Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-22
KING MORSE AND HIS ISLAND.
Former San Franciscan Now a Pc
tentate In the South Pacific.


Amid all the trouble which is at present
worrying the islanders of the South Paci-
fic there is peace in plenty on one of the
isles. There guano fiourishes in untold
quantities; there are cocoanuts plentiful
enough for armies of apes to play base
ball 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 il is
former San Franciscan named ]. II.
Morse. He is Rex, chief, Lord, or what
ever other title has passed to him with the
island.
The isle is by his purchase, and his roy
al title, like many others, was obtained for
money When he bought the island King
Morse discovered it to be absolutely bald.
There were no people, no trees, no houses.
But to the mind ambitious to do the think
ing for a small nation these objections
were very small ones, and within the prob
ability of removal. So King Morse caused
hairs to grow on the bald pate of his king
dom, and to-day he wields his sceptre of
authority over quite community of dusky
subjects with the ease and assurance of an
expert club swinger.
a schooner recently arrived here from a
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 consid-
erably further south than either the Caro-
line or Gilbert group, and the nautical po-
sition is in latitude ten degrees and forty
five minutes south, longitude one hundred
and seventy-nine degrees and thirty-two
minutes east.
At one time it was peopled by quite q
colony of natives, who were ruled by one
of their tribe. The encroachments of the
whites thinned them out, however, and a
number of years ago the disguised native
chief went into insolvency 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 swapped landlords. The new
owner did not prove pronounced success
as a ruler, snd this time his secondhand
subjects became disgusted, and taking to
their canoes padded away from Sophia to
some friendly port in the Gilbert group,
where they could be well fed and well
ruled at the same time. Having nobody
to rule and feeling the weight and worth
lessness of his ocean estate, the owner
looked about for good ''buy."
1t occurred that ]. II. Morse happened
along in trading schooner one day and
stopped at Sophia. After good deal of
bartering the tract changed hands third
time and fell into the possession of Mr..
Morse in consideration of the sum of five
thousand dollars.
With laudable view of producing
new and novel type of race TO distinguish
his island kingdom from its many neigh
boring rivals, Mr.. Morse induced a medley
of whites, half-breeds, Samoans and Gil
bert islanders to take up their habitations
in his colony, himself officiating from
time to time as king, sheriff, clergyman
and employer. The barren spots in the
island were covered with a growth of ba-
mana and cocoanut trees in abundance, and
the island has been subdivided into home
steads and plantations. Houses were
built and are still being erected. The is
land is rich in guano beds, which form one
of the chief profits of its commerce 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 revolution or a German protec-
torate, for he owns every foot of his terri
tory. He is on the best IF diplomatic
terms with the chlefs OF bulaFlari, Iapute-
veal and other islands of note, and is gen
orally regarded as power in South Sea
politics.
Mr. Morse, who is well known in this
city, is comparatively young man, and
has for years been engaged in trading in
the South Pacific. He is perfectly con-
tented with his lot and manifests no de-
sire to mix again in the hurly-burly of the
San Francisco world.
Captain Molistad, who put into Sophia
Island to avoid dangerous gales on his way
to this port, states that the little Eden is
increasing its prosperity. The crops are
good and the resources of the place are
great, considering its size and population.