Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-10-27
RUSSIANS SINK
BRITISH SHIPS
Russian Pacific Squadron Attacks
Hull Fishing Fleet.
NO MOTIVE is ASSIGNED
One Boat Was Sank and the Mea-
bers of the Crew Killed ana
wounded-Great Excite-
ment at Hull.

Hull, Eng. Oct. ga. M. jackson
& Co., solicitors for the owners Of
80 Hull fishing boats, have notified the
foreign once and admiralty Of an at
tack on the Hull fishing fleet by the
Russian second Pacific squadron. conn
mandei by Vice-Admiral Rojestvensky.
The ofilcial information Is that short
" after midnight Friday the Russian
squadron fell In with the Hull fishing
feet In the North sea. Then the Rus
sian ships turned their searchlights
ON the British vessels for some time,
and q little latter opened nre. 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 mission
ship. The only slightly injured mem.
ber of the crew has arrivel at Hull.
The steam trawlers Moulmein ans
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 wa
lost, with all hands.
According to other reports, the al
fair occurred 200 miles on Spurnhead
The Russian ships were steaming l
line. The leading ships passed will
out incident, though most of the ve
sells turned searchlights ON the traw
! ers long enough to prevent any mi
take as to the identity. After Il
bulk of the squadron had passed,
= opened fire, nearly all participate
In the firing. The Crone was stru,
below the water line and raked abo
: deck. Skipper Smith and third ha
d Leggott had their heads carried aw
e by O shot, many Of the crew being
Ie riously wounded. Another traw
Ie also was sunk. but the Seagull. viii
y brought the news to Hull, has no p
ticulars as to her fate.
"a Report Creates n Sensation.
g The news has created an inter
1. sensation and indignation In Hull. 7
e Moulmein arrived with her flag at hi
d mast. Her skipper states that
n trawlers we're fishing about 220 mi
/. east by north of Spurn Head at o
8 o'clock Saturday morning, the wea
q er being hay. when the ontlinaa.
n saNIng IN a Tine, were dimly sc
r. Whilst the crew were watching
3 warships. searchIights were flash
r upon them, in the glare of which {
MouImein's crew observed what tn
| took to be topedo boats approachin
apparently with the intention of boar
ing the Moulmein. They stcame
away, however. and soon the hshe
men were Mortified to find they wer
being fired upon. First one and the
another trawler was struck by fyin
shot. What seemed to be roun'
shot went through the MOulmein gal
ley. The Mino, lying nearby, also wa
struck with many shots, but fortunate
| ly the damage was above her watel
| line. and none of her crew was struck
| The bombardment lasted about 20 min
utes. When 1t ceased. the fleet sailed
south, and some OF the trawlers sem
I'D rockets. The Moulmein steered II
the direction of the rockets. Criei
| were heard, and the Crane was foune
sinking, with another trawler taking
off some of her crew. Those serious
ly injured were removed to mission
ship, and the bodies of Smith AM
Leggott were placed aboard the Moul
mein. The other men with minor In
juries were put aboard the trawlel
| Seagull. which at late hour had no
arrived at Hull.
Crowds have gathered around th'
dock here, but no further information
is available.
| Representatives of the fishing fee
started late Sunday night for Londoi
to consult with the authorities there
No motive can be assigned for tn
extraordinary procedure of the Rus
sian warships.
The only survivor of the Crane VIII
has yet reached here is J. A. Smith
son Of the deceased skipper. and VIII
was with the captains Of the Mou
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 a
he was getting up. shot struck tn
starboard and penetrated to the for'
castle, smashing lamp near whic
he was standing. He rushed on decl
where the searchlights revealed tn
horrible sight of his father and Lei
gott lying headless and the dec
strewn with the injured. 1t was SOC