Gunnison Gazette | 1909-06-25 | Page 3 | Russians Fire on British Steamer

RUSSIANS FfRE ON BRITISH STEAMER Incident Which Shows the Extreme Measures Taken to Insure the Safety of the Czar. After Failure to Answer Signals of Russian Commander, the British Steamer Woodburn is Made a Target by Russian Boat. VJiborg, . Finland. The British steamer Woodburn was fired upon at night by a Russian torpedo boat near the island of Birke for approaching too close to the bay on the Finnish coast where Emperor Nicholas and Emperor .William were to meet. The projectile from ihe torpedo boat pierced a steam pipe, and one member mem-ber of the crew of the British vsesel was wounded. The incident shows the extreme nervousness for the safety of Emperor Nicholas. The first was a blank charge, but this was followed by two shells. Portions Por-tions of the shells penetrated the bulkheads and the boiler of the Wood-burn. Wood-burn. The engineer was wounded in the leg and was taken aboard the Russian cruiser Asia, where his wounds were dressed. After making repairs the Woodburn sailed for her home port. According to the repprts received from Copenhagen, the reason given by the Russian commander for firing on the British steamer Woodburn was that the latter was signaled by the Russians but gave no signal in return.