The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-03
NO WARNING
ORPROvOcAT|ON
sN a Il
Firing on Fishing Boats BY Bal
tic Fleet lrexcusab.e.
IS CORONER'S VERDICT
rsSx =
PROOF SHOWS THERE WERE
NO FOREIGN WARsHiPs or
TORPEDO BOATS AMONG
THE TRAWL ERs.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
| Hull. England, NOV THAT
George Henry Smith ansi William Leg
gett were. AT abont 1890 a. M, Oct
22. while out fishing with trawlers
aboard the British steam rrawler
Crane, with board of trade marks ex-
hibited and regulation lights burning.
killed by shots fred ssithouf warning
lor provocation from certain Russia.,
was vessels at 4 distance of about
quarter Of mile.
Il This Is the text OF the jury,s YER
ldict at the cofoner's inquest on the
Ifshermen victims Of the North Sea
tragedy. AT the request of the British
government, represented BY the Earl
OF Dysart, solicitor of the treasury,
this award was rendered BY the ffrst
court of inquiry preceding the persons
OF the international tribunal.
Government Inspired the Verdict.
The government asked the jury not
to find a verdict OF wilfnl murder or
manslaughter because delicate. ne.
gotiations are going ON which should
not be made more difficult; and they
oughi not 10 let any one think they
had pTejudiced the case before hay-
ing heard both sides.
In consequence the Jury set forth
facts proved by the evidence of phy-
sicians, experts on explosives aud the
trawlers themselves. The British gov
ernment the board OF trade. the own.
ers Of the Gamecock fleet and rela-
tiyes of the deceased and wounded
fishermen were represented by cepn-
sci; bur the Russian government dii
mot participate. The testimony con
sisted OF medical evidence by which,
IL was proved that the death or
Smith and Leggett was the result OF
shell and machine gun wounds; then
an expert Identified fragments OF.
shells by private marks. which he
said were undoubtedly Russian: and
stories of captains and mates OF the
trawlers.
Captains and Mates Stories.
These latter related that while they
we're engaged in sleir regular work
the ships of the Baltic fleet In two
squadrons emerged suddenly from the
haze and. throwing the glare OF their
searchlights on the Gamecock feet.
without warning and disregarding the
Hare OF green lights. fisherman's sig
nal, and though within actual speaking
Instance Of one vessel. commenced
canhonade, which the fishermen at
first. not realizing the danger, enjoy
ed, thinking II was sham fight. The
firing lasted half an hour.
No Foreign Torpedo Boats.
To each OF these witnesses was put
the vital question pegarding the pres
snce of foreign vessels or torpedo
boats. Each with equal posItiveness
denied that az any time preceding or
during the firing was any Japanese.
British or any foreign vessel seen by
them or accompanying the. fishing
feet II was also stated that there
were no Japanese among the crews
and that none OF the trawlers carried
lrms Of any description. One OF the
shippers. replying TO Question BY
The coroner. said that during the FIVE
weeks he was In the North Sea he had
lot seen any warships until that night.
This closed the evidence. Counsel
or the treasury then made snggss-
ion with regard to the nature OF the
1erdict. with which the coroner agresI
md without delay IL was so returned.
With an added expression of sympa-
ny for relatives and friends Of the
lead and injured and OF appreciation OF
he calm and courageous manner in
which the fishing fleet remained al its
luties after the terrible experience.
KILLED OVER RECEIPT