The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-24


to sail during the night. Capt. Peaker
added:
Whether that had anything to do with
what followed do not know. The whole
thing is mystery. Presently we saw
through the mist and rain a number Of
lights Of vessels, big and small. Knowing
that the Baltic feet was about to sail and
seeing these ships steering directly toward
the Channel, We naturally assumed they
were the Russians, but as matter Of COM
mon honesty could not tell you at this
moment what ships they were. All know
is there were many Of them. They were
signalling one another with lights, and with
searchhghts they spied out every one of
our feet
MUST HAVE SEEN THEY WERE FIsHERMEN
Suddenly some warship started firing
at US. or, rather, at the twenty boats
which were nearest to them. At first we
naturally supposed they were firing blank
shots, and the boatswain OF the Tomtit,
which was quite close in, picked up two
big fish with his hands and held them out
at arms length. Some say he did it in
fun, offering the fish to the Russian sailors.
Others think he knew the shots were real
and thought to let the Russians know that
we were peaceful fishermen and not enc
mics masked as trawlers.
"For that matter, the warships were 80
near to some Of the boats that with glasses
and their searohlights they could easily
that is what all the boats were doing when
the first shots were fired.
TERROR AMONG THE ATTACKED.
we were staggered when we began to
realize that we were being fired at in earn
est and that the shots were well aimed,
wounding men and damaging the trawlers
All was terror and confusion. Some of the
boats we're hauling UP their travis when
the bombardment began. They cut away
their nets, got up steam and hurried away
as fast as they could.
II think the firing lasted about half an
hour and that it was from quick firing
guns on cruisers. judging from the rapidly
Of the shots. have seen some Of the
shots that are embedded in the boats.
They are about the size around but not
the length Of big cucumber. They had
brass heads. I suppose they were not
explosive shells, but am ignorant Of these
matters.
what with the darkness and rain we
could not see the warships, only their steam
ing and side lights, and that they were big
vessels. Their searchlights also helped to
blind vs.. We were quite helpless. We
could do nothing 70 explain our real charac.
ter. 1t seemed as though we would all be
sunk without a word Of explanation, but
happily. after firing dozens and dozens
Of shots, the guns suddenly ceased and the
feet steamed rapidly in the direction Of the
Channel"
tHisTLY sIoHT ON THE CRANE.
Capt Peaker says that all the survivors
of the Crane were wounded The skipper
Of the Gull which took of the crew of the
Crane, told Capt Peaker that the Cranes
deck presented a shocking sight. Blood
was all about. There lay the headless
body OF her captain and the CHASTITY body
of the mate, whose face was shot away.
The wounded men were lying about in
such shelter as they had managed to crawl
to.
Continuing Capt. Peaker said: 18th e
captain OF the Gull only accounted to me
for eight men Of the Crane, namely, two
dead officers and six seamen. According
to her equipment there should have been
nine. Whether one has gone to the bottom
with the boat do not know
Capt. Peaker here suddenly lost control
of himself as his mind went back to the
horrors OF the night. His face became
purple with passion. He exclaimed: "The
low skunks the cursed murderers'
| DAMAGE TO THE SHIPS.
After a few minutes he became calmer
and continued: "The dead and wounded
were taken off the Crane just in time, for
abe foundered a few minutes later. She
had great holes in her sides, through which
the water rushed In torrents. The wounded
were put aboard the mission boat Sarah
Myles, which doused her lights, though the
Russians were far enou Oh away then.
Several other trawlers were damaged
by shot The Mino was struck eight OF
nine times Her Grew had to stuff bedding
into the holes to keep her afioat. Luckily
the shots glanced upward instead Of down.
ward, or she would have sunk. When
left for London there were three or foul
of the trawlers unaocounted for. They
may have gone to the bottom. One boa,
had her nainsail torn. A shot entered
the galley OF another, whizzed past the
cook and went through the vessel.
OTHERS MAY BE LOST.
Capt Peaker declared 1t was useless fol
any one 10 pretend that torpedo boats o.
destroyers could be disguised to resembl,
trawlers. Moreover, each OF the trawler,
carried the lights required by the British
Board OF Trade rules, duplex lamp show
| -.l,.. r;nht ab>al raj R1hf an ~,