The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-12-01
KING OF zap ISLAND.
Dan 0'Keefe is a Monarch in
South Pacific CaroIineS.

fAGs Made Large Fortune-Leads
Robinson Crusse Life Among III
Savages-United States is Trying {
Ascertain by What Authority b
holds Authority.
IazeAgo Inter-OceaR.
A veritable monarch of all he sur
zeys and king among his fellow
9eings is Dan V. O'Keefe of zap
Caroline Islands, South Pacific ocean
@3'Reefe is an American, who went
Goth on the seas for adventures, and
& accounts are true, he wound uE
-1is cruise in blaze of glory, having
won home and fortune.
At the present day O'Keefe is 70
years of age, is the king of Yap
acd several adjacent islands. He
has at least six families-fve of them
located on various of these islands
and in North Carolina United States.
For years O'Keefs, has led life
OF his own ruling, governing the ma
4iges of the island of zap and others
IN the neighborhood. He has treat
sd them kindly, and in so doing has
aEeen enabled to build up a fortune
cfar himself. All produce of the is
!fEd is turned over to him to market.
He takes it from them and returns
'te them it's equivalent in supplies or
xsney or anything they may desire
from the outside world
Eyap island is one of the numerous
small patches of land which jut out
If fhe pacific ocean near the equator
1t is among the southern islands of
ttso Caroline group. It's area is
probably less than a thousand square
miles. Ii has only recently been
1dTvulged that there is an O'Keefe of
the South Pacific, and his stronghold
and Robinson Crusoe life might have
<asver come to light had it not boon
for the invasion of the Philippines
Gy the Americans. The island of
Hap being less than 700 miles south
sa&st of the Island of Gaum in tho
ILadrones, it was quite natural for
tie Americans to scrutinize every
craft seen in the nsighborhood. A
small weakness of O'Kssfe, for dis
playing any flag he found convenient
caused his discovery by the United
u tates naval authorities, in the vioin-
@Ey of the Philippines, and the SUBJ
.<Sesuent report to Washington.
Will INVESTIGATE OKEEFE.
Consul Williams, at Manila has
received orders from Washington to
4 nj out as much az possible about
@ Keefe, and, at any rate to ascer-
,Gain under what flag he is carrying
Fu business. Up to the present time
4Se consul has succeeded in obtain
g5ag Information about O'Keefe only
<ror O'Keefe himself. It seems
that he is 80 we'll established that all
reports to the world concerning his
.5omain must be through headquar-
Gere.
The United States government
now simply knows that O'Keefe is
native OF North Carolina. He sailed
forth on the Atlantic as captain of
ECading vessel years and years ago.
This vessel made its way around the
world and among the places that it
touched was the island of zap. He
,z22de n thorough exploration of the
place and also of the surrounding
islands and took away a cargo of in.
azigo and spices. Two years later
lie was not only captain but owner
Of the small trader.
He made straight for zap Island.
With good things from the continent
{: ne and his crew won the affections
of the natives. The vessel was tied
s1p for time uatil home could be
established. Then it was used 10
ssathlish other homes on the other
islands. O'Keefe believed in big
broad life, and one according to his
own ideas, which were not far differ
ant from those of full hedged Nor
mon believer. One by one be sccu-
mulated his islands and cliuched his
title TO the same by marrying the
.bo;aa rF 4ha DSk;va uop,ar acJ GOV