Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-10-25
RUSSIANS FIRE
ON FISHERMEN
Baltic Fleet Does Considerable DAM
are 10 British Vessels.
TWO MEN BEHEADED.
One Of the Craft Was Sent Down
and a Number Of Men Wounded
While Engaged ia Peace
ful Occupation.

full Occupation.
Hull. Eng. Oct. Pa. NJ. Jackson
& Co, solicitors for the owners OF fifty
Hull fishing boats. have notified the
foreign office and admiralty OF an at
tack on the Hull fishing fleet by the
RUSSIA Pacific fleet. commonly known
as the Baltic squadron. commanded by
Admiral Rojetvensky. 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
fleet passed safely. Then the Russian
ships turned their searchlights on the
British vessels for some time and
little later opened fire. The steamer
trawIer Crane was sunk and the decap-
ltated bodies Of her skipper and mate.
Smith and Leggett. have been brought
to Hui. The boatswain and other
men 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
al Hut
The steam trawlers Monulwein and
the Minohave arrived at Hull seriously
damaged by shots. the latter having
sixteen holes In her hull Il is feared
that other damage was done to trawl-
ers. and that at least one more boat
was lost with all hands.
The rews has created an intense sem
sation end indignation In Hull. The
Moulmein arrived with her flag at
half mast. Her skipper states that
the fiswlers were fishing about 200
miles east by north at Spurnhead at
] O'Clock Saturday morning. the wealth
or beng hay. when the outlines OF
several vessels. apparently warships.
sailing in a line. were seen While
the crew were watching the wars.lps.
searchlights were flashed upon them.
IN the glare OF which the Moulmein's
crew observed what they took TO be
torpedo boats approaching. apparently
with the intention of boarding Moul-
mein. They steamed away. however.
and soon the fishermen were Mortified
TO find that they were being fired upon.
First one and then another trawler was
struck by flying shells. What seemed
TO be a round shot went through the
Moulmien galley. The Mino. lying
near by. was also struck with many
shots. but fortunately the damage was
above her yater line. and none OF her
crew was struck. The bombaramen'
continued about twenty minutes When
II had ceased. the fleet sailed south
ward and some OF the trawlers sent
up rockets. The Moulmien steered in
the direction OF the rockets. Soon cries
wehe heard. and the Crane was found
sinking with another trawler taking off
some Of her crew. Those seriously
wounded were removed 10 a mission
ship and the bodies of Smith and Leg
gett We're placed aboard the Moulmein
The other men. with minor injuries,
were put aboard the trawler Seagull.
According 20 other reports the affair
occurred 200 miles off Spurnhead. The
Russian ships were steaming in line
The leading ships passed without Incl
dent. though most OF the vessels turn
ed selrchlights on the trawlers long
enough to prevent any mistake as to
ron had passed. u opened fire. nearly
all participating IN the firing. The
Crane was struck below the waterline
and above deck Skipper Smith and
Third Hand Leggett had their heads
carried clean away by a shot. many
Of the crew being seriously wounded
Anothsr trawlar was also sunk. but the
Seagull. which arrived later. brought
the news 20 Hull.
From interviews with members o.
the trawleis' crews It appears that the
admiral Of the fishing fleet burned
green flares 10 show that they were
harmless fishermen. but these signals
were ignored.
Eighteen injured men are here under
treatment. one trawler. the Wren. Is
missing and 1t is feared she has been
sunk. There were many distressing
scenes a. Hull durir the day and night.
relative and friends Of the fishermen
making inquiries.