The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-20
LIKE FREEBOOTER
HE SAILED SEAS
sealer's Captain Arrested After
Long Search-Evaded Law
Of Three Nations.

Washington, Sept. 2O.-Captain
Alexander Mclean was arrested Mon
day last at Victoria, B. c., by Cana
dian authorities at the request of the
American consul, acting for the depart
ment Of justice, under an Indictment
francisco; on charge Of conspiracy in
fitting out the schooner Carmencita in
violation of the sealing laws. A tele-
gram received at the state department
today announcing the arrest, says:
Carmencita had been reftted under
the name of the Acaculpo, of alleged
Mexican registry and with a crew of
men said to be as '.choice a band Of
robbers and cutthroats as have manned
a pirate craft since the days of Cap
tain. Kidd.o ..~-- 49,.
Long Sought Man.
The search for Mclean has proceeded
since May, 1904. His movements have
been known a. greater part of this time
been conducted SO cleverly and with
such. sharp observance Of the letter Of
the law that it is said he has made
these very technicalities cover his al
legged evasions Of the law. :.
For instance, he always has been care
full not to be found within the three
mile limit of the sealing reserves and
altho an American carrying in large
part an English crew, he has not been
British laws. On. that; account the re-
ciprocal agreement between these coun-
tries for the protection Of the sealing
industry has not applied. ~
He has operated under both Mexican
and Norwegian registration and appar,
emily has been successful in retaining
one or the other, despite the fact that
10 D,fni kaI n
once. ~,
fas>-. The "Pirate's'' Cove. $685..
It was in September, 1904, that the
| Carmencita was deprived Of its .Mexi
can papers. The schooner had cleared
at San Francisco in May Of that year.
and it is suspected was partly equipped;
| not sufficiently SO to warrant the
United States revenue cutters taking
her into custody. It is suspected the
| schooner sailed for a cove on the coast
Of California, where sealing apparatus
had been shipped from time to time
and there fitted out completely:
| From the cove on the California
coast the schooner took the high seas
and several times was seen in the vi
| cinity of the Pribyloff islands, bui
never within the limit of the preserves
Arrested but Released.
On Aug. 6, 1904, the British cruiser
Sherwater found the schooner Carmen
cita Just off the three-mile limit Of ST
Paul island and boarded her. He1
papers declared her to be Mexican
with Woodside as master. The master
| insisted he was Woodside, but the Brit
ish authorities say they recognized
him as Mclean. The fact that he flew
the Mexican flag prevented his arrest
at that time on the himsy evidence
| that could be obtained. -
About fortnight before this tn
Carmencita made raid on the Cope
islands and had brush with the Rus
sian patrol. At least one Of the crew
was wounded, as he was sent to Seattle
! Wash, for treatment. When the fact
concerning the raid became known tn
Mexican government repudiated tn
registry and the Carmencita for a tim
few the Norwegian flag.
IS It is understood the schooner change,
names several times in order to pre-
serve registration, and that finally un
i der the name 'sAcapulco" Mexican
registration was again secured.