The Russian Outrage : The Aftermath
As news spread of what had already become known as the 'Russian Outrage' there was a national outpouring of grief. Fundraising began for the victims with King Edward VII leading the way with a donation of 210 pounds. Public outrage at the attack, however, was fierce and crowds even gathered at Buckingham Palace to show their support for the lost fishermen. This mood was probably not helped by the exaggerated and often doctored images of the damaged vessels that were being published and sold as souvenirs. One such example is a photograph showing crew members of the 'Mino' stood beside a large gaping hole in the hood of the companion way (staircase). A genuine photograph shows that they were several shell holes in the hood but the damage was by no means as extensive as shown in the doctored image. (The hood of the companion way is now on display in Hull's Maritime Museum.) #SUBHEADING# An Apology#SUBHEADINGEND# The Tsar issued an apology for the attack but it was an explanation from Admiral Rojdestvensky that the people wanted. The British government made it clear that without this explanation, a formal inquiry and some form of compensation there would be serious consequences. On 26-27 October the Channel, Mediterranean and Home fleets of the Royal Navy were prepared and ordered to set an intercepting course; if Britain didn't receive word soon then hostilities would begin. On the 27 October the confrontation ended when Admiral Rojdestvensky sent a telegram explaining his actions. Although it was deemed by most to be unsatisfactory it was enough to alleviate the situation and prevent all out war between the nations. On the same day that Rojdestvensky sent his explanation the people of Hull were burying the two victims of the attack. There was a huge funeral for Henry Smith and William Leggett with both the Mayor and Town Clerk in attendance. They, along with the blue jackets from HMS 'Hearly', a number of fishermen and representatives of all the Hull public bodies helped form a funeral procession that was over a mile in length. #SUBHEADING# The Inquiry#SUBHEADINGEND# The international inquiry began on 19 January 1905 in Paris under the presidency of Admiral Fournier of the French Navy. The inquiry cleared the Gamecock fleet of any responsibility and established that there were no Japanese torpedo boats in the area at the time. The Russian fleet was also criticised for not picking up any of the survivors after the attack and they were forced to pay damages of sixty five thousand pounds to the trawler company and the families of the dead and wounded men. In 1906 a memorial statue was erected on Hessle Road in honour of the three men who had died - Walter Whelpton skipper of the Mino had died in May 1905 through shock attributed to the events on 21-22 October 1904. The statue is now a de facto memorial to all those involved in Hull's fishing industry who have lost their lives at sea.
