The Irish standard., 1903-02-14
KING O'KEEFFE OF YAP
s Said 10 Have Len Valuable
Estate.

Col. Walter G. Hartridge, of Savan-
nah, is about to leave for San Fran
cisco en- route to the orient, for the
unique purpose of restoring to an
American woman the island kingdom
over which her husband ruled as king
for years and accumulated fortune.
This American queen, who has
never visited her realm and probably
never will, since she is thoroughly re-
publican at heart and says she has no
desire to WELD a sceptre, is Mrs.
Catherine O'Keeffe, who lives in Saw
annah, in one of the best residential
sections, near the center of the hotel
and club life.
She is the widow of Capt. David
OKeeffe, who for more than twenty
years was known in the Philippines
and Carolines and at Hongkong ms
king O'Keeffe of Yap."
Captain O'Keeffe left Savannah
more than twenty years ago as
petty officer on Il deep sea vessel, the
Belvidere, bound for China. Behind
him he left his young wife and an in
FAINT daughter, who might now call
herself a princess if she chose.
OKeeffe was good mariner and
won promotion to the command of his
ship. After trading between Chinese
and Philippine ports for time his
vessel was caught in typhoon and
wrecked on the island of Yap, in the
Caroline group.
+ 1t is believed that O'Keeffe was the
sole survivor. He found the island
Of an area Of some forty odd miles
and of coral formation and inhabited
by friendly savages.
Though not understanding the Ian
guage of the natives, the sailor was
well cared for. Being a man Of in
telligence, his mastery over the ma
tives began as soon as they had estab-
lished relations of mutual confidence.
Some tools were saved from the
wreck of the ship, and with these
O'Keeffe built surf boats that were
better than any the natives had ever
seen before, and after lapse of
year or two he succeeded in construct
ing and rigging small schooner cap
able of making the passage to the
other islands and carrying freight.
Meanwhile the natives, in high ap-
probation of O'Keeffe's attainments.
unanimously elected him to be their
king, which position he held as long
as he lived. O'Keeffe used to write
home to his wife that he was quite
sure he made them a good and con-
siderate king. having established
code of simple laws for the govern
ment Of his subjects.
He found them tractable and obedi-
ent, and never experienced difficulty
in maintaining discipline. O'Keefre
did not attempt to establish schools,
but he did put stop to certain saw
age rites that they had formerly prac-
ticed and taught them something
about the religion of the white man,
but he was too busy man to devote
much time to missionary work.
AS soon as O'Keeffe found himself
firmly established as king Of Yap he
set about making a fortune, If there
was one to be made there. He went
into the copra business on a large
scale. devoting practically the whole
Of his island to it. He also gathered
odd and beautiful corals and sea
shells and had success in pearl
fishing.
Twice every year he made a voyage
to Manila or Hongkong to dispose Of
the fruits of the previous six months
labor, and always with profit. His
first Handmade" little vessel was
speedily replaced with larger and
safer craft. built in Spanish ship
yard at Manila.