The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-11-17
THE INQUIRY IS BEGUN
Exam nation Of North Sea In
cident Is Started.
NO MYSTERIOUS SHIPS.
Witnesses Examined and Report Being
Made Up for Use Before Interna-
ti0nal Commission.

/ nun, England, Nov. 1J.-Ihc inquiry
which Great Britain conducts on her
own behalf, into the North Sea incident
opened today. Vice Admiral Bridge and
Bntier Asphalt. an admiralty court law
yer who were appointed to conduct the
inquiry. and whose report will form the
basis OF the case before the international
commission at Paris, sat ut large
table surrounded by maps showing the
DoGSer bank aud the North sea. In
front was an array OF counsel and gov
e1ninent officials.
No Evidence of Torpedo Boats.
The correspondent OF the Associated
Press learned AT the outset that the
board Of trade solicitors who have been
preparing the ease have found no cvi-
dthcr To suggest the presence Of the tor
leGn boats among the fishing fleet. Inc
inquiry Will, therefore, merely be an ann
phhcntion of the evidence at the inquest
ANA I Will be adjourned to London IN the
course OF few days, the proceedings
mere being confined to = narrative OF the
shooting.
The assessment of damages which Will
j." dealt With IN London. can not bee COM
pl"ted for sometime. a. many Of the
traWlrrS are still at sea.
rIHulHSS VIII be 0TWdfueu.
The findings Of the court will hc sent
to the board of trade and will be sub
united TO the international commission,
IL Is not likely chat they will be pub
ilNhcd before the commission commences
us sessions, but with the exception of the
amount Of damages it can scarcely add
TO what is already known. A careful cN-
animation OF all witnesses in private
having substantiated in all essential de-
talls the story OF the fishermen, originally
told.
The Russian government was not rep
resented at todays hearing, which ere
ated even locally barely any interest.
No Speeches Allowed.
Admiral Bridge started matters with
buslncss-like prOmptness, briefly an
nouncing the method of procedure and
stating that there would be- no speeches.
Various counsel representing the trawler
companies anC the victims received per-
mission TO examine the witnesses and Mr.
Pickford. counsel for the board Of trade
summarized the facts connected with the
'Iafn' ntahle occurrencc,' saying there
was nothing connected with the trawling
fleet which could possibly account for
the shooting. He added that in addition
TO the witnesses to he called. a careful in
qulry had been made among the entire
fleet and the statements made agreed in
all essential respects. Mr.. Pickford high
~ commended the pluck shown hy the
men Of the trawlrr Gull in saving the
wounded from the sinking trawler Crane.
The first witness was Mr. Bphring,
managing director Of the Gamecock fleet.
lie testified that for twenty-five to thirty
years the fishing fleets had been wiling
off Dogger bank
Fisherman Tells Story
"Nicc Admiral" Carr was in charge Of
the trawer fleet at the time, and said he
had been naval reserve for seventeen
years and was accustomed To men Of war
and naval signaling, The only warship
he had seen on the trip in question. be-
SIDES the Russians, was the regular Brit
ish cruiser stationed off Hull This was
several days prior to the TRAVELLING fleet
falling in with Vice Admiral Roiestvcn.
sky's squadron. Carr reiterated that the
first Russian division passed close to the
trawlrrs without firing and that the SEQ
ohd division, after starhoariing and keep
ing their senrrhightS steadily on the YES
scl9 fired with the result known.
Carr kept sending up green rockets.
which are not only known throughout the
world ms n sign that they came from n
hSMng fleet, but Us they burst they light
rd MP IN" traNlcrs 50 that their numbers
could be seen
Uncertain About a Boat.
About one vessel which came IN on his
port quarter, Carr was very uncertain.
II might have hepu, he admitted. auofhar
trawlrr. tnt lr ~ first thought il was
ono Of the Hu~-iln w8r>hips
Carr maintained that the Russians did
not signal t. the traworS 10 ,tau ana
Nouily declared thar there could moi have
been slrans" vessel among the fishing