New-York tribune., 1903-04-19
AN FRESHMAN WHO BECAME A KING.
UNITED ST4TES VESSEL C4RRYING 4 LAWYER
TO YAP TO CLAIM HIS EST1fTE.

traded in products ard left his companions
in the rear in the search for riches Influence.
He saw that To succeed he must make friends with
the natives. He did this. and built a trading
schooner His business grew ana other schooners
were added. When he died he owned fleet OF
them.
His wife in Savannah would never go to him IN
the faTaway country in which he had cast his lot
She and the little girl remained at Savannah.
Throughout all his triumphs O'Keefe never forgot
his home people Twice each year he went to
Hong Kong. and just often there would be sent
remittance to his wife in Savannah. The last
remittance for $1,000. and it came in May,
1901 That was the last letter Mrs. O'Keefs re-
ceived from her husband. O'keefe did not aban-
don the traits of civilization after getting estab-
Eshed in his territory. To De the king was
strictly business with him He his wife photo
graphs OF himself at times. showing that hs
changed little in his country He also
her a picture at one time Of his headquarters
the island Of zap. One Of his vessels lay IN ths
harbor and above his house foated his own flag
with the design ok on it and above that the
Stars and Stripes. O'Keefe's vessels sailed under
the American flag all the time He made it fsmiI-
lar to the people OF the Carolines before Dewey
caused it to be greatly respected in those parts
The tricolor was good enough for him to sail Un-
der, and he found that his allegiance TO the flag
stood him in good stead at a critical time. When
Germany bought the Carolines from Spain ths
officers in his majesty-s navy wanted claims
OKeefe's island for Emperor William The in
trepid Of St Patrick defed them take the
slanGs from him and called upon the United States
to assist him in protecting his interests His plea
was not in vain. He firmly established his titls
TO the property over which the flag OF his country
and his individual bunting waved in triumph.
O'Keefe never tried tc lord il over his subjects.
He was democratic ruler He was voted
there was ever anv EFFORT made b tb natives "a.
dethrone this American and 10 take away from him
the right to govern his islands he never permitted
Some strange tales have found their way hons
rom rom the the faTaway TARA Islands They may ne true and
told them to anybody that knew him here. Ons
Of them has TO do with his domestic relations. Ir
y Sdlu tI5I 'titeT ne acquired the urst lSd I'D
natives did not like the idea OF a bachelor rulsr
island was searched for the most likely maiden and
she was brought to the King 1t sift from his
subjects. If reports true the maiden wag
adorned with an abundance of good looks and mod.
esty but wore no more clothes than the residents or
the South Sea Islands among The better class at
cation of natives coming in tri,nhant nrocesSior
with the bride for the ruler Of the country. The
neCnIe vrer in esrnesr and tEf 1be,. baliVej thsy-
in far of Savannah and smiled as he wondered
what she would say at the proceedings then under
way. The bride-elect was rendered I'm the formal
way. and just as formally declined The people
were greatly disappointed and t was 9H Ohesfs
could do to make them understand MT in the
hcient for man. be he ruler subject. II OKeefs
changed his mind subsequently. he AZ least never
& AT an aho{ner % tb {le fir w d onf t5 ,5so5s
This he was forced 10 decline He never forgot his
American habits His visits to Hong KonS
great pleasure trips for him. They constituted his
introduction TO a broader civilization than held
sway his possessions.
His last trip Hong Kong in May. 1901. He
made the trip in his vessel the schooner santa
Cruz Before starting to return home he sent his
wife a draft for 5000 To reached her in safety.
With il came a letter telling Of further successes
and speaking OF q Homecoming trip before the year
gone
He sailed from Hong Kong for his home port on
NAV 1901. and nothing has been heard or
him. He disappeared with his entire u -
presumed that storm came up and wrecked the
schooner, and that every board periShed
HIS secretary Hong Kong. who had seen him
depart FOR Zap. waited IN vain fOE the return OF
the schooner or for some word from his employer
After a reasonable length OF time had passed ne
wrote TO Mrs. O'keefc. telling her that the hins
was probably lost Nearly TWO years have SOne oy
and still there has word. and SO the altof-
ney for Mrs OKeefe is Soins to the isltndS 81 ne
sturdy traveller TO settle his estate II - not
known what will become OF the property; Inc
right sell it 10 others may be contested bN IN.
natives. VINO are probably awaiting the return ol
their sovereign Lawyers in Hong Kong nave
been secured To assist in the Search for and Ies
ok flag still floats in the Eastern waters Dt ~
will probably come down forever when the esta's
is settled up. 80
Mrs % Keefe is now an old woman The infanc
hahv that O'Keefe first officer Of the good SHIP
FeIvidere. kissed gOOdby his first voyage IN ths
craft i grown woman. with chidfcn Pias.
ing about her hearthStone- They never v cary o.
hearing her talk OF Grandpa who was ans.