The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
SINK
BRITISH SHIPS
Russian Pacific Squadron Attacks
Hull Fishing Fleet.
NO MOTIVE is ASSIGNED
One Boat Was suak Bnd the Menu
hers Of the Crew Killed ana
wounded-Great Excite
ment al Hull.


ment al Hull.
Hull, Eng. Oct 24.--A N. Jackson
& Co, solicitors for the owners OF
so Hull fishing boats, have notified the
foreign Office and admiralty Of an at
tack on the Hull fishing feet by the
Russian second Pacific squadron, ON
mandei by Vice-Admiral Rojestyensky.
The official information Is that short
ly after midnight Friday the Russian
squadron fell in with the Hull fishing
feet in the North sea. Then the Rus
sian ships turned their searchlights
on the British vessels for ZONE time,
and a little latter opened fire. The
| steam trawler Crale was sunk, and the
decapitated bodies OF her skipper and
mate have been brought to Hull. The
boatswain and other members Of the
crew who are understood to be seri"
ously wounded are on board a mission
ship. The only slightly injured mem
Der Of the crew has arrived at Hull.
The steam trawlers Moulmein AMI
Mino have arrived at Hull, seriously
damaged by shots. the latter having
is holes In her hull. 1t was feared
that other damage was done to trawl-
ers, and that at least n more was
lost, with all hands.
According to other reports, the af-
| fair occurred 200 miles off S%purnhead.
The Russian ships were steamlng In
line. The leading ships passed with
| out incident, though most OF the Ves.
| sells turned searchlights on the trawl-
ers long enough to prevent any mis-
take as to the identity. After the
bulk of the squadron had passed, 1t
| opened fire, nearly all participating
in the firing. The Crone was struck
| below the water line and raked above
deck. Skipper Smith and third hand
| Leggott had their heads carried away
| by a shot, many Of the crew being Sc
riously wounded. Another trawler
| also was sunk, but the Seagull, which
| brought the news to Hull, has no par.
~ticulars as to her fate.
Report Creates n Sensation.
The news has created an intense
sensation and Indignation in Hull. The
Moulmein arrived with her flag at half.
mast, Her skipper states that the
trawlers we're fishing about 220 miles
east by north of Spurn Head at one
o'clock Saturday morning, the wealth
err being hazy, when the outlines of
several vessels, apparently w~arships,
sailing In a line, were dimly seen.
Whilst the crew were watching the
warships, searchlights were flashed
upon them, in the glare Of which the
Moulmein's crew observed what they
took to be topedo boats approaching,
apparently with the intention of board.
ing the Moulmein. They steamed
away, however, and soon the fisher
men were Mortified to find they were
being fired p First one and then
another trawler was struck by flying
shot. What seemed to be a round
shot went through the Moulmein gal.
ley. The Mino, lying nearby, also was
struck with many shots, but fortunate
ly the damage was above her water
line, and none of her crew was struck
The bombardment lasted about 20 min
utes. When 1t ceased, the feet sailed
south, and some of the trawlers sent
UP rockets. The Moulmein steered in
the direction Of the rockets. Cries
were heard, and the Crane was found
sinking, with another trawler taking
off some of her crew. Those serious
ly injured were removed to a mission
ship, and the bodies of Smith ana
Leggott were placed aboard the Moul
mein. The other men with minor in
juries were put aboard the trawleI
Seagull, which at a late hour had moi
arrived at Hull.
Crowds have gathered around the
dock here, but no further information
is available.
Representatives of the fishing fee
started late Sunday night for Londor
to consult with the authorities there
No motive can be assigned for the
extraordinary procedure Of the Rus
sian warships.
The only survivor OF the Crane who
has yet reached here Is ]. A. Smith
son of the deceased skipper, and whC
was with the captains of the Moul
mein and Mino, is going to London t
consult with the authorities.
Young Smith was asleep in his bunl
when the firing aroused him, Just as
he was getting UP, a shot struck thu
starhoard and penetrated to the fore
castle, smashing a lamp near which
he was standing, He rushed oil deck
where the searchlights revealed tn,
horrible sight of his father and Leg
gott lying headless and the decl
strewn with the injured. 1t was 500
found that the vessel was sinking, ant
signals for assistance were sent up.
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