The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-10-28
KING e6TRlcK The FIRST.

A Wicked Savannah Sailor Who Has Be
come an Oriental Potentate.
Twenty years ago Patrick O'Keeffe
was q, comparatively poor man, making
his living as a 'ssailor on small vessels
coastings between Savannah and neigh.
boring ports. Today he is king. He
Is the owner and absolute ruler of tn,
island of Nyph, in the Australian
groups of the Pacific, almost in the heart
Of the tropics. He would probably be
still a resident Of Savannah and pool
man, hut for two tragedies in which he
figured as one of the principals.
In 1867, as the story is told by an old
timer, he wasmate of the schooner An
ME Sims, which Piled between this city
young Irish sailor named Sullivan. He
and O'Keeffe were apparently good
friends. While near Darien loading
lumber the mate was building cabiI
on the schooner and he asked Sullivan
what he thought of it. The sailor made
joking reply which angered O'Keeffe,
and fight resulted. Sullivan got the
best of it and O'Keeffe went to his quar-
tiers. and securing pistol, returned and
began firing at the sailor.
The latter lodged behind the new
cabin several times, and finally got ur
and remarked to O'Keeffe that he
couldn't shoot anybody. But he was
mistaken, for the next bullet struck him
and he died ina short while. The matt
was brought to Savannah, and, after o
long confinement In Jail, was tried and
acquitted in the United States court
Afterward, while an officer Of small
steamer, he had trouble with one Of the
deck hands and ran him into the river
were he was drowned.
These troubles seemed to worry
OKeeffe, and he determined to leave
the Estates" as he termed it. In 1871
he sailed away from Savannah as second
mate on an American vessel bound fol
Liverpool, and when he babe his friends
goodby ON the wharf he told them that
he would never return to Savannah an
less he came In his own ship.
From Liverpool he shipped to the East
Indies, and from there to Hong-Kong.
He had saved little money by this time.
and began small fruit and lumber bust
ness between the Pacific islands and
Hong Kong. He was successful, and
after few years secured the island OF
Nyph from the natives by trade OF
some sort. The island abounds in teak
wood and fruit, and O'Keeffe bought o
schooner and brig and started business
on big scale. His vessels ran to Hong
Kong, and he soon built up an extensive
trade, which has steadily increased, until
now he Is reckoned as very wealthy
man.
O'Keeffe left behind him when he
sailed away from Savannah wife and u
baby daughter, who is now young
woman. For years nothing was heard
of his whereabouts. After he began tc
prosper in his faraway home, however.
he wrote letter and sent money to his
wife. He tried to persuade her and his
daughter togo to him, but they wouldn't
do 1t. Regularly twice year since he
sends remittances for their support and
keeps up a correspondence with them.
Mrs. 0'Keeffe and her daughter live on
Liberty street, near East BROAD, and
have an oil painting of the bwg of the
king of Nyph hanging in their parlor.
Besides being trader of wealth and
position, O'Keeffe is the ruler of n large
colony made up mostly of Malays, who
swear by him.-Sayannah News.