The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-01-28
PIRATE OR POACHER.
The Hawaiian Steamer AIexan-
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 a 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-
ton 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 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 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 year and half ago the
vessel was seized by the Russian
cruiser 2 biaka. When Mclean
found he could not run away from
the cruizer he decided on a 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
American 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 he much less
than $4,000.
Among most of those who are in.
terested in sealing the cruise of the
Alexander is not looked upon in q
very pleasant light. "Why should
Liebes, through an agent, fit out
the Alexander for wholesale
slaughter Of seals?" asked an owner
of a couple of small schooners. "The
Alexander was under the Russian
flag when she was purchased by
Lorentzen a month ago, immedi
ately it was changed to the Ha
waiian. That was queer. If the
steamer was to be used in legiti
mate work there was no need for {
change of colors. The Hawaiian
flag is nobody's colors, and is jus
as good for a pirate as sealer
There is something very strang,
about the Alexander's mission
and she will bear watching. From
here it is reported she will go t.
Honolulu, and start from there OF