Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-10-29
FIRED ON BRITISH SHIPS
Russian War Vessels Sink Several
Fishing Smacks.
CzAR'S MINISTER is HO0TED
Angry Crowd Attempt To Smash The
Windows Of His Carriage In London
Las Night.

Oh its wav to the far east.
Early Saturday morning the fleet
came into contact with large number
Of British fishing vessels from Hull
and opened fire upon them. sinking
several steam trawlers, killing two
fisherman and woundiDg a score Of
others. The Russian warships fired
shells without giving any warning or
even using the preliminary blank shot.
7 1t 10 suggested that the unfortunate
incident il the outcome of the dread
that has haunted Russian naval
authorities that European waters are
studded with disguised japanese tor-
psdo boats aud mil e-laying vessels
bent uuon destroying the Bal ic fleet.
The Daily Telegraph suggests that
midnight is usually the hour at which
the commander of fishing feet
signals by rocket to the boats under
his command. giving the direction
they should take on the morrow. So
far as has been ascertained, no one
witnessed anv such signal. 1t may,
however, have been made, ana the
commander of the Russian fleet may
have give way to pannic aud have
imagined that these rockets, suppos-
ing them to have been fired, we're
signals from some clandestIne dotilla
bent upon DESTROYING the squadron.
This hypothesis. unsubstantial as 1t
Is, can alone explain the wanton at
tack upon unarmed boats.
When the warships opened fire 1T
was at first supposed by the men in
the trawlers that thev we're discharg-
ing blank ammunition. A man held
up q fish which he was cutting in the
glare of the searchlight to show what
he was doing Then the whistle of
the shots was heard and the trawlers
began hurriedly to cut away their
nets and withdraw.
1t was soon seen that the trawler
Crane was sinking. Another vess
went to her aid to rescue her crew. A
horrible sight met their eyes. On the
deck lay the headless corpses of Cap
tain Smith aud Mate Leggott. The
boatswain had his hand shot off and
five other men we're grevously
wounded.
KEPT FIRING 90 MINUTES.
The Russian fire was maintained 20
minutes and was apparently delivered
from quick-firing guns.
When the warhips sailed away south
ward rockets were sent up from one
of the trawlers. The trawler Moul.
mein steamed in the direction indi-
Gated, aud on getting near cries were
heard. 1t was then found that the
Crane had been SO badly damaged that
sbe was sinking. Another trawler of
the fleet had arrived and was taking
off some injured members of the
Cranes crew. They included the en-
gineer, who had wound in his chest, !
supposed to be fatal. On the deck
Of the Crane lay her skipper and
maze, both with their heads shot
awav. Their mutilated corpses were
placed on board the Moulmein.
Some OF the men with minor Injuries
were put on the trawlcr Ssa Gull, ]
which arrived in Hull at late hour
Sana'sy evening
News of the outrage RAPIDLY spread ,
In Hull aud thousands of persons as
sembled in the neighborhood of the
docks, showing intense anger. No
information could be obtained regard
ing the names of the warships which
fired on the trawlers. A telegram
from Hull saws the fishermen can as
sign no reason for the attack.
PROMPT SETTLEMENT EXPECTED
Washington, Oct. 25-The latest de-
velopments lead to the belief that
there will be peaceful and prompt
settlement of the trouble caused by
the firing of the Russian Baltic fleet
on British fishing boats in the North
sea. off the eastern coast of England,
last Saturday night. though the storm
of public Indignation in England has
reached great proportions
The British foreign office has sent
long and urgent note to Russia making
demands and declaring that the situ-
alton is one which "does not brook de-
Law" An apology, indemnity fer the
vessels sunk or otherwise damaged
and payments to the 20 men wounded
and the families or the two men killed
are called for.
Russia delays final response to
the British demands until she can act
on report on the occurrence from
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky. comman-
der of the Baltic feet. He is now off
the coast of France bound southwark
on his way to the Orient and has sent
a report to the czar. but this has not
yet reached the bureaus which will