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

Trawler Known 70 Have sunk and
Others May Have Gone Down-Captain
and Mate OF the Wren Killed. Their
Heads Shot OH-Attack Made About
Midnight on Friday, After Warships
Had Examined the FISHING Boats
with Their searchiights-One Eek.
PLANTATION Is That They Feared
Submarine or Torpedo Hoat Attack.
Special Gable Despatehes 10 THE SUN
LONDON, Dot. 23.-The Russian BALTIC
feet has opened its career as the second
Pacific squadron with an outrage 80 amaS-
ing that but for unquestionable circum-
stantial evidence it would be beyond belief.
Part of the feet. supposed to be the
battleship squadron, after it emerged from
the Danish straits, steered course for
the English Channel, At about midnight
on Friday it came across the Hull fishing
fleet, which either in panic or inconoeivable
ignorance the Russians must have mis-
taken for Japanese torpedo boat hotilla.
This is the only explanation at present
that can be offered for the terrible fact
that the Russian warships opened fire
on the defenceless fishermen with shrapnel.
maintaining their fusillade, according to
the fishermen who escaped, for twenty
minutes, sinking at least one trawler and
scattering death and wounds among the
crews.
Not the least disgraceful feature Of the
tragedy is the fact that the warships con-
tinued their course without attempting to
rescue the victims or even to ascertain
the extsnt Of the damage they had done.
The only suggestion that is offered In pailia-
ton OF this inhumsnity Is that the Rus
SLAMS were 80 overcome by panic that they
did their utmost to escape the imagined
enemy
ATTACK MADE IN THE NORTH SEA.
The oar lest news Of the affair was brought
to Hull this evening by the trawlers Mino
and Moulrnein, both Of which were seriously
damaged by shot. The Moulmein had
sixteen holes in her hull
Her skipper says that the feet was fish
ing about 200 miles east by north OF Spurn
Head at 1 o'clock on Saturday morning.
The weather was rather hazy, when the
outlines Of several large vessels, apparently
warships, sailing in line, were sighted.
While the fishermen were interestedly
watching the vessels searcAlights were
flashed on the trawlers' and those on the
Moulmein were enabled by the light to
see torpedo boats approaching. It seemed
that they were going TO board the Moul-
mein, but they turned and steamed away.
OPENED FIRE AFTER INSPECTION
Within a short space one Of the warships
opened fire and the crews realized with
horror that their boats were being made
targets of by warships First one and
then another Of the trawlers was struck.
Most Of the crews sought shelter below,
but fortunately for those on the Moulmein
they did not, for the firing had not lasted
long before what seemed to be round shot
struck her on the port side and passed
through the vessel where the men would
have been had they gone below.
The Mino, which was near the Moulmein.
was struck several times Happily each
shot hit her above the waterline. None OF
her crew was hurt
The firing continued for about twenty
minutes, when it ceased and the warships
| atea med to the southwark.
VICTIMS HEADS SHOT OFF
The Moulmein saw q rocket discharged
by a distant trawler and steamed in that
direction. As she neared the boat that had
Aired the rocket signal she heard cries and
found the trawler Crane so badly damaged
by the Russians that she was sinking.
Another trawler was already alongside
of her taking of the crew, but the body Of
Skipper Smith lay on the deck with the
head shot of. The mates body, with the
head also gone lay alongside the captains.
The engineer was seriously wounded In the
chest and seaman had a hand blown of.
The wounded and those who had not
been hit were put on board the mission
vessel accompanying the feet The Moul-
mein brought the dead to Hull.
CAPT. PEAKKR's STATEMENT.
The steam cutter Maggie. attached u
the trawler fleet, arrived in the Thames to-
night. In an interview Capt Peaker, her
master, said that about forty Of the Game.
cock feet Of steam trawlers were fishing
on Friday at midnight southeast Of DoggeI
Bank. 1t was a misty, drizzly night, and
the trawlers were spread over an area Of
some miles. Between II and 10 O'Clock thu