The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-24
ENGLAND's FOREMOST SAILOR.
of Admiralty English Channel Fleet

realize that We were being fired at IN
earnest and that the shots were well
aimed Wouudlng men and damaging the
traWlers. All was terror and confusion.
Some OF the boats were hauling up their
ira ais when the bombardment began.
They cut away their nets, got mp steam
and hurried away - fast as they could.
think the firing lasted about haif
an hour. ana that it was from quick hr-
rapidity Of the shots. i have seen some
on the shots that are embedded in the
boats They are about the size around
but not the length OF big cucumber.
were not explosive shells, but j am igno-
rant OF these matters.
"N hat with the darkness and rain We
could NOT see the HarshlDs, only their
stes'mlng ana side lights, and that they
WeEt' big vessels Their saarCnlighe1
also heiped 10 blind us. We were quite
nelple - We could do nothing 20 explain
our 81 al character. III seemed as though
We VI 3uid an be sunk without q word of
eNpi nauors but happily. after firing
dozens &C dozens Of shots. the guns
suddenly etased and the fleet steamed
rapidly IN thc direction Of the Channel
CHASTITY Sight on the Crane.
Captain Peaker says that ali the sur
viv0rs OF tAe Crane were wounded The
skipper ~ the Gun, which took on the
crew Of Shy Crane. told Captain Peaker
THAI the Cranes deck presented "a shock
ing sight. Blood was aII about There
lay the headless body of her captain
and the CHASTITY body of the mate. whose
face was shot away. The wounded men
were lying about in such shelter as they
had managed 10 crawl to-
continuing Captain Peaker said.
me captain or the Gull only ac-
counted TO nae for eight men OF the
Crane namely, TWO dead officers and six
seamen- According 70 her equipment
there should have been nine. Whether
one one mas gone 70 the bottom with the
1oat 90 NOT Know
Captain Peaker here suddenly lost
"a ~ HlfnseI as his mind went
back 70 the horrors of the night HIS
face face became purple with passion. He
The low skmks. the cursed murder
Damage to the Ships.
After a few minutes he became calmer
ana continued: THE dead and wound
I'd were taken of the Crane lust ia
time, Tor she f0undered "a few minutes
later s. had great holes in her sides /
through which the water rushed in tor
rents The wounded were put aboard I
the mission boat Sarah MyIes. which 4
oOuseQ oer Hents, though the Russians /
were IaF enou"h away then.
t-- .-st+h- ~ "a NJ leAc EGE DAMAGED !
on nine times. Her crew rad "a sflifs
1edqlns INTO the holes 10 keep her aaoat.
Luckily. me shots glanced upward iu- 4
stead of downward on sha. yyCi,i5 49,. ~ /
sunk When i left for London fhere
were three or four OF the trawlers un.
TO the bottom. One boat had her rSli,,
san torn. 4 shot entered the galley OF /
announcer, Wnizzed past the cook and
went through the vessel"
Others May Be Lost.
Captain Peaker declared it was use /
less for anyone 20 pretend that torre5o 4
boats or destroyers could be ifse1isad .
to resemble trawlers. Moreover. each
Of the trawlers carried the lights re-
luired By the British board of trade
rules. duplex lamp showing white
right ahead a red hight on the mort
side q green light on the sra rhesrd lf4a
ana q globe lamp al The nasfhfrd ei5l'-,-'
-ng white ali around He thinks Thar
the Russians lost their heads and bIaz-I
way ih com 4sion. and that they steam
20 on "tieH tHeg got no reply and found f.
they hAd been nring al harmless fsher-
men-
The Wren Also Reported Sunk.
Ii is reported that the trawler Wren
was sunk by the Russians. but rbis Is
bot yet confirmed The other vessels of
the feet are returning at intervals
some ot them are seriously and others
slgntly damaged. Hardly one ESCAPED
lninjured. but it is TOO late 10 obtain
rull details
1T b stated that eighteen woundcd
neu have already reached Hull Tber
A0llmeiu brought one of the crew III
-he Crane the young son OF the dead
Captain Smith. who was making hZs
lrst traWliug trip with his father
lie says That he was asleep ian hist
punk v men hr was awakened by the mr.
lnE lie was just turning out when q
shot struck the starboard side OF thef
Moulmein and went through the FORE
castle, eNtinglishing q lamp close toI
hl'.s. lie rushed Gl deck. where fhaI
5.aze OF tIe searchHght showed his
iather lying headleas and others streau
about bleeding.
Frantic Anger in Huu.
The anair haas caused frantic ANGER a.
Ben. The scenes made b-- the excue5i
and weeping women and children as th.|
aeWs spread can be easily pictured. Tae
luaya sefe tlfauEed audl iate al rfef.f
lac Atr-e Indignation vi some III ~.