The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-07-25
THE STORY OF A YACHT.
History of the HalcyOn and Her
Bold Operations.

from the pOrC OF San FRANCISCO a |
small sixty-one ton vessel that has
since smuggled into the United |
States more opium and Chinese
than any two vessels in that line
of trade. Many an attempt was
made to capture her by the Custom
House authorities, but each one
failed. The reason is we'll known.
All the plans for capture was COM
municated to the smugglers by |
treacherous officials. A number of |
times the vessel was overhauled,
but on each occasion her papers
were found to be in order, and of
course nothing contraband was
ever found on board.
The vessel rs the famous
schooner-yacht Halcyon, built by
Matthew Turner at Benicia the
latter part of 1886 for Harry Tevis.
The boat was one of the hand
soonest in the harbor,, and her
fittings were luxurious. She is IA
feet long, ri feet 2 inches broad
and s feet 5 inches deep, so her
cabins were ample for the parties
who used to go for cruises on her.
Tevis tired Of the boat and sold her
to persons who soon resold her, and
she sailed as above stated for Vic
toria, B. c., in charge of Captain
Alfred Metcalf, while Alfred w.
Wilson appeared as owner.
For few months the Halcyon
dropped out of sight, and then
stories about vessel of her des-
cription that had met incoming
China steamers and taken on board
large quantities of opium began to
fly about. 1t was asserted that the
Halcyon picked up the opium after
it had been thrown overheard from
the steamer in tubs, and landed it
in brakes Bay, Halfmoon Bay and
over at Sausalito. One thing is
certain-when the Halcyon was
making her mysterious trips Hong
kong opium could be bought in
Chinatown for less money than the
victoria arClcle.
1t soon became generally known
that the yacht was owned by A. W.
Whaley and E. w. Mclean, two
members of the famous Boyd
Ciprico gang. The pair saved
money and opened an opium fac
tory in Victoria and another in
Vancouver, B. C. For time they
directed all their attention to the
smuggling of the stuff turned out
by their Chinese workmen into the
United States, and succeeded.
During all this time the Custom
House officials were ostensibly
making efforts to catch the yacht.
The Bear was sent out twice and
the Corwin number of times
The China steamers were met of
Point Reyes and revenue cutters
patrolled the coast, but neverthe
less the Halcyon people were al
ways well informed and the Hal
cyon continued to bring in opium
Several times she was nearly
caught" but matters were always
SO arranged that the Custom Hous,
men were "a day behind the fair
Emboldened by success, Whale.
l and Mclean branched out. Tn
Yacht was reftted and prepare,
for long journey. The next tim
she was heard from she was i
Hongkong, where Whaley bough
two tons of opium. On the wa
back the Halcyon went ashore o
the coast of Japan and the opiur
was seized. 1t was finally r.
turned and the yacht was repaire
and sailed again. She was ne1
heard from off Honolulu, and
few months later appeared in Vi
toria, B. c., without an ounce
opium on board. Most of tt
opium had been landed on Il
Hawaiian islands and the remain
der came to San Francisco. Sin,
then the Halcyon has made
number of trips which have prove
successful. In consequence. VIII
lev is living in Honolulu and e
tertaining the Marshal of the kin
dom, the Minister of State al
other officials, besides the consul
at costly banquets, while McLei
is carrying on in n similar mann
in Victoria, E. {.
Another act in the history of
famous yacht opened a few da
ago. She returned from one of
smuggling trips to Victoria a
failed to enter. She was acco
ingly seized by the Canadian G.
eminent and sold to the high
bidder. 1t is safe to say, howeN
that she is still owned by
opium ring, and that she will
heard from again in few wee
The history of the Halcyon
virtually the history of how SIN
Cling is prevented in San Fr
cisco. Had not that case of ''cr
towels" fallen off dray and b'
open, the operations OF the ring
which Bernard Reiss is a mem
would probably have been unin
rupted to this days. +. Rep
- 49, S,+~Ol =