The morning call., 1893-10-05
HIS STORY TOLD.
: A Japanese From the
Alexander Found.
TURNED AWAY PENNILESS.
. Has Not Received a Cent of
Wages.
TURNED AWAY PENNILEsS.
HIS COMRADES WERE NOT PAID.
Apparent Irregularity in Every De-
tail of the, Sealer's Cruise.
Food Was Scarce.

One of the Japanese sailors taken on
board the sealer Alexander at Hakodate
last July WAS located yesterday afternoon
by CALL reporter. The story Of how the
Alexander fed from Hakodate with six
natives and was pursued by the japanese
police-boat has already been told in IHE
CALL, but the sequel had been undeveloped
until Yesterday, when Ye Bisa. one of the
stolen crew, was seen at 10 Prospect place.
where he sought refuge and has been pro-
.vided for by Harry Nishimoto. proprietor
Of the Japanese boarding and lodging
house at that number.
The manner in which the commander oil
the Alexander and the agents OF the Ia
cihe Trading Company treated their en-
ployes has been a subject of much CON-
ment in marine circles. Before proceeding
with the story it is we'll to state that e
Bisa was not signed on the schooner
articles.
A CALL reporter waited upon the Ha-
waiisn Consul one day last week ana was
told that tie articles of the Alexander pad
not been received ar the consulate. Two
days prior TO the visit of the reporter the
articles were in the consulate There Is
apparent irregularity on every hand
The crew of the Alexander shipped on
the proposition Of "lay"-thsi is. they
were 10 receive so much per skin for every
seal captured. The japanese were prom
ised So month.
IL is said on good authority that unusual
prices were charged the crew for proyls-
ions, clothing and other necessities A
pair Of common overalls brought s. so
Articles worth % cents were charged for
at the rate of 81 each.
An INTERPRETER, witness and reporter in
terviewed the Japanese by mentioned
and from him IL was learned that the six
natives of nakodate did not receive cent
of their wages en- arrival at San Francisco.
were summarily discharged and left TO
make the best of their way in foreign
country without cent Of money.
Thls.is what the Japanese boy Ye Bisi
says. and from the corro borative evidence
of others his statement is undou btedly
true.
The following is the boys story. Il
commenced work on July !, first deposit
ing SIS with q Japanese boarding-master.
This money was never returned 10 me.
left the vessel on the an of September in
Oakland Greek. l hadn't cent of money.
A number of my companions had gone
before me and they, too, left without their
wages and could not collect them. l
never signed articles or papers of any
kind, but / was promised SIS month and
my board. The ouly money ! ever got
frem the captain was 81. lie gave me a
pair of blankets ana two pairs OF trousers,
hut this is all l ever got out Of the vessel.
/ knew ! was going sealing, but supposed
that | would be brought back to Hako-
date. but instead was brought TO San
Francisco.
'One of the japanese boys who shipped
with me was very sick. He was suffering
from cancer of the throat He was put
ashore at Oakland, and l have not seen
him since.
During the voyage we did not have
enough to eat. On : certain Thursday /
went from noon of one day until he fol-
lowing morning without getting meal.
] was perfoI ming hard work al the time.
and suffered much from hunger.
when we landed at San Francisco ]
tried to get some money from the captain.
but he refused 60 pay me. | called on the
vesSel's agent, but he referred me to the
captain. and told NE that he could not
help me.
"iviSited the Alexander nine times since
she has been in Oakland Greek. and l saw
Captain Mclean five times. Each time be
refused me money,
"I remember the police boat chasing Us.
fer | was compelled 10 90 below with nv
conntrymen while the authorities were
after Us.
There is due me wages for two months
and seven days. / have been brought 30 8
foreign country and am without funds.
"All that / ask is that / be paid my
money, ami | hope the paper you repre-
sent will help me TO get it
When told that THE CALL intended to
do what il could for him and his comrades
the little stranger seemed greatly pleased.
BE Is s very intelligent-lcoSing youDg
fellow. with an honest face. He spoke to
the Interpreter with much fervor. and evil
L. far. r,s.f1 ~esf - h kf-s
unfortunately could not be literally trans
lated.
1t was learned that scarcely man got
out Of the Alexander with money, although
the vessels owners cleared 3 handsome
sum. High prices and discounts on
japanese money consumed all Of the
crews pittanee. Il is further stated that
the man kept in confinement for mutiny
was not allowed 70 leave bis statsroem on
any occasion. One member Of tbe crew
was iroped On the wharf st Hakodste, a.
though the AlexandeT's commander had
no legal right 10 do so. The first mate was
discharged ST Hakodate for getting drunk,
and discipline was very lax.
J. The whele proceedings connected with
this strange vessel have been marked BY
deeds that arouse suspicion. Not referring
particularly 10 the Alexander. stories have
reached this city OF raidS oE the Russian
seal rookeries BY American sealers that
have excited considerable interest.
Legitimate sealing enterprises" said
an American naval oficer yesterday, ''ars
TO be commended, especially as much
wealth is brought into thIs country by
hunters Of sea game. But held-faced
schemes coDcocted - rob cur neighhoTs oi
their properly should be nipped in the bud
at home. We look 10 the foreign authori
lies. more or less, 10 protect cur northern
interests in the Bering Sea BY preventing
their poscherS from sttScking our rock
eries This rule applies both ways
The North American Commercial Com
pany owns snd controls the exelusiy,
right to seal in American waters OF n,
north The terms of this corporation
contract il is said. are such that shoulC
any eff It's stockholders engage in seal
poSching in foreign CT American seas thei
the contract will be nullifed. There ar,
persons wao claim that this clause is no
inserted, however.
The story Of the japanese of the Alex
andeT Snd her cruise in the north has re
.y.ved m1es speculation on subjects inter
- ~ has r~r,rx xa