Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-22
JAS. MCKINNEY,
FORMER KING OF
MALAGA ISLAND,
PASSES BEYOND

Bath, Me-, Feb. 1S.-The death at
Sebasco Of James Mckinney. aged y,
took place Tuesday, Feb. Is. For many
years he lived on Malaga Island, at
the mouth Of the New Meadows River,
and in that colony of blacks and whites
was hailed as king" He enjoyed this
title until the State took action against
the colony half dozen years ago by
burning the huts in which the colonists
lived, thus driving them to the main
land. King Jim" moved to Sebasco
close by, where he built himself a
modest little home. but his health rap
idly failed and death. according to the
certificate, was due to- valvular heart
trouble. His heart was broken, it is
said, by the disintegration of his
"kingdom."
Mckinney lived among the Malaga
Islanders more than SO years. Al
though that population had little re-
gard for the laws. and blacks and
whites married and intermarried. I'M
til the population was mixture not
equaled anywhere in the State, they
all acknowledged king jim as their
superior.
King Jim" was a white man who
owned the most pretentious dwelling
on the island. 1t was a story-and-a "a
half structure situated on an emlnence.
Compared with the other shacks. 1t
was a castle, and it was said that none
ever dared cross it's threshold without
first cleaning their shoes, If the were
fortunate to own a pair. In summer
many of the islanders went barefoot
ed. and they were obliged to first wash
their feet before being admitted to the
royal palace.
All disputes were carried 10 the
king" for settlement, and his decisions
were considered final. Once d year the
king and his wife. who was known
as Queen Mary" received their
friends at the palace. where such
games as drop the handkerchief Co
penhagen and btitton, button were
PLAYED by the adults with childish sim
plicity.
The king was a musician of some
ability, and for many years Wheh 'he
little country dances were held on the
mainland, either in PhippsburS or at
Cundy's Harbor, it was the custom to
send for McKenney and his fiddle.
McKenney had little patience with
some Of the people on the island on
account Of their disregard for man
made laws and the filthy condition or
some of their homes. He predlcted
dire results and a fall of his own dy-
NASTY long before Gov Plaisted and
other State officials investigated the
conditions there. AS a result 81 TINS
investigation, Gov. Plaisted ordered the
neonle removed from the island. which
belonged to the State, and had their
shacks burned BY this means he
boned to separate various families and
,bus break M the custom of inter mar
riage.
MANY families moved to the mann
land nearby and among them Were
king Jim" and his wife. They punt
y new home, but the man was unade
10 accustom himself to his new SUI
roundings and suffered from pfohcii
heart. For the past year he was only
q wreck of his former self.
He was the last of three ola charac-
ters who had helped to make 1he Isl
and famous among siEhtseers. Inc
others were George Washington Grlf :
fin. 2 white bearded old man who nv
cd in the cabin of a wrecked ship, ana
lake MartZ. a black, who lived with
three generations of his family IN a
cabin that did not measure more than