Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-15
A TRUE IRISH KING.
The Wonderful Career of Captain Patrick
O'Kcefe.

A dispatch from Savannah, Ga, says;
1.-THE wonderful story of Patrick
O'keefe is now the sensation here.
twenty years ago he was poor sailor,
making livelihood on the small craft
that navigated the neighboring streams.
To-day he Is monarch of all he surveys,
absolute ruler of the Island OF Nyph, in
the Pacific ocean, in the tropics. In an
extended review of his life and adven-
lures the Savannah Mems says that he
would probably be still q resident Of
Savannah and poor man but for two
tragedies in which he figured as one of
the principals. In 1867, as the story Is
told by an old-timer, he was mate or
the schooner Annie Sims, which piled
between this city and Darien. On the
schooner was a young Irish sailor
named Sullivan. He and O'keefe were
apparently good friends. While near
| Darien, towing lumber, the mate was
| building n cabin on the schooner and he
asked Sullivan what he thought of it,.
The sailor made a joking reply, which
angered O'Keefc, and fight resulted
Sullivan got the best of 1t, and O'keefe
went to his quarters and securing u
| pistol, returned and began firing at the
sailor. The latter lodged behind the
new cabin several times and finally got
up and remarked to OKeefe that he
couldn't shoot anybody. But he was
mistaken, for the next bullet struck
him, and he died in short while. The
mate was brought to Savannah and
after q long confinement In Jail was
tried and acquitted in the United States
court. Afterward, while an officer of q
| CT ha nod l. L. ,,.ttl,
OF the deck hands and ran him into the
river, where he was drowned.
These troubles seemed to worry
O'keefe, and he determined TO leave
the "states," as he termed it. In 1871 lie
sailed away from Savannah as second
mate of an American vessel bound for
Liverpool, and when he babe his friends
| good-by on the wharf he told them that
he would never return to Savannah un
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 bus
mess between the Pacific islands and
Hong Kong. He was successful, and
after a few years secured the island of
Nyph from the natives by a trade OF
some sort. The islands abound in teak
wook and fruit, and O'Keefe bought a
schooner and brig and started business
on big scale. His vessels ran 10 Hong
Kong, and he soon built up an extensive
trade, which has steadily increased
until now lie is reckoned as d very
wealthy man.
Okcefe left behind him when he
sailed away from Savannah wife and
n baby daughter, the latter now Il young
woman. For years nothing was heard
OF his whereabouts. After he began tc
prosper in his far away home, however
lie wrote letter and sent money to hi!
wife. lie tried to persuade her and bis
daughter to 60 to him, but they would
not do il. Regularly twice year sine,
he sends remittanees for their support
and keeps up n correspondence Will
them. Mrs. O'Kecfe and her daughter
live on Liberty street near East Broad
and have an oil painting Of the brig
the King Of Nyph," hanging in theil
parlor.
Captain Kean, of the American brig
|. w. Parker, which is now here loadin.
lumber for Pernambuco, saw kim
Okeefe in Hong Kong several months
ago. lie was boarding at the fines
hotel in the city and was living in The
height OF elegance, hayinga fine driving
turnout and every luxury which money
could obtain. He spends great portion
OF his time in Hong Kong, where he dc
posts his money, and is favorablJ
known to all the residents Of that city
lie said he intended to come to America
TO attend the Worlds Fair. Besides
being trader OF wealth and position
O'Kcefe is the ruler of large colony
made up mostly Of Malays, who swea
by him. His story is revelation {,
many of Sayannah's old residents, who
had long since forgotten Capt" Pa
O'Kccfe and thought him dead.