1871 David Dean O'Keefe, and American sailor on a pearl diving expedition aboard the Belvedere, is shipwrecked on Yap and rescued by the Yapese people. He was later taken to Hong Kong on a German trading ship.

1872 O'Keefe returns as skipper of a Chinese junk named Catherine, after his American wife, and begins his famous trade of stone money for copra and bech-de-mer.

1874 Spain claims sovereignty over Yap.

1876 Germany sends a warship to Yap to map the island and protect German interests.

1880's Yap is established as commercial center of Caroline Islands. During this period Yap serves as the major regional source of copra, home to four trading
companies, and a coaling station for Spanish steamers.

1885 Spanish-German feud reaches climax. On August 21st, two Spanish ships arrive with a governor, two priests, soldiers, convict laborers, horses, water buffalo, cattle and stones for a governor's house and a mission. Four days later, the German gunboat Litis drops anchor and a small party races ashore to raise a German flag and claim the island-just prior to the formal colonization ceremony the Spanish are planning.

1886 Pope Leo XII settles ensuing feud between Germany's Bismarck and Spain's King Alfonso. the Pope awards Yap and the other Caroline Islands to Spain, but grants Germany and other nations commercial rights. Spain sets up a small garrison and begins building first of six Catholic churches.

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