The Pohnpei
portion of
James O'Connell's story finally came to a close when he
apparently abandoned the island in 1833, aboard the trading
ship
Spy. He ended up in the eastern United
States. There he traveled about with circuses as the Celebrated
Tattooed Man, dancing and showing off his tattoos for curious
American audiences. What became of James O'Connell in his latter years is not
known. In fact, there are very few traces of his
existence at all, partly because he seems to have taken the
name James O'Connell in the years after leaving Pohnpei.
His given name, the true story behind his strange visit to
Micronesia, and his final end remain mysterious. Today, one of the most popular restaurants on
Pohnpei is named after the famous Tattooed Irishman.
The Pohnpei
portion of
James O'Connell's story finally came to a close when he
apparently abandoned the island in 1833, aboard the trading
ship
Spy. He ended up in the eastern United
States. There he traveled about with circuses as the Celebrated
Tattooed Man, dancing and showing off his tattoos for curious
American audiences. What became of James O'Connell in his latter years is not
known. In fact, there are very few traces of his
existence at all, partly because he seems to have taken the
name James O'Connell in the years after leaving Pohnpei.
His given name, the true story behind his strange visit to
Micronesia, and his final end remain mysterious. Today, one of the most popular restaurants on
Pohnpei is named after the famous Tattooed Irishman.
