The Elbert County tribune., 1904-10-27
DANGER OF WAR
BETWEEN ENGLAND AND RUSSIA


Russian Baltic Fleet Fires on British
Fishing Roats-one Boat Sunk and
Captain and Mate kiIIsd.-No Elk.
PLANTATION a. Yet
Hull England, Oct. IA. N. Jack
son 4 Co.. solicitors for the owners of
fifty Hull fishing boats, have notified
the foreign office and admiralty Of an
attack on the Hull fishing fleet by the
Russian Pacific fleet. otherwise known
As the Baltic squadron.
The official information is that
shortly after midnight Friday the Rus
sian squadron fell in with the Hull
fishing feet in the. North Sea. The
first portion OF the fishing fleet passed
safely. Then tho Russian ships turned
their searchlights on the British YES
sells for some time. and little later
opened fire.
The steam trawler Crane was sunk
and the decapitated bodies OF her skip
per and mate have been brought to
Hull. The boatswain and other mem
ibers of the crew. who are understood
to be seriously wounded, are on board
the mission ship. The only slightly in
5ured member OF the crew has arrived
at Hull.
The steam trawlers Moulmein and
,Mino have arrived at Hull seriously
damaged by shots. the latter having
sixteen holes in her hull 1t is 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 affair
occurred 200 miles OF Spurn Head. The
Russian ships were steaming in line.
no 1ea Oh - Grl.t
passed without incident, though most
of the Russian vessels turned search
lights on the trawlers long enough to
prevent any mistake as to identity.
After the bulk OF the squadron had
passed It opened fire. nearly all partici-
pating in the firing. The Crale was
struck below the water line and raked
above deck Skipper Smith and third
hand Laggott had their heads carried
clean away by a shot, many of the
crew being seriously wounded. Another
trawler was also sunk, but the Sea
Gull. which brought the news to Hull,
has no particulars as to her fate.
The news has created an intense SEN
sation and Indignation in Hull. The
Moulmein arrived with her flag at half
mast. Her skipper states that the
trawlers were fishing about 220 miles
1
o'clock Saturday morning, the weather
being hay. when the outlines of sew
eral vessels, apparently warships, sail
ing in line, were dimly seen. Whilst
the crew were watching the warships
searchlights were flashed upon them,
in the glare OF which the Moulmein's
crew observed what they took to be
torpedo boats approaching, apparently
with the intention of boarding the
Moulmein. They steamed away, how
eer, and soon the fishermen were hor-
rified to find they were being fired
upon. First one and then another
trawler was struck by the flying shot
What seemed to be a round shot went
through the Monuments galley.
The Mino. lying near by, also w.
struck with many shots, but FORUM
ately the damage was above the water
line, and none of the crew were struck.
The -bombardment lasted about twenty
minutes. When 1t had ceased the fleet
had sailed southwark and some OF the
trawlers sent up rockets. The Moul-
mein steered in the direction Of the
rockets. Soon cries were heard. and
the Crale was found sinking, with an
other trawler taking off some Of her
crew. Those seriously injured were
removed to a mission ship and the
bodies OF Smith and Leggott were
placed aboard the Moulmein- The
other men, with minor injuries, were
put aboard the trawler Sea Gull. which
at a late hour had not arrived at Hull
Crowds have gathered around the
dock here, but no further information
is available.
Representatives of the fishing feet
started late tonight for London to CON
at1lf u-ifh tho authorities there.
No motive can be ascertained for the
extraordinary procedure of the Rus
sian warships.