one
o'clock Saturday morning, the weather
being hazy, when the outlines of several
vessels, apparently warships sailing In
3 line, were dimly seen. Whilst the
crew were watching the vessels search
lights were flashed upon them, in the
glare of which the Moulmein's crew OBJ
EnrUnd what fhou' foN1y fa ~ 5000.
boats approaching, apparently with the
intention of boarding the Moulmein,
They steamed away, however, and soon
the fishermen were Mortified to find thew
were being fired upon. First one and
then another trawler was struck by fly
Ing shot. What seemed 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
lone OF her crew was struck. The bonn
bardment lasted about 20 minutes,
When it had ceased the fleet sailed south
ward, and some of the trawlers sent I'D
rockets. The Moulmein steered in the
direction of the rockets. Soon cries
we're heard, and the Crane was found
sinking with another trawler taking off
some of her crew. Those seriously in
fured were removed to a mission shin
and the bodies of Smith and Leggott
were placed aboard the Moulmein. The
other men with minor injuries were nut
aboard the trawler Sea Gull, which at a
ate hour had not arrived at Hull. No
motive can be assigned for the extraor-
binary procedure of the Russian war
ships.
Eighteen Wounded.
From interviews with members of
trawler. crews it appears that the adj
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
under treatment. One trawIer. the
Wren. is missing. and it is feared she
mas been sunk. There is a rumor that
he Great Northern Fishing fleet was
llso chased by the Russians. This re-
port has not yet been confirmed.
Feeling in London.
London. Oct. 24.-Foreign Minister
Lansdowne and M. Benckendorff, the
Russian ambassador, both were out of
own and all the government Offices In
London were closed as usual on San
lay; therefore no official view could be
cleaned OF the firing by Russian war |
vessels upon a British fishing fleet in
he North sea. The first reports of the
lffair received in London were regarded
as almost Incredible. When, however,
cumulative evidence nc longer left doubt
Of the general accuracy Of the reportsN
establishment became bewilderment as
to what possible motive could have led