Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-05-04
KING MORSH'S ISLAND.
He Reigns Supreme Over tho Island of
Sophia In tho Pacific Ocean, Which
with His Tito He Has
Purchased.


one of the isles, says the San Francisco
Chronicle. There guano flourishes in
untold quantities; there arc cocoanuts
plentiful enough for armies of apes to
play baseball with, and the natives are
absolutely friendly with one another,
knowing not the hideous war-club.
The little Eden referred to is known on
every navigator's chart of the Pacific as
Sophia island, and the modern Adam who
holds sway in it is former San Fran
ciscan named j. II. Morse. He is rex,
chief, lord, or whatever other title has
passed to him with the island.
The isle is his by purchase, and his
royal title, like many others, was OBJ
tanned for money. When he bought
the island King Morse discovered it to
be absolutely bald. There were no peo-
pie, no trees, no houses. But to the
mind ambitious to do the thinking for
small nation these objections were very
small ones and within the probability
of removal.
So King Morse caused hairs to grow
ON the bald pate OF his kingdom, and to-
day he wiclds his scepter of authority
over quite n community of duslsy sub
jects with the ease and assurance of an
expert cluD-SWluBeT'
A schooner recently arrived here from
trading voyage to the South seas, and
from her commander, Captain Mollstad,
quite an interesting account of the
white chief and his black kingdom was
received.
The location of Sophia island is con-
siderably farther south than either the
Caroline or Gilbert group, and the
nautical position is in latitude 10 de-
grees 45 minutes south, longitude 179
degrees 80 minutes east.
At one time it was peopled by quite Il
colony of natives, who were ruled by
one Of their tribe. The encroachments
Of the whites thinned them out, how
ever, and a number of years ago the dis
gusted native chief went into insolv-
ency for the benefit of his creditors
principally, however, for the benefit of
himself. He disposed of his kingdom to
some unknown person and his subjects
snapped landlords. The new owner
did not prove pronounced success as a
ruler, and this time, his secondhand
subjects becoming Disguised, and, tax
ing to their canoes, padded away from
Sophia to some friendly port in the Gil
bert group, where they could be we'll
fed and we'll ruled at the same time.
Having nobody to rule and feeling the
weight and worthlessness of his ocean
estate, the boycotted owner looked
about for good 'buy."
1t thus occurred that J. Fl. Morse hap
pened along in trading schooner one
day and stopped at Sophia. After a
good deal of bartering the tract changed
session of Mr.. Morse in consideration of
the sum of five thousand dollars.
With laudable view of producing n
new and novel type of race to dis
tinguish his island from it's many neigh
boring rivals, Mr.. Morse induced med
ley of whites, half-breeds, Samoans,
and Gilbert islanders to take up their
habitations in his colony, himself ofifci-
uting from time to time as king, sheriff,
clergyman, and employer.
The barren spots in the island were
covered with n growth of banana and
cocoanut trees in great abundance, and
the island has been subdivided into
homesteads and plantations. Houses
were built and are still being erected.
The island is rich in guano beds, which
form one of the chief profits of its COM
mercc with trading vessels.
King Morse governs his small empire
with gentleness. He carries his code of
laws in his mind, and does all the plan.
ming, ordering, and executing. He does
not fear n revolution or a German pro-
sectoratc, for he owns every foot of his
territory. IIeis on the best Of diplomatic
terms with the chiefs of Bularlari,
Tnpntewcal, and other islands of note,
and is generally regarded as a power
in South sea politics.
Mr.. Morse, who is well known in this
city, is a comparatively young man, and
has for years been engaged in trading
In the South Pacific. He is perfectly
contentcd with his lot and manifests
no desire to mix again in the hurly-
burly of the San Francisco word.
Captain Motlstall, who put into Sophia
island to avoid dangerous gales on his