Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-04-29
A LITTLE EDEN.
An Americans Odd and Prosperous Ll'-
tie Kingdom.

tie Kingdom.
Amid all the trouble which IS at
present worrying the islanuers OF the
South Pacific there is peace ana
plenty on one of the isles. Ihere
guano fourlshcs in untold quantl-
ties; there are cocoanuts plcntlful
enough for armies Of apes to play
base ball with, and the natives are
absolutely friendly with one another,
knowing not the hidcous war cluo
The little Eden referred to is known
on every navigator's chart OF the IA
cifc as Sophia Island, and the mod,
crn Adam who holds sway in 1T IS u
former san franciscan named }. II.
Morse lie is rex, chief, lord, or
whatever other title has passed TO
him with the island.
The isle is his by purchase and the
royal title, like many Others, was op-
tained for money. When he bought
the island King Morse discovered 1T
to he absolutely bald There were no
people. no trees, no houses. But to
the mind ambitious to do the think
ing for Il small nation the objections
were very small ones, and within the
probability of removal.
So King Morse caused hair to grow
on the bald pate of his Kingdom, and
to-day he wields his scepter of au-
thority over quite a community Of
dusky subjects with the ease and as
6urance of an expert cluh-swinger
A schooner recently arrived here
from a trading voyage to the South
Seas, and from her commander, Capt.
Molstad. quite an interesting account
of the white chief and his black
kingdom was received.
The location Of Sophia Island is
considerably farther south than
either the Caroline or Gilbert group,
and the nautical position is in lati-
,ude 10 deg. As min. south, longitude
i79 deg 32 nm. cast
At one time it was peopled by quite
d colony Of natives who were ruled
by one Of their tribe. The encroach-
ments of the whites, however thinned
them out, and Il number of years ago
the disgusted native chief went into
folyency for the benefit of his credit
ors-principally, however, for the
benefit Of himself. lie disposed of
the kingdom to some unknown per-
6on and his subjects swapped land
lords, The new owner did not prove
a pronounced success as a ruler, and
this time his secondhand subjects
became disguised and, taking to
their canoes, padded away from So
phia to some friendly port in the
Gilbert group, where they could be
well fed and well ruled at the same
dime.
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. II. Morse
happened along in a trading schooner
one day and stopped at Sophia. After
a good deal Of barterng the tract
changed hands third time and fell
INTO the possession of Mr.. Morse in
consideration Of the sum of SIS, 600.
With laudable view of producing
d new and novel type of race to dis
tinguish his inland kingdom from its
many neighboring rivals, Mr.. Morse
induced a medley Of whites. half
breeds Samoans, and Gilbert Island
ers 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 growth of banana and
tocoanut trees in great abundance.
and the Island has been subdiyided
into homesteads and plantations
Houses were built and are still beinp
erected The Island is rich in puano
beds, which form one Of tho chiof
profits Of its commerce with TRADING
vessels.
KING Morse governs his small ON
pre- with gentlenesS. lie carries his
code OF laws in his mind, and does an
The planning, ordering and execnt.
ing lie does not fear revolution or
German protectorate, for he owns
every foot Of his territory. lie is IN
the best Of diplomatic terms with ~
chiefs of Bularlari, Taputeweal and
other islands Of note, and is generallv
IeedIded as a power in South Sea
politics go
Mr.. Morse, who is well known in
this city, is comparatively yonng
man, and has for years been engaged
in trading in the South Pacific He
IS perfectly contented with his la
and manifests no desire to mix AGAIN
N the hurly-burly Of the San Fran
cisco world. '"h-
Capt. Molstad, who put into Sonhfo
Island to avoid dangerous galoe l','a ~
ms way TO this port, states that tho
iittie I>i. [1iea !. + Inc Increasing s,ssss,
'y. Inc crops are good and tho "a
sources OF the place are great coneid
erlng its size and population.
Francisco Chronicle. 'odh
he Growth of Chefst...