The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-22
An American Who Leads a Robinson
Crusoe Life Among Savages
HE HAS MADE A LARGE FORTUNE
The United States Government is Try
ing 10 Ascertain by What Right
Dan O'Kecfc Holds Control in
the South Pacific CarOlincs

| VOf adventures, anu IT ACCOUNTS az
true, he wound up his cruise in blaze
Of glory having won home and for
I tune
| At the present day O'Keefe. seventy
years Of age. is the King Of the Island
| OF zap and several adjacent islands. lie
/ has a least six famiiies-iive of them To-
| catei on various of these islands and ele
| in North Carolina. United States
For years O'Keefe has led a life Of his
+, own ruling. governing the natives Of the
! island Of zap and others IN the neigh
| borhood. lie has treated them kindly,
| and in so doing has been enabled 20
! build up a fortune for himself. All pro-
| duce of the islands is turned over 10 him
| to market. He takes IL from the in-
! habitants and returns 20 them its cquiva-
| lent I'm supplies or money or anything
| they may desire from the outside w0rll.
zap Island Is one OF the numerous
small patches Of land which iut out OF
the Pacific ocean down near the equator.
II is among the southern Islands of the
Caroline group. Its area IS probably less
4 than a thousand square miles. II has
4 only recently been divugcd that there
1 is an 'Kcefe of the Southern Pacific.
ana his strongholds and Robinson Crusoe
life might never have come 90 light had
it not been for the invasion by the
Americans OF the Philippines. The Island
Of Yap being less than 200 miles south
east from the island If Guam. in the La
drones. IL was quite natural Tor the
Americans 90 scrutnize every craft seen
i'm the waters Of the neighporhood.
small weakness of O kecfe for display
ing any flag he found convenient causel
his discovery by tine Unitol states naval
I'm vicinity the TniIlf-
mines aud the subsequent report TO Wash
ington. ,..,-,...,.,.
WILL, INVESTIGATE O'KEEFE.
consitl williams az Manila has received
orders from Washington 10 find out as
much az possible about O'keeie. ana. III
ann, rate 10 ascertain under what flag
he &C. carving on business. Up TO the
nrosant time the consul has succeeded ~
obtaining information about O'Keefe only
from O'Keefe himself 10 seems That he
is SO well established thai an reports 10
the world concerning his domain must
go through headquarters.
The United States government now
simply knows that O'Kcefe rs native
of North Carolina. lie sailed forth on
the Atlantic as captain of trading
vessel years and years ago. This Nesse.
made its way around the world and
among the places where fl touched was
the island Of Yap O'Keofe made pref
~ thorough exploration OF the place. and
also of the surrounding islands. and took
away a rich cargo of spices and indigo.
Two wears later he was not only captain
Of the small trader but it's owner. pc
made straight for zap island. with good
things from the continent he ana ms
crew won the affections OF the natives.
The vessel was tied mp for a time untll
a home could he established. Then IL
was used 10 establish other homes IN
othcr islands OKecfe believed n
bie. broad life. and one according 20 ms
own ideas. which were not FAR different
from those Of a fullnedged Mormon be-
lever one by one he Accumulated ms
islands and clinchod his title 20 the same
bv marrying the choice Of the native WOO
mon and several Of them. Members OF
the trading ships crew followed o keeie
evample. At any rate O'kecfc ana his
ynito men came to win the esteem and
affection Of the islanders 20 such an eN-
tent that he was exalted 90 be chief ruler
Of the colonies. and what he said Went
O'Kecfe probably deserved this honor Tor
he was honorable in his transactions iih
the natives and never tried 10 cheat them.
uo even went ont of his way % do them
favors. supply them with the comforts
and teach them 10 live life after ms
own ideas He set Up sort of gov
eminent and left himself AT It's head
HAS FAMILIES AND FORTUNES.
O'Keefe they say. has always iaAeh eN-
ccllent care of his mary iainiIe7' ~
native wives he visits regularly lie la
said TO have at least five. lie - also rep
resented on the American continent.
when he left there he had VIE ana
children Every year until u passed our
Of existence. he sent sum amounting
10 about 5000 home for the maintenance
of this forsaken household. Okeele ls
now dragging on to extreme old age
and what promises 90 hasten the appear
ance Of white hairs i'm the head that rs
already gray is the fact that his posses
si0ns are liable TO prove an elephant on
his hands. There is a remote possipiliiy
Of his being unable 10 turn over the inn
mense and lucrative business he has
built up TO some of his heirs, VINO will do
honor 10 his name 10y not allowing his
deeds to perish with him. A certain
nephew of O'Keofe. now supposed TO be
m New York city, has had this south sec
fortune thrown at his feet and refused 10
accept il.
O'Keefe. so he writes Consul Williams
in Manila sent word 20 this nephew that
if he would agree 10 live with him until
Ol
oporandi Of affairs on zap Island and its
neighbors, he would place all affairs in
his hands and allow him 10 rule the fortune
at his death. II was with much hesita-
ton that the nephew finally decided 10
shake himself free from the rich life Of
idleness he was leading In the metropolis
and take passage to the far-on Pacinc
region. lie babe good-by 10 the bloods Of
his acquaintance and sailed He landed
at steamship port among the Philip
pines. where he was picked up after a
few months waiting by a vessel from
his unces domain.
NEPHEW LOSES y GOOD THING.
The tutelage in Malay politics began.
and the nephew was Wined and dined as
the successor of King okeefe In the
finest society the island afforded. IL WAS
rare sport AT FIRST Tor the young swell.
The novelty OF he situation was iasci-
mating But the time came when he long
"a for some of his former companions.
lust 10 tell them all about H. And then
came q longing TO spend money. Where
could he spend money on Zap Island. or
any other island IN the group Was not
everything he wished for furnished 20 him
at his sign and without the least eNpcnseY
\ n~n out OF his native water VIII rot
thrive, and neither did the nephew.
There was a short and decisive interview
with the good uncle, and snip sailed
for civilization with a passenger bound
for America. while The old man bowed
his head IN sorrow. The young man has
gone back TO the place where they spend
more money than they do in NaD, and
the old man is looking for a successor.
Allegiance TO his mother country seems
TO be Of small concern 10 O.keefe, now
that he has established himself In
country of his own. or course this coun-
try has a flag. but a passing war vessel
would probably fail 20 recognize an I'M
known nag, and unless me crait rom