The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-09-04
A SELF-MADE KING.
An Irish Millionaire Who Rules
In the Caroline Islands.
By Thrift aAd Industry He Has Eseab-
lshod Profitable Trade Relatioos
with America and China and
Has etandlne Army.

lishod Profitable Trade Relations
with America and China and
Has . Standing Army.
Once young Irishman sailed to the
South seas as skipper Of little trading
vessel. His fortune consisted of an ad-
vance from the owners, the clothes on
his back and his kit, his stout arms
and his good, hard sense. Now, this
Irishman, no longer young, is, accord
ing to the San Francisco Chronicle, q
moneyed prince of the tropics, easily a
millionaire, and the virtual owner of .
tight little South sea island or two.
Daniel D. O'Keefe is his name, and the
islands of Yap and st. David, in the
Caroline group, are pretty much his
private property.
O'Keefe landed in New York about
forty years ago, and, after knocking
about the metropolis for time, shipped
for trading vessel on the South seas.
From there he made his way to San
Francisco ana got to be captain of a
little craft bound for the Carolines.
His hard experience stood him in good
stead and he came back to San Fran
cisco with . comfortable lump of
money. From here he went to Sa-
vannah, Ga, where he married him
wife. With her he returned to San
Francisco and fitted ont = second ex-
pedition to the Carolines-
At Yap, one of the largest islands OF
the group, O'Keefe established the
pioneer trading station, which has
since become one Of the largest in the
vicinity of the equator.
At that time little was known of ST.
David's island, which Is in degree
north latitude and 134 degrees Is min
utes east longitude. O'Keefe, in his ex-
plorations, landed on the island. He
found only sixteen inhabitants left out
of large tribe The thrifty trader de-
termined to get possession Of the island
and extend his copra interests. After
a long investigation he discovered that
England had q prior claim to it by
right of discovery. This was merely
an obstacle to be cleared away and
O'Keefe promptly pushed it aside. He
went to England, and, it is said, sue
ceeoed in having his possession of the
island confirmed, the only stipulation
being that he would care for the ma
tives. O'Keefe kept that part of his
contract to the letter. He proceeded
at once to build fort and then col
onized the place, bringing natives from
islands near by. He mounted some
small cannon in the fort and armed the
natives with rifles, in the use of which
he instructed them fully. Then he
drilled the soldiers thoroughly in the
manual of arms, so that he soon had a
body of men capable of holding st.
David against all invaders.
Meanwhile O'Keefe's wife died, leav-
ing him daughter to rear. The trader
sent his little girl to her grandparents
in Savannah, with instructions to edu-
cate her in the best colleges in the land.
Before O'Keefe acquired st. David
native woman ruled over the handful
Of inhabitants as queen. She was
comely young person, and some time
after the death Of his wife the trader
married her with due and proper OBJ
servance of South sea marriage cere-
mony.
Ali the while O'Keefe did not over
look his interests in Yap. Many Of the
natives there were heavily in debt to
him and they paid of their mortgages
in copra. The trader gradually got
control Of the copra IN the Carolines by
these methods until he had worked up
q sort of corner in the sun-dried cocoa
nut. Many attempts have been made
by San Francisco firms to break his
hold on the stock, but all have failed.
O'Keefe went to Hong Kong, bought
two more schooners, and branched out
still more extensively, securing control
of the copra for leagues around. He
did not forget the companies which at
tempted to break up his business, and
when they sent vessels to trade in the
Carolines they had to buy copra to
bring back to San Francisco, and they
had to pay the price he asked
Hong Kong presented good field for
speculation to O'Keefe, waterfront lots
were selling cheap and he bought con-
siderable property there. It is said
that to-day his possessions aggregate
nearly two-thirds of the harbor front.
During the plague the O'Keefe district
was one of the worst plague spots.
The queen Of st. David island died
and the trader sought another wife,
white girl of Hong Kong. OKeefe
chartered more vessels at Hong Kong,
and sent them through the South seas
trading for copra. He has invested
some two hundred thousand dollars In
Yap and when there, although he as
sumes the garb of native, he lives like
a prince. The best the market affords
is on his table, and he is connoisseur
Of wines and cigars. O'Keefe is also
said to have acquired large block OF
property in Savannah, which has in
creased in value greatly. His daughter
by his first wife is married there and
has quite family, and the copra king
il preparing to visit her.
With all his wealth the trader never
lets an opportunity slip by where there
is any money to be made. He is the'oA-
cial pilot for the Yap, and charges
what he pleases for his services. AS he
has no competition in this line he is as
autocratic as the pilots Of San Francis
CO harbor. AS may be imagined there
LEVI .STRl