The Irish standard., 1904-10-29
RUSSIANS SINK
BRITISH VESSEL
Fishing Trawlers Attacked by Baltic Fleet in
the North Sea-One Is Sunk-Others
Damaged-Captain and Mate
Beheaded by Shot.

Hull, England, Oct. PA. M. jack
son & Co., solicitors for the owners of
SO Hull fishing boats. notified the for
eign office and admiralty of an attack
on the Hull fishing fleet by the Rus
sian fleet. The official information
is that shortly after midnight Fri
day the Russian squadron fell in
with the Hull fishing fleet in the North
sea. The first portion Of the fishing
feet passed safely. Then the Russian
ships turned their search-lights on the
British vessels for some time and lit
tie later opened fire. The steam trawler
Crane 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 seriously wounded, are
on board mission ship. The only
Slightly injured member of the crew
has arrived at Hull. The steam trawlers
Molmein and Mino have arrived at Hull
seriously damaged by shots, the latter
having 16 holes in her hull. 1t is feared
that other damage was done to trawlers
and that at least one more was lost
with all hands.
Two Beheaded.
According to other reports the affair
occurred 200 miles off Spurn Head. The
Russian ships were steaming in line.
The leading ships passed without Incl
dent, though most of the vessels turned
search lights on the trawlers long
enough to prevent any mistake as to
identity. After the bulk of the squad
ron had passed 1t opened fire, nearly all
participating in the firing. The Crane
was struck below the water line and
raked above deck. Skipper Smith and
Third Hand Loggott had their heads car
ried clean away by 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 sensation and indie-
nation in Hull.
From interviews with members of
trawler crews it appears that the adj
miral of the fishing feet burned green
flares to show that they were harmless
fishermen, but these signals were ig-
nored. Eighteen injured men are here
under treatment.
Sends Urgent Note to Russia.
London, Oct. 25.-Great Britain on
Monday sent long and urgent note
to the Russian government, officially
detailing the circumstances of the
amazing and unexplained attack by
the Russian Pacific squadron during
the night Of October 81, on British
fishing boats in the North sea. The
text Of the note has not been given
out, but it is officially stated from the
foreign office that it contains the sig
nif1cant announcement that "the stu
alton is one which. in the opinion of
his majesty's government. does not
brook delay"
Gear Sends Regrets.
London, Oct. 26.-The inevitable de-
lays Of diplomatic procedure appear
to retard a complete and satisfactory
settlement Of the acute differences be-
tween Great Britain and Russia aris-
ing from the deplorable North sea af-
fair. King Edward has received from
Emperor Nicholas himself a cable
gram expressing the deepest regret
and practical Acknowledgement that
Great Britain's peremptory note will
meet with reply conceding every de-
mand for apology for the act of ag-
erosion against the British flag, COM
pensation for sufferers and punish
ment of the officers responsible for