Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-10-27
RUSSIANS SINK
BRITISH SHIPS
Russian Pacific Squadron Attacks
Hull Fishing Fleet.
NO MOTIVE is ASSIGNED
One Boat Was Sunk and the Mem.
hers of the Crew Killed and
Wounded-Great Excite
ment at Hull.

DerH Oh the OfcW hiAAc0 hh0
wounded-Great Excite
ment Mt Hull.
Hull, Eng. Oct. PA. M. jackson
G. 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 fleet by the
Russian second Pacific squadron, com
mande1 by Vice-Admiral R~ojestvensky.
The official information Is that short
ly after midnight Friday the Russian
squadron fell in with the Hull fishing
fleet in the North sea. Then the Rus
sian ships turned their searchlights
on the British vessels for some 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
DcI VI lie CISW has aili'Ol q lAuA'
The steam trawlers Moulmein AMI
Mino have arrived at Hull, seriously
damaged by shots, the latter having
16 holes in her hull. 1t was feared
that other damage was done to trawl-
ers, and that at least one more was
lost, with all hands.
According to other reports, the al
fair occurred 200 miles off Spurnhead.
The Russian ships were steaming in
line. The leading ships passed with
out incident, though most Of the YES
sells turned s%earchlights 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 new to Hull, has no par
ticulars as to her fate.
Report Create a 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 were fishing about 220 miles
east by north of Spurn Head at one
o'clock Saturday morning, the wealth
er being hazy, when the outlines Of
several vessels, apparently warships
sailing in a line, were dimly seen
Whilst the crew were watching the
warships, s%earchlights 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 upon. First one and ther
another trawler was struck by flying
shot. What sesmed to be a rount
shot went through the Moulmein gal
ley. The Mino, lying nearby, also wal
struck with many shots, but fortunate
ly the damage was above her waite
line, and none of her crew was struck
The bombardment lasted about 20 min
utes. When it ceased, the fleet sailet
south, and some of the trawlers sen
up rockets. The Moulmein steered il
the direction of the rockets. Criei
were heard, and the Crane was fount
sinking, with another trawler takin!
off some of her crew. Those serious
ly injured were removed to a mission
ship, and the bodies of Smith an
Leggott were placed aboard the Moul
mein. The other men with minor in
juries were put aboard the trawle
! Seagull, which at a late hour had no
arrived at Hull.
Crowds have gathered around tn
dock here, but no further information
is available.
Representatives of the fishing flee
started late Sunday night for Londo
to consult with the authorities there
: No motive a be assigned for tn
extraordinary procedure of the Ru'
; sian warships.
The only survivor of the Crane VIII
has yet reached here is ]. A. Smitl
i son of the deceased skipper, and VIII
q was with the captains of the. Mou
Q mein and Mino, is going to London t
consult with the authorities,
Young Smith was asleep in his bun
when the firing aroused him. Just 9
. he was getting up, a shot struck tn
! starboard and penetrated to the for
: castle, smashing a lamp near whic
he was standing. He rushed or dec
where the searchlights revealed th
IS horrible sight of his father and LIE
l. gott lying headless and the dec
u strewn with the injured. It was soc
found that the vessel was sinking, an
signals for assistance we're sent up.
s, EIERCE FIRE AT MEXICO. MI