Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-10-26
RUSSIANS FIRE
ON BRITISH
Baltic Fleet Sinks Several British
Fishing S%ehooners and lmmedi-
ately Sails Away.
THE ENeLIsHMEN ARE WRATHY
Presumed TO be a Mistake, but Repair
ation Must be Prompt or Trouble
Will Surely Ensue.

Hull, England, Oct. 23.-I. NJ. Jack
son & Co, solicitors for the owners
of 80 Hull fishing bots. have notified
the foreign office and admiralty of az
attack on the Huh fishing fleet by III,
Russian second Pacific squadron, com
monty designated as the Baltic squad
ron. The official information is that
shortly after midnight Friday the Rus.
sian squadron fell in with the Hull
fishing fleet in the North SEA. The
first portion of the fishing fleet pass.
ed safely. Then the Russian ships
turned their searchlights on the Brit
later opened fire. The team trawler
Crane was sunk. and the decapitated
bodies of her shipper and mate have
been brought to Hull, The boatswain
and other members of the crew who
are seriously wounded are on board
the mission ship The only slightely
injured member OF the crew has ar.
rived al Hull. The steam trawlers
Moulmcin and Mino have arrived at
Hull seriously damaged by shots, the
latter having l6 holes in her hull. II
is feared that other damage was done
To trawlers, and that at least one more
ur,- Loo. ,,ttl al I,.l.
According to other reports. the af-
fair occurred a hundred miles off
Spurn head. The Russian ships were
steaming in line. The leading ships
of the fishing fleet passed without in
cident, though most of the Russian
vessels turned scarchlights on the
trawlers long enough Ia prevent any
mistake as 10 identity. After the bulk
o fthe squadron had passed II opened
fire, nearly all participating in the fir
ing. The Crane was struck below wa.
ter line and raked above deck. Skip.
per Smith and Third Hand Loggotl
had their heads carried clean away by
a shot, many of the crew being ser
iously wounded . Another trawler also
was sunk, but the Sea Gull. which
brought the news TO Hull. had no p9r.
ticulars as To her fate.
The news created an intense senSa.
ton and indignation in Hull. The
Moulmein arrived with her flag At half
mast. Her skipper states that the
trawlerS were fishing about 226 miles
east of Spurn head At | O'Clock Sat.
urday morning. the weather being
haZy, when the outlines of several
vessels, apparently warships, sailing in
a line, were dimly seen. Whilst tho
crew were watching the warships'
searchlights were flashed upon them.
in the glare of which the Monuments
crew observed what they took 10 be-
torpedo boats approaching, apparent
ly with the intention OF boarding the
Moulmein. They steamed away. how
ever. and soon the fishermen were
Mortified to find they were being fired
upon. FIRST one and then another
trawler was struck by the lying shells.
what seemed TO be a round shot
wen through the Moulmein galley
The Mino, lying nearby, also was
struck with many shells but fortunate
~ the damage vas above her water
line, and nOne of The crew were
struck. The bombardment lasted just
about 20 minutes. When il had ceas-
ed, the fleet sailed southwark and
some of the trawlers sent up rock.
cts. The Moulmein steered in the
direction of the rockets. Soon cries
were heard and the Crane was found
sinking, with another trawler taking
of some of her crew. Those seriously
injured were removed TO a mission
ship and the bodies of Smith and
Loggett were placed aboard the Moul.
mein. The other men. with minor in.
Juries, were put aboard the trawler
Sea Gull.