Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-08-03

conceivable. So enormous had been his pira- !
cies, that when it became necessary for the
English Government to send out a squadron for
the extrpation of the pirates, and which was
done under the command of Captain Thomas
Warner, proclamation was made by the King,
to give notice of the "intention to extend the
royal mercy to such as should surrender them
selves" bearing date at Kensington the Sth day
of December, 1903, and after reciing in the
proclamation to whom the surrender must be
done, Kidd was excepted from the same, and
the proclamation closed in there words, "ex-
cepting Henry Avery, alias Bridgcman, and
William Kidd.
Influenced by traditions, from different
sources and other reasons pointing TO this place
as the location of that vessel Il person of great
sagaclty, intelligence and wealth, and whose
name has become almost preverbial for good
fortune, in connection with another gentleman,
took measures about fifteen years since, to Sc
cure the land at the location of this sunken yes
sci, and also a water grant from the State of
New York for go feet from high water mark,
that distance extending beyond the vessel.
They purchased large tract OF land, about 100
acres, thus certain it extended beyond, on both
sides, the precise spots where they believed
the vessel was located. A series of expert
ments was then commenced by them, to ascer-
tain whether vessel was sunk in the River at
that place, for there was nothing of one to be
seen. These experiments have been continued
from time to time, having been interrupted by
the death OF one Of the parties in interest. They
have, however, been pursued Of late more tho.
roughly, since the property has come into the
hands of one person, by the settlement of the
estate of the other party, who was interested in
the purchase. The results of these experiments
are entirely corroboratory of the traditions.
The river is not clear enough to see but a
very little depth below the surface of the wa
ter From the long time which the vessel had
been sunk, being now about ll5 years, it could
not but be expected that she would be covered
with mud. Experiments were therefore com
menced with pricking with long poles, with i
ron points Timber wns soon found little be
low the mud. The mud being soft, the pole.
went down with little effort, until they wer,
stopped by striking, what any one from th'
/ sound and sensat ion ofthe hand, could have M
! doubt was wood BY jnmmng the pole hard i
would stick fast, 20 much so 1t could with diff
/ Guilty be pulled out, ana on sticking down
pole with barbcd point, fastened 10 the poll
by the pole being driven in a socket and rive
put through the pole and iron, to make the lro'
fast to the pole, 81 much power was applied l.
the pole that ii tcrc from the IRON, before the
ron would let 90 OF the timber, and 1t was LEI
fast sticking into the wood.
This is the part of the vessel nearest tn
shore, and from which Il small part ot the dec
is supposed 10 be blown off, and, no doubt, iron
the firmncss with which the iron drove III,
must have gone endways into the wood A
attempt was therefore made, to find by prick
ng other timbers at the distance a knee OF
vessel would ordinarily be placed, and the al
tempt was successful and after setting up pole:
and making them plumb at these various polnt
they made the curve Of part of the side OF
large vessel. An experiment was utterward
tried, by boring with long augurs, with tin case
round them to save -. chips. On going tu
ther into the river, in % or % feet water, an
boring, the result was little mud OF one G
two feet in depth, then through plank OF soah
ed wood, very spongy aud which shlpwrgl
of great skill and experience, who vas employ
ed, as well as others, do not hesitate to say
pine. The augurs would then drop a numbC
ol feet and then bring up, and on boring, IN
timber was found 10 be English OAK, and IN
perfect state OF preservation. Somc OF the CHIP
were charred, thus confirming the tradition
that she was partly burned; specimens of theS
chips we now have. This experiment va
many times repeated In some cases tlmbt
vas bored, which 1t took nearly an hour to boz
through and, in other cases. the augurs wouI
be brought up on something solid, whether Q
an iron box, a oask or barrel OF specie, or on ire
bars, it was impossible to tell, only that it coul
not be bored.
! During the present season experiments haS
5 been prosecuted by sending diver in an II
, genious dress for submarine operations, of ne
invention, by Mr. Sargent, (under whose dire
tions future operations will be carried on) whic
have resulted as follows: 1t being early in II
season, the water was unusually muddy, al
the divers were consequently unable to ST