The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-24
RUSSIAN WAR SHIPS FIRE EgN ENGLISH FISHING FLEET IN
 THE NORTH SEA, BANKING VESSELS AND MURDERIhG SAILORS
 at o f
 

Hull Eng, Oct. 23.--A. M Jackson /. & Co, solicitors for the owners of fifty Hull fishing boats, have notified the Foreign once and Admiralty of an at- tack on the Hull fishing fleet by the Russian Pacific fleet, commonly known as the Baltic squadron tcommanded by Vice-Admiral Rojestzensky.)
 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 por- ton of the fishing fleet passed safely. Then the Russian ships turned their searchlights on the British vessels for some time. and a little later opened ire.
 The steam trawler Crane was sunk and the decapitated bodies of her skip per and mate. Messrs Smith and Leg gett have been brought to Hull. The boatswain and other members of the crew who are understood to be serious ly wounded are on board a mission ship. The only slightly injured mem Der of the crew has arrived at Hull.
 Another Trawier Missing.
 The steam trawlers Moulmein and Mino have arrived at Hull seriously damaged by shots. the latter having sixteen holes in her hull. It is feared that other damage was done to trawlers and that at least one more was lost with all hands.
 The news has created an intense sem sation and indignation in Hull. The Moulmein arrived with her flag at half mast. Her skipper states that the trawlers were fishing about 220 miles east by north of Spurnhead at 1 o'clock Saturday morning. the weather being hazy, when the outlines of several ves- sells, apparently warships, sailing in . line. were dimly seen. Whilst the crewtwere watching the warships, searchIights were flashed upon them, in the glare of which the Moulmeins crew observed 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 horrified to find they were being fired upon
 Several vesseis Struck.
 First one and then another trawler was struck by flying shot What seem ed to be 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 one of her crew was struck. The bombardment lasted about twenty minutes When 1t had ceased the fleet sailed southward and some of the trawlers sent up rockets The Moulmein steered in the direction Of the rocket. Soon cries were heard and the Crane was found sinking with another trawleTS taking off some of her crew. Those seriously wound- ed were removed to a mission ship, and the bodies of Smith and Leggett were placed ah-' ~ f V uInein
 The other men with minor injuries were put aboard the trawler Sea Gull which at a late hour had not arrived at Hull.
 Crowds have gathered around the dock here, but no further information Is available.
 Go to Consult Omcers.
 Representatives of the fishing fleet started late tonight for London to con- suit with the authoriteis there.
 No motive can be assigned for the extraordinary procedure of the Rus sian warships.
 According to other reports. the affair occurred 200 miles off spurnhead The