The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-04
BALTIC FLEET
FIRES ON BRITISH
Russian Second Pacific Squad.
ron's Actions Cannot
Be Explained.
SINKS FISHING BOATS
No Motive Can Be Given for the Wan.
ton Act-lntense Excitement Reigns
at Hull and Over Eng
land.

Hull, England, Oct. 25.-M. A. jack |
son & Co.. solicitors for the owners OF
fifty Hull fishing boats. have notified
the foreign Office and admiralty of an
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 searchlightS
on the British vessels for some time.
and a 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 done 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 1t opened fire,
nearly all participating In the firing.
The Crane was struck below the wa
ter line and raked above deck. Skipper
Smith and Third Hand Loggett had
their heads carried clean away 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 no particulars as
to her fate.
The news has created an intense SEN
sation and indignation in Hull The
Moulme!n arrived with her flag at half
mast. Her skipper states that the
, trawlers were fishing about go miles
east by north of Spurn Head at l
o'clock Saturday morning. the weather
being hazy when the outlines of seY-
eral vessels, apparently warships sail
ing in a line, were dmly 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-
l :, ton Of bombarding the Moulmen. They
steamed away, however. and soon the
l fishermen We're Mortified to find they
i were being fired upon. First one and
then another trawler was struck by
flying shots. What seemed to be q
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
t water line and none Of her crew was
struck.
/, Bombardment Was Brief.
The bombardment lasted about TWEEN
!. = ty minutes. When it had ceased thu
= fleet sailed south, and some OF tn
- trawlers sent up rockets. The Moul
= mein steered in the direction of thu
rocket. Soon cries were heard and thu
: Crane was found sinking with anothe
= trawler taking off some Of her crew
y Those seriously injured were removed
to mission ship and the bodies o
Smith and toggett were placed aboart
p the Moulmein. The other men witt
9 minor injuries were put aboard tn
=. trawler Seagull which at late hou
= had not arrived at Hull.
q Crowds have gathered around tn
e dock here, but no further Information
= is available.
'e Representatives Of the fishing flee
4. started for London to consult with tn
e authorities there.
% No motive can be assigned for TIL
n extraordinary procedure of the Russian
81 rs + \ < I \ =
8 The only survivor OF the Crane VIII
q has yet reached here Ia ]. A. Smith
% son OF the. deceased skipper. and VIII
= with the captains of the Moulmein an
81 Mino is going to London to consul
le with the authorities.
Young Smith was asleep In his bun
le when the firing aroused him. Just q
n he was getting up shot struck tn
u starboard and penetrated to the fore
'e castle, sm1si1ing lamp near which h
s was standing. He rushed on decl
where the searchlights revealed tn
IS horrible sight Of his father and Log
gott lying headless. and the dec
a strewn with the injured. 1t was 500
L found that the vessel was sinking an
= signals for assistance were sent up.
/. Smith and others concur In the de
la tails OF the firing that have alread
~ been given.
t From interviews with members {
er trawler crews 1t appeared that til
Z. boats Of the fishing feet burned gree
flares to show that they were harmless
"a fishermen, but these signals were Is
~ nored.
e Eighteen injured men are here undo
treatment.
One trawler, the Wren, is missing
and 1t is feared she has been sunk.
There were many distressing scene
at Hull during the day and night, REX
ay tives inquiring after friends /,
There is rumor that the Gree
Northern Fishing feet was also chase
by the Russians. This report has NJ
tt, yet been confirmed.
=. NJ