The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-10-01
RACE AT HAKoDATE.
Custom-House Boat Pursued, but
Was Too Slow.
.oRENTZENs CONTRADICTIONS.
Crews Paid in Japanese Money
WoTth SIS Cents on the
Dollar Complain.

EeahDp steamer Alexander seem ueStlueu
to appear before the public as the princi-
pals in sensational stories.
Some of these yarns have been proved to
he founded on facts, while others, like
that of the sealer firing on the United
States steamer Mohican, G without foun-
dation.
The latest story cor leeted with the
Alexander comes from a reliable SQUIRE,
and has been the subject of much coFn-
ment along the water front during the
past few days.
Captain Mclean, so goes the narrative.
took six japanese subjects on board OF
his vessel at Aakodate, and on tina after
noon of July put out to sea with shem on
board, while the Japanese customs barge
was in full pursuit. One of these natives
was employed as a cook. another as a
eabin-boy and four in the forecastIe.
According to the laws of japan 20 sub
ject is allowed 10 ship on a sealer or
whaler without the consent Of the
Japanese Government. which requires the
vessels commander or owners TO furnish
a bond fer he safe return of its people to
their na.vs soil. Afser much conniviDg
and carefu schem;ng the Japanese were
brought on board of tie Alexander at
about o'ei0ck, and Just about the time
the vessek was ready to sail the authorl-
ties got wind of the affair. The Alex
snder got under way as rapidly as pos
ssbie and sailed ont Fof port with the
revenue boat a bot second In the race.
II was an uneven contest, and the sealer
vas soon out Of sight in the offing. Now
j. is being quietly passed about that the
japanese authorities are making an in
Vestigation and intend taking prompt
action in the matter.
EWhat has become of the AlexandeT's
crew. They have vanished, and with
them has also disappeared the man who
was kept In irons during the latter part of
the vessels voyage. And this is not all.
Still more stories are being piled up on the
Alexander. A CALL reporter was told
yesterday afternoon that pandemonlum
Came near breaking loose on board of the
snip when she reached port, but IN some
mysterious manner the trouble was Quietrd
1t is alleged shaL in paying of the Crew the.
men signed for their full pay and were
paid off in Japanese yens worth only 50
cents on the dollar.
At present the Alexander is lying In
oakland CTsek, and according to the state
ment given out at the Hawaiian COnsuPs
office. she has not yet turned over her
papers 10 thae officer, although she got in
on the 5th of the present month. No ex-
planakien is offered except that the Sealer
Is not through paying of.
The six Japanese shipped at Hakodate
are not signed on the ships articles, ac-
aeordiDg TO the statements of persons who
ave seen the papers, and although Cap
lain Mclean is said 10 have retained one
of the japanese on board to act as cabin
boy there are no signs of the little brown
man about the vessels decks. nor has any
one any knowledge of nat became of the
other FIVE.
A. P. Lorentzen, one of the officers of
- ,ofe, 10. In
"a re porter, and at first denied all knowl-
edge of the Japanese. He declared that
man yfalse statements had been maze con-
corning the Alexander, and that the Jap
anese story was az entirely new enc TO
him. \ few minutes later. during the
same conversation. he alluded to Japanese
who came aboard of their own free will.
81 viii i've you permit to 90 aboard the
Alexandsr and see for yourself" be
quoted stu later. ''and an sure you will
md thai there are no japanese Oh board"
Thea cir. LOreDtZen began TO threaten
and hintec OF lawsuits and the posi-
hilitY Of reporters getting all the stories
they might wish for should they tackle
hIustery Captain Mclean. Finally Mr.
L0VentZen wrote out permit for the re-
porter to visit the Alexander.
One thing which has angered the japan
csc authorities is the fact that one Of the
natives reported TO have been carried off was
sick and unable to go to sea. He was
suffering from a cancer in the throat.
The Alexander left San Francisco about
ore year ago with crew of about sixty
men. 1t is explained that a constant
change was made in the forecastle. and
this accounts for the hiring of four Japan
csc sailoTs
The local Custom-house authorities know
nothing sbout the six japanese supposed
TO have b@sn on the Alexander. lmmigra-
ton Commiisioner Mcpherson was not at
his Office yesterday. aud no statement
could be got from that quarter.
Regarding ths trouble over the seamen's
pay, 1t was definitely learned that the
Pacific Trading Company has had difficulty
in settling up with the Alexander's crew,
and that some of the men' accounts have
not been paid on account c. disputes and
counteTclaims. Several per ons recently
attached 10 the forecastle e the sealer
were making all manner of ch rges against
the Alexander about one week ago but
every one of these men has 9sanneared
very quietly from his accustomedhannts.
The story of the abducted Japsnase was
obtained from memDe. of the seamer's
crew, as follows:
Captain Mclean did not care to go to
the trouble of bonding the Japarssa or
Sgettlng permission To take them on seaat
: ing voyage, as lime was limited and is,yas
necessary to secure the men as sooi az
p0SolUlt.
Eve left Hakodate at 6 o'clock on Juv
4 with the six Japanese ON board, andi
heard the captain say the pelee-boat wa
going to give chase. and we were to get aul
Of the harbor as quickly as passibls
Later the revenue barge came after as
but we easily distanced her and got OUT to
sea. The Japanese Government is sure
to kick up row over the matter, and will
undoubtedly demand the return Of its
subjects"
The local japanese authorities have not
received orders TO act yet, but 1t is geuer-
ally supposed that the Japanese Consul
WIZ investigate the story.
Inc Pacific Trading Company, owners
OF the Alexander. was organized for the
purpose OF engaging in sealing in japanese
waters. A number Of directors were
nsineo, none of whom lie believed TO have
any real financial interest in the COMPANY.
4nd business was carried Oh by Agent
Lorentzen.
nne Alexander shipped crew of sixty or
oosehhty men. sufficient number to man a
80 up. and among these people we're
=. ac9 ex-gungers of the United States
hany snlpped through Al White. whe is
Tho ',n 10 most every man-of-war's man.
;' VESSEL career has been followed with
iat r. 20 s aH9 10 the justice of the owners
Iisned ~ ob sa,u mat a humber of yarns pub
Unm.o,, aUot t her are without foundation.
1IOn efeI' tNere remain aniispufed facts in