The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-07
A KING In THE PACIFIC.
AN EX-SAvANNAHIAN A RICH
RULER AMONG TIE MALAYS.

The Fortunes of the World That Made
Patrick OKeeffe Monarch of the
Island of Nyph The Story of
O'Keefe's Life Here, His Departure,
and the Career That Has Given Him
Wealth and Power.
Fortune is a queer thing. and has peculiar
ways at times of singing out obscure indi-
viduals and raising them to places Of fame.
Twenty years ago Patrick O'Keeffe was q
comparatively poor man, making his living
as a sailor on small vessels coasting between
Savannah and neighboring ports. To-day
be is king. He is the owner and absolute
ruler Of the island of Nyph, in the Austrai-
ian groups of the Pacific, almost IN the
heart of the tropics.
He would probably be still resident OF
Savannah and poor man but for TWO trag'
edies In which he figured as one OF the pf'n'
cipals. In 1867, as the story Is told Dy al
oId-timer, he was mate Of the SCHOONER
Annie Sims, which piled between THIS CITY
and Darien.
TRAGEDY on sHIPBoARD.
On the schooner was young Irish sailor
named Sullivan. He and O'keetfe were ap-
parentlv good friends. While near Darien
loading lumber the mate was building a
cabin on the schooner and he asked Sullivan
what he thought Of it. The sailor made
Joking reply, which angered O'heetfe and
fight resulted. Sullivan got the best OF 1t
and O'Keeffe went to his quarters, and, Sc
curing pistol returned and began firing
at the sailor. The latter lodged behind the
new cabin several times, and finally got up
and remarked to O'Keeffe that he couldn't
shoot any body. But he was mistaken, for
the next bullet struck him and he died in
short while. The mate YVES brought to
Savannah, and after long confinement in
Jail was tried and acquitted in the United
States court.
Afterward, while an officer OF small
steamer, he he'd trouble with one of the
deck hands and ran him into the river,
where he was drowned.
LEFT FOR EUROPE.
These troubles seemed to worry O'Keeffe,
and he determined to leave the Estates, as
he termed it. In 1871 he saile1 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 Savan-
nab unless he came in his own ship.
From Liverpool he shipped TO the East
Indies and from there TO Hong Kong. He
had saved q little money by this time and
began a smell fruit and lumber business
between the Pacific islands and Hong Kong.
He wes successful and after "a few years
secured the island of Nyph from the ma
tiyes by trade of some sor' The island
abounds 10 tsaAwood and fro ia d O'Keefe
bought a schooner and br. ana started
business on a big scale. His vessels ran to
Hong Kong and he soon built up an extea-
sive trade, which has steadily increased
until now he is reckoned as Il very wealthy
man.
WIFE AND DAUGHTER HERE.
OKeelfe left behind him when be sailed
away from Savannah a wife and baby
daughter, who is now a young woman.
For years nothing was heard of his where
abouts. After he began TO prosper in his
far-away home however, he wrote letter.
and sent money to his wife. He tried TO
persuade her and his daughter to go to him,
but they wouldn't do IL. Regularly twice
year since he sends rernittances for their
support, aud keeps up a correspondence
with them. Mrs. O'Keeife and her daughter
live on Liberty street, near East Broad, and
have an oil painting OF the brig OF the
king Of Nyph" hanging in their parlor.
"a ROYAL LIVER IN HONG KONG.
Capt Keane OF the American brig l. w.
Parker. which is now here loading lumber
for Pernambuco. told MORNING News re-
porter that he saw King O'Keetfe in Hong
Kong several months ago. He was board
ing at the finest hotel in the city and was
living In the hight of elegance. having a
fine driving turnout ard every luxury
which money could obtain. He spends q
great portion of his time in Hong Kong,
where be deposits his money, and il favora-
bly, known TO all the residents Of that city.
lie said he intended coming TO America to
attend the worlds fair.
Beside being trader of wealth and posi-
tioD O'keeffe is the ruler Of large colony,
made up mostly of Malnys who swear by
him This story will be revelation to
many of Savannah's old residents, who had
long since forgotten Capt" Pat O'Keeffo
and thought him dead.