The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-09-21
FISHING TUG
IS FIRED ON
CANADIAN CRUISER ATTACKS
FOURTH AMERICAN BOAT
WITHIN A WEEK.
THIRTY SHOTS FIND THE MARK
BOAT BADLY DAMAGED ESCAPES
AFTER A WILD CHASE FOR
BOUNDARY.
COMPLICATIONS MAY ARISE
UNITED STATES MAY TAKE AC.
TON As RESULT OF RECENT
INCIDENTS.

EIiC, oSPt'
never surrender" shouted Capt. Nels
Easel of the fishing tug Harry u.
Barnhurst to the commander OF he
Canadian cruiser Vigilant in the mid
die of Lake Erie yesterday afternoon
in pom to a signal to stop or the
boat would be fired upon.
This reply was answered by a volley
from the guns of the Canadian patrol
boat, and %thereupon started a wild
chase for the boundary line which
lasted almost an hour before the
Barnhurst, the largest and best built
tug in the fishing business out of this
port, crossed the line and made for
home with cargo and crew.
One man tainted in the excitement
and two or three others are said to
have had blood streaming down their
faces from flying splinters. Thirty
shots struck the Barnhurst and the
Canadians worked desperately to over
haul the boat, but failed.
"sink the Yankees"
Although the captain, the engineer
and the six men of the fishing tug crew
are 10th to publish any details of the
fight, it is evident from what they
have told their friends that the en-
counter was the most desperate strug-
gle that has taken place for some
time on the Great Lakes.
The Canadians of the Vigilant I'M
der Capt. Dunn were very angry at
the temerity Of the fshmermen and
tried hard to sink the vessel. The en-
tire upper part of the boat was shot
away and fifteen shots left unmistak-
able signs of great damage.
The men consider themselves very
fortunate in making their escape with
the first two rounds from the Vigilant
they say they heard shouts of Kill
Them" "Sink the Yankees" coming
from the Canadian cruiser.
Starts to Run.
The Barnhurst had not ventured SO
far over the boundary line on this
fishing expedition as do many of the
American fishing tugs. The boat be-
longs to the Booth company, which
has had n vessel captured by the
Canadians this summer and had given
others strict orders against running
any danger of losing their vessels.
Capt. Frasel says he al aware that
he was close to the line. but he could
not have been more than four or five
miles out in Canadian waters when
the cruiser Vigilant appeared. His
position became apparent at once and
he started to run The Canadians
then made signals for him to stop or
they would fire.
Boat Badly Damaged.
Every man on the boat was ordered
to keep under cover when the firing
began, and two Of the men who stuck
their heads above the side of the tug.
received splinters in the face. The
Canadians were shooting to damage
the tug as much as they could and
tried to put holes in the vessel, but
only managed to tear of almost all of
the upper part Of the boat.
When the Barnhurst reached port
the boat was leaning to one side. She
Will have to undergo extensive repairs
and be thoroughly overhauled before
she can go into service again. q,
Complications Likely.
So far as known no other boats were
damaged by the Canadian cruiser ves-
terday afternoon, but 1t is Thought
that the United States authorities will
take some hand to stop the fishermen
from willfully crossing the lake and
violating the Canadian fishing laws.
This makes the fourth American
vessel fired upon within a week by the
Vigilant.
All these vessels have been noacb-
ing, according to the claims Of the
canadians, and have been caught haul
ing ish. International COMPLICATIONS
are promised as the result of the Wig
ilant's actions