The Bourbon news., 1904-10-25
THE BALTIC SQUADRON
1t Fired on British Fishing Yes
sells in the North Sea.
= Couple Sunk and Several Persons
Killed and Misunderstanding Ships
Badly Damaged-News Causes
An Intense Sensation.

Hull, Eng, Oct PA M. jackson
& 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 designated as the Baltic fleet.
The official information is that shortly
after midnight Friday the Russian
squadron fell in with the Hull fishing
fleet in the North sea. The first por-
tion of the fishing fleet passed safely.
Then the Russian ships turned their
searchlights on the British vessels for
some time and little 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 are under
stood to be seriously wounded.
The steam trawlers Moulmein 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 the trawl
ers and that at least one more was lost
with all hands.
The only survivor of the Crane who
has yet reached here is ]. 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 fir
ing aroused him. Just as he was get
ting up, a shot struck the starboard
and penetrated to the forecastle,
smashing lamp near which he was
standing. He rushed on deck where
sight of his father and Leggett lying
headless and the deck strewn with the
injured It was soon found that the
vessel was sinking and signals for as
sistance were sent up. Smith and 9TH
ers concur in the details of the firing
that have already been given.
London, Oct 24.-The steam cutter
Magpie, belonging to the Gamecock
trawler fleet, which was fired on by
the Russian Baltic fleet, arrived in
the Thames Sunday night. Her cap
tain, Peaker, confirmed the details of
the story received from Hull. He
says: Friday night there were about 40
vessels of the Gamecock feet fishing
in latitude 55 degrees Is minutes, and
longitude degrees minutes. 1t was
a misty, drizzling night. We spread
over an area of some miles. Our adj
miral had just previously signalled by
rocket and colored lights the fishing
direction for the night. Whether that
had anything to do with what follow
a mystery"
Hull, Oct 24.-The news has Gre
ated an intense sensation and indigna-
ton in Hull The Moulmein arrived
with her flag at half-mast. Her skip
| per states that the trawlers were fish
ing about 220 miles east by north OF
| Spurn Head at 1 o'clock Saturday
morning, the weather being heavy,
when the outlines of several vessels,
apparently warships, sailing in line,
were dimly seen. Whilst the crew
were watching the warships, search
lights were flashed upon them, in the
| glare of which the Moulmein's crew
observed what they took to be torpedS
boats approaching, apparently with
| the intention of boarding the Moul-,
mein. They steamed away, however,
and soon the fishermen were Mortified
| to find they were being fired upon.
First one and then another trawler
was struck by flying shot. What
seemed to be a round shot went
! through the Moulmein galley. The
| Mino, lying nearby, also was struck
with many shots, but fortunately the
! damage was above her water line and
none of her crew was struck. The
bombardment lasted about 20 minutes.
When it had ceased the fleet sailed
southwark, and some of the trawlers
sent up rockets The Moulmein steer
ed in the direction of the rocket. Soon
cries were heard, and the Crane was
found sinking with another trawler
taking off some of her crew. Those
seriously injured were removed to a
mission ship and the bodies of Smith
and Leggett were placed aboard the
Moulmein. The other men with mi
nor injuries were put aboard the trawl-
er Sea Gull, which at a late hour had
not arrived at Hull.
Washington, Oct 24.-Astonishment
that the Russian commander should
have committed such blunder as to
fire on inoffensive fishing vessels as
reported in dispatches from Hull pre-
vailed in Official circles Sunday night
AT the same time these officials are
prompt to express the opinion that
the Russian government will promptly
disavow the act and apologize when
the facts are fully known. The trag-
edy, it is realized, adds to the compli-
cations which the Baltic feet already
encountered ever since it was deter
mined that the vessels should go to
the far east.
Valuable Colt Dead.
st. Louis, Oct. 24.-Commodore. a