The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-10-27
BALTIC FLEET
FIRES ON BRITISH
Russian Second Pacific Squad
ron's Actions Cannot
Be Explained.
SINKS FISHING A
No Motive Can Be Given for the Wan.
ton Act-Intense Excitement Reigns
at Hull and Over Eng
land.

Hull, England, Oct. 25.-M. A. Jack
son & Co., solicitors for the wne Of
fifty Hull fishing boats, have notified
the foreign office and admiralty of ar
attack on the Hull fishing fleet by the
Russian Pacific fleet, commonly desig.
mated as the Baltic squadron, com
manded by Vice Admiral Rojestvensky,
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 fleet passed safely. Then the
Russian ships turned their se~aTcniignis
on the British vessels for some time,
and q little later opened fire. The steam
trawler Crane was sunk, and the de-
capitated bodies of her skipper and
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. 1t is feared
that other damages was don to trawl-
ers, and that at least one 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 any mistake as
to identity. After the bulk of the
squadron had passed it opened fire,
nearly all participating in the firing.
The Crane was truck below the wa
ter line and raked above deck. Skipper
Smith and Third Hand Loggett had
their heads carried clean ava by a
shot, many Of the crew being seriously
wounded. Another trawler also was
sunk, but the Seagull, which brought
the news to Hull, has 40 particulars as
to her fate.
The news has created an intense sen
sation and indignation in Hull. h
Moulmein arrived with her flag at half
mast. Her skipper states that the
trawlers were fishing abou go miles
east by north of Spurn Head at l
o'clock Saturday morning, the weather
being hazy, when the outlines Of sew
eral 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-
tion of bombarding the Moulmein. They
steamed away, however, and soon the
fishermen were mortified to find they
were being fired upon. First one and
Their 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 damag, was above the
water linz and none of her crew was
struck.
Bombardment Was Brief.
The bo~mbardment lasted about TWEEN
ty minutes. When it 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 off 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 witt
minor injuries were put aboard the
trawler Seagull which at a late houl
had not arrived at Hull.
Crowds have gathered around the
dock here, but no further information
Is available.
Representatives of the fishing flee
started for London to consult with the
authorities there.
No motive can be assigned for tn,
extraordinary procedure of the Russian
w%arships.
The only survivor of the Crane wht
has yet reached here is J. A. Smith
son Of the deceased skipper, and wh'
with the captains of the Moulmein ant
Mino is going TO London to consul
with the authorities.
Young Smith was asleep in his bun
when the firing aroused him. Just a
he was getting up a shot struck tn
s%tarboard and penetrated to the fore
castle, smashing a lamp neal which h
was standing. He rushed on deck
where the ~searchlights revealed tn
horrible sight of his father and Log
Eott lying headless, and the dec
strewn with the injured. 1t was 500
found that the vessel was sinking an
signals for assistance were sent up.
Smith n others concur in the de
tails of the firing that have alread
been given.
From interviews with members c
trawler crews it appeared that tn
boats of the fishing fleet burned gree
flares to show that they were harmless
fishermen, but these signals were ig
nored.
Eighteen injured men are here unde
treatment.
One trawler, the Wren. is missing
and It Is feared she has been sunk.
There were many distressing scene
at Hull during the day and night, rela
tives inauiring after friends.
There Is a rumor that the Grea
Northern Fishing feet was also chase
bv the Russians. This report has nj
yet peer confirmed.
3