The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-05-14
KING PATRICK THE flRCT.
Wicked Savannah Sailor who Mas Ne
come AN Oriental Potentste.

wicked Savannah Sailor who Mas Re.
come AN Oriental Potsntste.
Twenty years ago Patrick O'KeefYs
was u comparatively poor man. making
his living as sailor On small vessels
coasting between Savannah and neigh
boring ports. Today he IL king. He
Is the owner aud absolute ruler Of the
Island OF Nyph, in the Australian
groups Of the Pacific, almost in the heart
OF the tropics. He would probably be
ktill u resident Of Savannah and q 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 Of the schooner An
ME Sims. which piled between this city
ana Darien. On the schooner was a
Young Irish sailor named Sullivan. He
and OKeeffe We're apparently good
friends. While near Darien loading
lumber the mate was building a cabin
on the schooner aud he asked Sullivan
what he thought Of it, The sailor made
joking reply which sngered OKeeffe,
best Of il and O'k-effe went to his quar-
ters, and securing n pistol. returned and
began hiring at the sailor.
The latter lodged behind the ne~
cabin several times. and finally got up
and remarked 10 OKeeffs tina, he
couldn't shoot anybody. But lie was
mistaken, for the next bullet struck him
and lac died IN IA short while The mate
was brought 10 Savannah. and, after a
long confinement Ia jail, was tried and
acquitted IN the United States court.
Afierward, while an officer of small
steamer, lac had trouble with one Of the
deck hands and ran him into the river.
were he was drowned.
These troubles s--iuei TO worry
Oko-ife. aud he determined to leave
tine States, ss he termed il. In 1871
he sailed away from savannah as second
mate on AN American Vessel bound for
Liverpool and when lac babe his friends
suliby OH the wharf lac told them tina,
lie wonlt never return 10 Savannah uu.
lees he came IA his O~n snip.
From Liverpool lac shipped 10 the East
indies, and from There IA Hong Kong.
lie nai saved iltlc money by this time,
Ah'A - ~hh "a Sila4l II AN huB Ilni iEi utlhl-
hess between the Pacific islands and
iiong Kong He Was successful, and
after u few YEAR, secured the island OF
Stph from the natives los trade Of
- me sort Tie island ab3unis ia teak
soul ani fruit. aud D'kc-fie bough, q
e n"on-r and Dris and started business
"n a bls scair. H., yv-s.-!, ran 10 Hong.
Kong. and he soon bull, UP all extensive
trade. which has s,'-.,iily increased. until
NON he l. r~cGou-si ~ very wealthy
mAH
okrrfe LEI, b-.hind him when he
sailed away from ~AvAnuAh wife and Il
baby daushirf. who - now Young
WOMAN. For ycars nothing Was heard
81 his whereabouts After he began TO
prusi-r IA h,s farSwAy home. however.
he wrote a letter aud seat money 10 his
wife he tuoi g. persuade her aud his
daughter e. 90 10 tiu ia, they wouidu =,
do Il, Regularly iwtoc year sincc he
sends remittance 1T their supper, and
Keeps AT a ourrr> l,auicnoc with them
Mr. - keeft- AID her daughter live on
l.li~ttl street. u-ar East Broad. aud
have al. oil painting ut the ufig e the
KING ~ Nhpl hanging ia shcir Issilor.
tS~siG~s leu. "A trader II wealth and
position, . Hr Is the ruler Of large
coloty uladr up mostly Of Maiays. WHO
sweat 10y han Savannah News