The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-02-10
ANECDOTE OF CAPT. KIDD.

The notorious Capt. Kidd on return
ing from an inland exploring expedition,
one cold afternoon in December acciden-
tally came upon the body of man who
had been frozen to death in the Forest
As he felt little interest in the comings
aud goings sofmortality, any further than
his own existence aud thai of his asso-
ciate outlaws was concerned, he would
probably have passed the corpse of the
unfortunate man, with single punch Of
his staff had not pair of pegged cowhide
boots, which graced the legs of the de-
funct, presented an envable superiority
when oontrasted with his own rugged and
so!eless brogans. Upon this hint he pull
ed-but the boots clung to their owners
legs with such AN affectonate grasp, that
he was unable to start them. After taxi
ing breath, he tried them again, toe and
heel, first one and then the other at
length, tired of practicing the boot jack
with so little success, he had nearly got
the better of his covetous thoughts, when
he hit upon the happy expedient of TAX
ing boots legs and all, and tbawing Them
out at his leisure. AT it he went, slash
ing away right and left, very expeditions
if not skiful surgeon, making the knife
with which he usually cut his food, 90
glorious service on the legs of the frozen
unknown a few moments made sad
cripple of the carcase, and slowing away
the prize in his empty provision bag,
Kidd began to " leg it" seawards, at a
rapid pace.
In spite Of all his speed however he
was benighted some eight or ten miles
from the place where he expected to meet
his associates. Being in no great haste
to reach his destination he concluded to
halt for the night, at little collection of
houses on the edge of the forest, and push
on again at the dawn of day. lie raped
at the door Of the nearest habitation and
was welcomed with a hearty "walk in.".
And in he went. A little old woman,
done up III a black bombazine gown and
an enormous cotton frizzle cap, with a
dirty looking yellow ribbon dangling
round it,
Like sea-weeI round a clam
and queer looking old man, arrayed in
a snuff colorcd bob-lail coat, and pair
Of good hunting breeches, sat crouching
over fire Of sappy sizzling wood, in the
opposite corners of a capacious fire. plnce.
On the hearth, huge Newfoundland
dog, and couple Of very decent sized
tom-cats, lay stretched at full length, en-
joying most delightful snooze. Kidd
threw down his provision bag in one cor
ncr of the room, and hauled "A chair into
the domestic circle, round the fire. After
taking cold bite" and discussing mat
ters and things for an hour or two, over
a mug Of cider, and a noggIn Of apples,
old Contentment and his wife crawled off
to bed in an adjoining room, and left the
Capt. to take his repose on heap Of rugs
and skins beside the fire-the best extra
lodging the house afforded. Accordingly
he extended his frame on the humble pal
let, and soon fell into gentle doze.
lie dreamed-and the events of the
previous day shaped the images that dis
turbed his mind. lie imagined that he
was chased by more than hundred hu-
man legs with new boots on, aud wherey-
er he sought shelter from these bodIless
enemies he found himself surrounded by
as many men hobblng about on stumps
Of legs At length he imagined himself
fairly cornerrd, the legs began to kick
him, and the men beat him with their
6sts. IN his exertion to release himself
from his imaginary enemies, be extended