The morning call., 1893-11-04
HAS CLEARED FOR SEALING.
A Large Number of Rifles Below
Decks.
HER DESTINATION NOT KNOWN
No One Except the Captain Aware
Where the Schooner Will Steer
For, and He Will Not Tell.

A rakish-looking schooner was towed
to this side Of the bay from Oakland
Creek yesterday afternoon and the stores
were taken on board preparatory to long
ocean cruise. She is the Edward E. Web
ster, Captain Dan Mclean. and according
to her clearance papers, which were Issued
at the Custom-house on Thursday, she Is
bound on a sealing and hunting cruise.
According to these same documents she
carries twenty-five men.
The Webster is A craft OF ninety-elght
tons burden, is a remarkably swift salier
and is owned by A. 2. Lorent tZen OF ll72
Steuart street. According to the Guide she
is chartered for the trip by the Pachc
Trading Company, which is Captain Nc
Leans other name. The man in command
OF the Webster is well kn own along the
water front as one of the most adventur-
Gus of seafarers. He is a brother OF the
Captain Mclean who had command OF the
steam sealer Alexander last season, the
boat which was reported as having nred
shot at the United States steamer Mohlcan.
Dan Mclean is notorious for daring
cruises. and everybody wonders what he is
up to now. An intimate trlend accOsted
shim the other day with:
"Going sealing. Dan ??
Not this time" he replied.
"Where are you bound"'
''South."
What after?"
"Oh, that's my secret" said be. "At
any rate you will hear from me before
many months are gone, and the news will
surprise you. | have planned for some
thing good this time"
The fact of the matter is that only one
man knows the destination of the Web
hat is
Asked yesterday where he was bound, he
said: Hunting and fishing"
But where ?"
"Oh, haven decided"
s S stated before, the clearance papers
BET forth that the schooner has a crew of
twenty-five men, but it is probable that
tie number is nearer thirty-twO, large
complement for ninety-eight ton schooner.
A CALL reporter visited her yesterday
morning as she lay in Oakland Creek.
Her decks were literally swarming with
men. The one who was first accostec be-
came rather suspicious when the object OF
the visit was made known.
I'VE don't know where we are bound"
said he. You must ask the captain. He
is the only one who knows"
"Dn you mean to say you ship without
knowing where you are bOund?"
Cert. Why not? We are well paid
the boat is sound and the grub is all
right"
"Why do you carry so many rifles? ."
''WhO told you we had rifles on board?"
'Why. / can see them" said the re-
porter, pointing down the hatchwav
"Ob. those? Well, those are for seals.
You can't catch seals with hook and line,
can yOu?
mo. l suppose not. But why do YOU
need so many guns ?'
'Some might get out of order," an
swered the sailor.
What is that forY' continued the re-
porter, pointing to a small rified gun in
the bow-a piece that could carry a shell
at least two miles.
"Oh, that's bombgun." replied he.
"ln case the small boats out sealing should
get caught in fog this piece would be
fired TO let them know where the schooner
was hove to.
Jack smiled when he said this, and it
was evident that he was we'll primed with
answers.
At the Office of A. P. Lorentzen il was
stated that the Webster was bound on a
sealing cruise, but in what direction was
not known. The reporter was referred to
rather handsome, well-dressed man
about so years of age, who was just go ing
down the Office stairs.
Are you bound for a cruise on the Web
ster ?'' he was asked
"Yes. L am one Of the hunters. l was on
come from visit in the country. No,
don't know where she is bound, / haven't
seen Captain Mclean yet. We will prob
ably go south, catch the trades and then
sail for Japan. hus this is only gueSSw0rk
on my part. for / haven't the slightest idea
where we are bound
"Is it usual to carry such large num-
Der of rifles Tor sealing cruise?"
Il don't know anything about her cargo"
he answered.
The bunter was asked to give his name.
but refused. Rum0rs of all sorts are
around regarding the Webster's destina-
ton. Some say she is bound for Homo
lulu to aid the royalists, others aver that
she will be heard of engaged in some pecu-
liar expedition along the Central Ameri-
can coast.
The only man who really knows is Cap
tain Dan Mclean, and he will not tell.
The Anti-Chinese Movement.
A mass-meeting will be held tonight at