The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-20
A GREAT SAMOAN HEIREss.
The Vast Possessions of Mrs. Emma
Forsythe in the Far Pacific.
From the Pittsburq Dispatch

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Forsythe in the Far Pacific.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
The report of Consul Griffin, stationed at
Sydney, contains some important features.
The government is urged to pay more at
tention to our interests in the Pacific
islands. A wealthy woman, whose father
was an American, is very anxious that the
United States should secure foothold in
this region.
Mrs. Emma E. ForSythe, daughter of
Jonas NJ Gee, formerly consul at Apia,
Samoa, and his wife, who was the daughter
of a Samoan chleftaln, owns a plantation
of 120, 900 acres employs fifty Europeans
and several hundred natives, owns several
steamers and is building others, and con-
ducts business larger than the combined
business of all the civilized residents Of the
island of New Britain. Mrs. Forsythe
is now SO years of age. She re-
ceiyed her education at Sydney and San
Francisco.
Besides being highly accomplished, she is
a lady of very prepossessing appearance
and of remarkable energy and intelligence.
At the time of her marriage she was ac-
knowledged to be the most graceful and
beautiful woman on the island. She made
such an impression upon Lord Pembroke
that he sketched her portrait at length in
South Sea Bubbles
Although married to an Englishman, Mrs
FOrsythe never renowned her nationality
After the death of her husband, which oc-
Cured in the year 1872, she took up her
residence with her uncle, E. II. Coe, in San
Francisco, Cal, and at "a later period Joined
her fathers family at Apla, Samoan Islands
She rendered assistance to her father in
keeping the books Of the consulate.
Shkai 10 fad nc on mt Ant.itx
languages and dialects, and during Consul
Griffin's term of office as consul at Samoa
she on various occasions acted as his aman-
uensis and interpreter, and translated
nearly all his correspondence with the Sa-
moan government. She has always taken
great interest in the trade and commerce of
the South Sea Islands, and is perhaps better
posted on the subject than any other citi-
zen of the United States residing south of
the equator.
In 1879 she removed to the Island of New
Britain, and having purchased from the
natives several large tracts of land there,
she formed partnership with Mr.. Thomas
Farrell, and in the same year she established
one of the most extensive business enter
prises in the South Sea Islands under the
name of Thomas Farrell & Co., plaute
and trading merchants.
The headquarters of the firm were estab-
4lcutO az IetittAudI, L6dE OLb VI bu6lT largest
plantations, which now includes Ia, SOC
acres Of the choicest land in New Britain,
on which are raised, among other products,
vast quantities of cotton. Her property
and that of the firm within the imperial
German protectorate is estimated at 100000
acres, and that outside of the protectorate
at $4,000 acres, making total of 10000
acres, nearly all of the landed estate being
owned by Mrs. Forsythe
n ;fFs..
Forsythe rendered very effective aid to me
in the preliminary steps which secured Il
the United States for period of ten yeatt
the use of the harbor of Pago Pago as \
coaling station, and not long since she made
an offer to the American government Of
twenty acres of ground on her own proper
ty in the island of Malulu for another coal
ing station. The island of Malulu is out
side Of the German protectorate, and as nj
nation has as yet set up claim to it, she ii
quite anxious that her offer shall be &C
copied