Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-09
o'kEEFE, KING OF yAPs.
An American Who Rules an
Island In the Pacific.
1T MAY BE ANNEXEDBY UNCLE SAM

IL MAY BIZ ANNEAEDB BY UNULE SAM
Consul Williams Has Been Ordered
to Investigate OK eefe, and He May
Soon Have to Show His Hand-HOw
He Rules. and Acquired His Island
Domain.
It is probable that another island in
the Pacific will be annexed to the Unit
ed States. It is the island of Yap--a
neighbor of Guam-in the Ladrones.
Just now it is ruled by an American
Daniel V. O'Keefe, a native of North
Carolina. Consul Williams, at Manila,
has received orders from Washington
to find out as much as possible about
O'Keefe, and, at any rate, to ascertain
under what flag he is carrying on bust
ness.
O'Keefe sailed forth on the Atlantic
as captain Of a trading vessel years and
years ago. This vessel made its way
around the world, and among the places
where it touched was the island of zap
O'Keefe made a pretty thorough ex-
ploration Of the place and also of the
surrounding islands and took away a
rich cargo Of spices and indigo. Two
years later he was not only captain Of
the small trader, but it's owner. He
made straight for zap island. With
good things from the continent he and
his crew won the affections of the ma
tives.
The vessel was tied up for a time
until a home could be established. Then
it was used to establish other homes in
other islands. O'Keefe believed in a
big, broad life and one according to his
own ideas, which were not far different
from those of a full fledged Mormon be.
lever. One by one he accumulated his
islands and olinched his title to the
same by marrying the choice Of the ma
tive women, and several of them. Mem
bers of the trading ships crew followed.
O'Keefe and his white men came to
win the esteem and affection of the is
landers to such an extent that he was
exalted to be chief ruler of the colonies,
and what he said went. O'Keefe prob
ably deserved this honor, for he was
honorable in his transactions with the
natives and never tried to cheat them.
He even went out Of his way to do them
favors, supply them with comforts and
teach them to live a life after his own
ideas. He set up a sort Of government
and put himself at it's head.
A nephew Of O'Keefe, now supposed
to be in New York city, has had this
south sea fortune thrown at his feet
and refused to accept it. O'Keefe, SO he
writes Consul Williams in Manila, sent
word to this nephew that if he would
agree to live with him until the end Of
his days and learn the modus operandi
of affairs Oh zap island and its neigh.
bors he would place all affairs in his
hands and allow him to rule the fortune
at his death.
1t was with much hesitation that the
nephew finally decided to shake himself
free from the rich life Of idleness he
was leading in the metropolis and take
passage to the faroff Pacific region. He
babe goodby to the bloods Of his ac-
quaintance and sailed. He landed at
the steamship port among the Philip
pines, where he was picked up after a
few months waiting by a vessel from
his uncle's domain.
The tutelage in Malay politics began,
and the nephew was wined and dined
as the successor of King O'Keefe in the
finest society the island afforded. 1t
was rare sport at first for the young
swell. The novelty Of the situation was
fascinating, but the time came when he
longed for some of his former compan-
ions just to tell them all about it.
And then came a longing to spend
money. Where could be spend money
on zap island or any other island in
the group? Was not everything he
wished for furnished to him at his sign
and without the least expense? A fish
out Of its native water will not thrive,
and neither did the nephew. There was
a short and decisive interview with the
good uncle, and a ship sailed for civil.
lization 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 zap, and
the old man is looking for a successor.
Allegiance to his mother country
seems to be of small concern to O'Keefe
now that he has established himself in
a country Of his own. OF course this
country has a flag, but a passing war
vessel would probably fail to recognize
an unknown flag, and unless the craft
from the island bore oolors of greater
protection O'Keefe realized that he
would probably lose his vessels. This
probably explains the phenomenon
which one United States vessel report.
ed-viz, British colors on a certain
small sailboat on n day and American
colors the next. Perhaps O'Keefe is a
little shortsighted and mistook the
United States vessel for one Of John
Bulls. AT any tate be is being investi.
gated by Uncle Sara, and one Of these
days he may have to show his hand
Naw York World.