The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-01-31
PIRATE OR PoAcHER.
The Hawaiian Steamer AIexsn-
der to Call Here.

der to Call Here.
The Hawaiian steamer Alexan
der, fitting out at Mission pier
for sealing and trading cruise, is
just now an object of much curl
osity, says the San Francisco
Chronicle. The steamer is coaling
at present, and it is expected that
she will leave in few days. Just
where the steamer is going the
projectors decline to say, but there
are enough rumors flying about to
make her destination any place on
the face of the navigable globe.
1t is claimed by those who think
they know that rhe steamer is 60
ing on a half-piratical and regular
freebooting cruise, with the inten-
tion of raiding the Copper island
seal rookeries, and trading with
Alaska natives and Russians, whis-
ky, or anything else that may be
handy, for furs. Whether there is
anything in these reports remains
to be seen.
One thing about the vessel and
those interested in the venture is
that a great deal of money is be-
ing spent by some one. The Pa
cific Trading Company, incorpora-
ted with a capital stock of $780,
100000, has been formed and os-
tensibly is the protector of the en-
terprise. The two priccipal men
in the company are L. R. Fulda
and A. P. Lorentzen. The latter
is the credited agent of Herman
Liebes, the furrier, who is largely
interested in the North American
Commercial Company
The captain of the Alexander is
no less a parsonage than Alexan-
der Mclean, one of the most dar-
ing and skillful sealers that ever
sailed out of any port. He is a ma
tive of New Brunswick, about 40
years of age, and handsome
man. A long, heavy, reddish mus
tache gives him a fierce appear
ance.
While in command of the seal
ing schooner James Hamilton
Lewis a year and a half ago the
vessel was seized by the Russian
cruiser q biaka. When Mclean
found he could not run away from
the cruizer he decided on bold
plan, he ran the 2 biaka down.
The bowsprit of the schooner struck
the iron cruiser amidships and
knocked a good-sized hole in her.
The intention was to sink the Rus
sian cruiser When he found. that
he had failed, Mclean had the
flag nailed to the mast
head of the Lewis, and the Rus
slams had to tear it down when
they hoisted their colors.
The Alexander will take away
from here sixteen seal-hunters and
an extra large crew. The hunters
are asking $500 advance before
they start. The cost of fitting out
the steamer will not be much less
than $4,000.
Among most of those who are in
terested in sealing the cruise of the |
is not looked upon in a
very pleasant light. "Why should |
Liebes, through an agent, fit out |
The Alexander for wholesale
of seals?" asked an owner
If a couple of small schooners. "The |
was under the Russian
lag when she was purchased by |
Lorentzen a month ago, immedi- |
ltely it was changed to the Ha-
yaiian. That was queer. If the
steamer was to be used in legiti-
nate work there was no need for a
.hange of colors. The Hawaiian
lag is nobody's colors, and is just
IS good for a pirate as a sealer.
There is something very strange
bout the Alexander's mission,
nd she will bear watching. From
lere it is reported she will go to
honolulu, and start from there on
Ter cruise"