Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-10-12
Kidd, the Pirate.
BY W. IRVING.

In old times, just after the territory Of the
New Netherlands had been wrested from the
hands of their High Mightiness the Lords States
General of Holland, by Charles the Second, and
while it was yet in an unquie state, the province
was favorite resort of adventures of all kinds,
and particularly of buccaneers. These were pi-
ratical rovers of the deep, who made sad work
in times of peace among the Spanish settlements
and Spanish merchant ships. They took advan-
tage of the easy access to their harbor of the
Manhattocs, and of the anxiety of the scarcely
organized government to make it kind of rem
devious, where they might dispose Of their ill
gotten spoils, and concert new depradations.-
Crews Of these desperadoes, the renegades of eve
ry country and cline, might be seen staggering
in open day, about the streets Of the bourg, ell
bowing its quiet Mynheers; traficking away
their rich out landsh plunder, Mt halfprice, to
the wary merchant and then squandering their
gains in taver,,s, drinking, gambling, singing,
swearing, shouting, and astonishing the neigh
borhood with sudden brawls and ruTtian revelry.
At length the indignation of government was
aroused, and it was determined to ferret out this
vermin brood from the colonies. Great conster
nation took place among the pirates on finding
Justice in pursuit of them and their haunts turned
to places of peril. They secreted their money and
jewels in lonely, out of the way places; buried
them about the wild shores of the rivers and sea
coast, and dispersed themselves over the face Of
the country.
Among the agents employed to hunt them by
sea was the renowned Capt. Kidd. He had
long been hardy adventurer, kind of equivo-
cal bordcrer, half trader, half smugger, with a
tolerable dash of the pickaroou. He had traded
for some time among the pirates, lurking about
the seas in a little rakish mosquito built vessel
prying into all kinds of odd places as busy as a
Mother Cary's chicken in gale Of wind.
This nondescript parsonage was pitched upon
by government as the very man to command a
vessel fitted out to cruise against the pirates,
since he knew all their haunts and lurking places
--acting upon the shrewd old maxim Of setting
rogue &C." Kidd accordingly sailed from New
York in the Adventure galley, gallantly armed
and duly commissioned, and steered his course to
the Madeiras, to Bonavista, to Madagascar, and
cruised at the entrance of the RedSea. Instead,
however, Of making war upon the pirates, turned
pirate himself captured friend or foe-enriched
himself with the spois Of the wealthy lndaman,
manned by Moors, though commanded by an
Englishman and having disposed of his prize,
had the hardihood to return to Boston, laden
with his wealth, with crew Of his comrades at
his heels.
His fame had preceded him. The alarm was
given of the re-appearance Of this cut-purse Of
the ocean. Measures were taken for his arrest;
but he had time, it is said, to bury the greater
part of his treasures. He even attempted to
draw his sword and defend himself when arres
ted, but was secured and thrown into prison.
with several of his followers. They were car
ried to England in frigate, where they were
tried, condemned, and hanged at Execution Dock
Kidd died hard, for the rope with which he was
first tied broke with his weight, and he tumbled
to the ground; he was tied up second time
and efectually; from whence arose the story o.
his having been twice hanged.
Such is the main outline of Kidds history
but it has given birth to tradition. The cFcum n
stance of his having buried great treasure fgold
aud jewels after returning from his cruising setthe