Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-08-03
From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
CAPTAIN KIDD AND HIS TREASURES.

| freebooter of by.gone days have been brought
into notice once more, by attempts which are
making to ascertain the contents of a hulk
which has been discovered, deeply sunk in the
mud at the mouth of what is called the Race,
| in Hudson River, at the foot of Dundenbergh
Mountain, near Caldwe's Landing. From
statement just published by some of the parties
interested, we derive the annexed extracts
showing the progress already made in the
| work of exploration, and some of the reasons
which induce the belief that the hulk in ques-
lion is the remains of the vcritable ship of Capt.
William Kidd. 1t appears from portions of tho
! statement which we have not copied, that l.
mong the inhabitants residing in the vicinity of
| the wreck, there are traditions that have been
handed down from generation to generation,
that Kidd's ship being pursued by British cruz
sers to the point above indicated, was there set
on fire and sunk by Kidd himself, about one
hundred and forty-fve years since; and that
Kidd with a few Of his followers, then made
their way across the country to Boston, where
he was soon after captured and sent to England
These traditions are corroborated by similar
traditions among the descendants Of persons
formerly residing in the vicinity of Dunder-
berg Mountain, but who are now scattered in
distant parts of the country. 1t is not for us to
decide how much weight these traditions are
entitled to. So far us we are aware, there is
no authentic record of KidG's ship having been
driven up the Hudson, and there, burnt but it
is also to be noted that the whole history of his
movements is TO great extent involved IN
mystery, insomuch that some have maintained
Certainly without reason) thet Capt. Kidd was
mere creature of fancy, and that such man
never in fact existed. One thing is certain,
viz: that the remains of large ship have
been found at the point indicated by the above
mentioned traditions; and from the APPEARANCE
of the shavings brought up by cased augurs, it
is evident that she had been partially burnt
Furthermore, howitzer, Of very ancient con-
struction, has been recovered from the wreck
which shows that the vessel there burnt and
sunk, was an armed vessel. This howitzer we
have seen, and any body may see it who is dis
posed to 90 into Jones' Court, Wall ST. As its
peculiarites are described in the annexed ex-
tract, we need not partcularize them here.
Kids money has been dug tor everywhere,
and a vast deal ofsuperstition and nonsence has
been displayed in regard TO it, The present
may turn out to be an equally truitess search,
as tar as treasure is concerned; and il may
even prove that Kidd had no more to do with
the ship in question, than the man in the moon
yet even go, a few thousand dollars expended in
solving the mystery of this armed hulk con-
cerning which history is nearly not altogether
silent, will be money well laid out. We are
glad to learn that there is determination on
; the part OF the individuals concerned, to pursue
their researches until the problem is definitely
solved. We now proceed to the extracts:
Capt Kidd was commander in the Englisl
Il navy, and received a commission to cruise a
gainst the pirates and afterwards a commission
of reprisals against the French. lie is said t
o have been captivated with the treasure of the
daughter OF tie Great Mogul, which was giver
her as marriage portion, and she put il
charge of Kidd to convey to her husband, wher
he turned pirate, murdered her, and stole he
treasure that afterwards he captured mum
Der of Moorish vessels, French ships, and Span
sh galleons, besides other vessels with valua
BILE cargoes, and at length was driven up thl
le Hudson river by the English men-of.war whicl
were sent out for his capture and not seeins
V, any way of escape, sunk his vessel with he
cargo of treasure, went across the country, thel
almost wilderness, and was taken prosner a
Boston, with few of his men who went witt
him, aud sent to England, tried and executed
being hung in chain0 at Execution Dock" OF
.. the 18th day of May, l70l.
We shall not enter into any proof OF tn
main fact in the above statement to wit--tha
N Kidd was commissioned an officer in the Eng
lsh navy, turned pirate, was taken prisoner i
this country, sent to England, tried and execu'
m ed-but would refer those, If any who have an
nj doubt on those points, TO British State Trials
ne Smiths History, Thompson's History of Lon
Island Sound, and his capture, which will b
,e. mentioned herein. Without going into state
ments which any one can hear by going to TIA
lower end OF Long Island, of the escape of tw
lt- or three of Kidd's men who settled there ha,
ing brought booty with them, and where til
name of the family and the property purchase
* will be pointed out, by which, for obvious re,
sons, we forbear to partcuarlse, as well as III
ne, general traditions in almost every harbor c
l.,I, 80 L, I. Io,, k-r