Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-11

BemArka able Career Of q Maine Man In
Eor.O1 LandO.

Remark able Career Of q Maine Man I'm
Far.O1 LandS.
From the Boston Post July, /.
For several months past Boston has enter
tanned unawares high Asiatic dignitary, a
monarch whose sway was unbounded over
millions Of people, who merited from his po-
sition all the public honors lavished upon
King Kalakuua and other representatives Of
distant countries who have visited this city
More than other guests this man should have
found hearty welcome here, for he was not the
innocent inheritor of a throne, but q ruler who
made his own kingdom, developed his realm by
his individual force, and achieved his title and
enterprise. This man was Joseph w. Torrey,
raJah or Ambong and Mavoodu, in Borneo,
who died Monday morning at his Boston resi-
dence, on W abon street.
Mr. Iorrey was born In Bath, April %. 1923.
MS father J. 6. Torrey printed the Maine Ga
after the birth of his son the elder Torrey
moved to Roxbury. where he became city
printer His son received his education in the
RoXpuTy high school. In 1853 he left Boston
Tor Melbourne, where he entered upon COM
merclal career In the employ of Enoch Train
20 Charles Francis Train was clerk in the
house at that time. Although now more OF a
merchant than newspaper man, Mr.. Torrey's
bright wit and ready pen led him often into
residence in Melbourne he was frequent
writer for the local papers. He joined the
oae a oase was rom to
went to Hong Kong. Here he continued his
mercantile work, having been admitted as q
Co., of Boston. While resident of Hong Kong he
was FOR a time editor and manager of the Hong
Kong Times and of the China Nail He was
sui to Siam, and while resident in the latter
county cood strange to say, praetised law with
taking Of his fea he ounded the 'a American
trading company of Borneo Several Ameri-
can merchants were interested with him In this
scheme, which aimed to develop a large tract
OF country the north side of BOrQeO for com.
mercial purposes.
At the time the American trading company
was organized nearly the whole of BOrneo was
governed by sultan whose sway was absolute
The trading company settled upon about
10000 square miles of the sultan iand-te., the
provinces Oh Ambons and Mavoodu, and began
operations. Their action was much similar to
what is known in the western part of this
country as presumption. These provinces are
rich in natural products, prominent among
them ben. gutta percha, spices, tin and gold,
and the coast line is we'll adapted tor CONNER
At the time Mr.. Torrey began his work there
the provinces contained about 900, 900 inhabi-
Borneo Abdul Mumin Ebu Marhoun Mulaun
Abdul Wahap, saw til at Mr.. Torrey had come
TO stay. The sultan's powers were threatened
6y the encroachment OF foreign powers and he
knew that strong effort in the right direction
would wrest his northern provinces entirely
rom his grasp 1t may have been that Mr.:
lorfey Yankee pluck impressed and terrified
the sultan, and 1t may be that he was won over
by the diplomacy; in either event Mr.. Torrey
oottiusu III 1000 CONF nlSSlOn 1fOIA the sultan
recognizing him q rajah or governor of the
territory operated by the American trad
lug company. AS chief executive of
this province, Mr.. TNrrey had absolute
power, being the final and sole authority over
tue lie and death OF his subjects, eXercersiug in
short, the functions OF AN Irresponsible sover.
eisn. he had the power OF retainiu. his office for
NE and OF naming his successor. He continued
his sway with eminent success for fourteen
years BY this time all his business associates
In the trading company had died and Mr..
Iorrey sold out his interest to syndicate OF
British capitalists who continued developing
the resources OF the country, their capital
being placed at So ,OOO.OOO a few months ago
he returned to Boston. His absolute power
over his Borneo kin dom was maintained to
the end and he could have resumed the ex-
ecutiVe control ut any time