Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1904 — BALTIC FEET’S BAD LUNDER [ARTICLE]

BALTIC FEET’S BAD LUNDER

SINKS BRITISH SHIPS RUSSIAN FLEET &ES ON HELP’ LESS FISHIWBOATS. Unarmed Trawlers Jnbarded Without Warning by Itic SquadronWar Craft Steam Amy After Attack, Making No Attempß Learn Damage IV . • The fishing fleet fr . Hull, England, was attacked by tl Russian Baltic squadron in the Tth Sea shortly after midnight Friif night. Two fishing boats were s k by shells and two others were baa damaged, but remained afloat T\l fishermen are known to have beemilled, and it is believed that the entj crew of another, the Wren, perisfl when their craft went down, a|»oth boat and crew are missing. The vessel known t iave been sunk Is the steam trawler Vane. Captain Smith and Mate LegJt of this craft were beheaded by a not, and It is said that every memlr of the crew was wounded. Elghtec wounded men are in Hull under tniment. Hulls Riddled 1 Shots. The news was broint to Hull by thestcam trawlers Mino, which arrived at Hti Sunday, seriously damaged by sots, the latter having sixteen holes infer hull. .. The news created apntense sensation and indignatioikiu Hull. The Moulmeln arived with r flag at halfmast. ites that the trawlers were fishing 220 miles east by north of Sp a Head at 1 o’clock Saturday morn ;, the weather being hazy, when the < Tines of several vessels, apparently .ar ships sailing in a line, were dh ' seen. While the crew- we watching the war ships searchligh were flashed upon them, in the gif of which the Moulmein’s crew obst ed what they took to be torpedo b Is aproaching, aparently with the inf tiou of boarding the Moulmein. The steamed away however, and soon the shermen were horrified to find they y’ e being fired upon.

First one and then Jother trawler was struck by flying site What seemed to be a round shot w«L through the Moulmein’s galley. TV Mino, lying near by, also was stri 1 with many shots, but fortunately t (damage was above her water line a i none of her crew was struck. Warships Sail hay. The bombardment Uted about twenty minutes. Whtjaihad ceased the fleet- sailed southv‘j , and some of the trawlers sent ujH ckets. The Moulmein in tt-Llirection of the rockets. Soon cries Vere heard, and the Crane was foundlnking with another trawler taking offlome of her crew. Those seriously lured were removed to a mission si and the bodies of Smith and L«ett were placed aboard the Moulmel The other men with minor injurij were put aboard the trawler Sea A survivor of the Cnit who has reached Hull is J. A. Smittson of the dead skipper. Young Smith ras asleep in his bunk when the fir ' aroused him. Just as he was gettiifup a shot struck the starboard and p|!.“t rated to the forecastle, smashing teimp near which he was standing. Te rushed on deck, where the seariights revealed the horrible sight oris father and Leggett, lying headle.4 and the deck strewn with the injurl It was soon found that the vesselras sinking, and signals for asslspce were sent up.' ( No Mistake PoeeibJ According to other rcportlhe affair occurred 200 miles off Sjin Head. The Russian ships were sliming in line. The leading ship pas< without incident, though most of t' vessels turned searchlights on tlietrilwlers long enough to prevent anj mistake as to identity. After the bK of the squadron had passed it hefied fire, nearly all participating lithe firing. The Crane was struck beloj the water line and raked above dec Skipper Smith and Leggett had heads carried clean away by a sli, many of the crew seriously winded. No motive can be assigtd for the extraordinary procedure o the Russian war ships. Bfltlkh wrath has been roused to tlie bursting point and ta of war with Russia is on the • figues of crowds that have throngefDowning street since the news camo, the Czar's Baltic fleet has fired on i British flag. It has shed British ood. Its victims were steam trawler and their crews, all defenseless and gaged in the peaceful occupation of shing in the North Sea.