Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-12-13

ones were daring fellows, and made sad work
and Spanish merchantmen. The easy access
to the harbor of the Manhattoes, the number of
hiding places about its waters, and the laxity
its scarcely organized government, made it a
great rendezvous OF the pirates where they
might dispose Of their booty, and concert new
depredaiions. As they broug hit home with them
wealthy lading of all kinds, the luxnries of the
tropics and the sumptuous spirits of the Span
ish provinces, and disposed of them with the
proverbial carelessness of eree5oo,ers, they
were welcome visitors to the thrifty traders Of
the Mlnhattoes. Crews Of these desperadoes,
therefore, the renegades Of every country and
every cline, might be seen staggering about
the little burgh, elbowing the quiet mynheers,
tra(fcking away their rich ouilandsh plunder
at half or quarter price TO the wary merchant,
and then squandering their prize money in lav-
erns drinking, gambling, gingling, swearing,
shouting and astounding the neighborhood with
midnight brawl and ruffian revelry
At length these excesses rose to such
height as 10 become scandal 10 the provinces.
and to call loudly for the inierposilion of gov
ernment. Measures were accordingly taken
TO put stop TO The widely extended evil, and
to ferret this vermin breed out of the colo
MES.
Among the agents employed TO execute this
purpose, was the notorious Captain Kidd. lie
had long been an equivocal character one Of
those nondescript animals of the ocean that are
neither fish, flesh, or fowl. He was somewhat
of trader, something more Of a smuggler,
with considerable dash of the pickaroon.-
He had traded for many years among the pi
rates in little rakish, musquito-buIlt vessel,
that could run into all kinds of waters. He
knew all their haunts and lurking-paces was
always looking about on mysterious voyages
and as busy as Mother Carey's chicken in
storm. This nondescript parsonage was pitch
ed upon by the Government as the very person
10 hunt the'pirates by sea, upon the good old
maxim Of "seiting a rogue-io catch
rogue :" or as others are sometimes used TO
catch their cousins german, the fish.
Kidd accordingly sailed from New York, in
1895, in gallant vessel called the Adventure
Galley, well armed and duly commissioned
On arriving at the old hannts, however, he
shipped his crew on new terms enlisted a
number of his old comrades, lads of the knife
and pistol and then set sail for the East. In
stead of cruising against pirates he turned pi-
rate himself, steered 10 the Madieras, in Bona
vista, and to Madagascar, and cruised about the
entrance Of the Red Sea. Here among other
maratlme rohberes, he captured rich Quebah
merchantman, named Moors, though comman-
ded by an Enalishman. Kidd would fain have
passed this of for worthy exploit, as being
kind of crusade against the infdels but gov
ernment had long since lest all relish for such
Christian triumphs.
After roaming the seas, tralficking his prizes
and changing from ship TO ship, Kidd had the
hardihood to return to Boston, laden with boo
ty. with crew of swag eering companions at
his heels.
Times, however, had changed The bucca-
neers could no longer show a whisker in the
colonies with impunity The new governor,
Lord Bellamont, had signallzed himself by his
zeal in extirpating these offenders and was
doubly exaspera,ed against Kidd, having been
instrumental in appointing him TO the trust
which he had betrayed. No sooner, therefore,
did he show himself in Boston than the alarm
was given of his temperance and measures
were taken To arrest this cut-purse Oflhe ocean.
The daring character WHICH Kidd had acquired,
however, and the desperate fellows who fol-
lowed like bull dogs at his heels, caused a lit
tie delay in his arrest. He took advantage Of
this, it is said, 10 bury the greater part of his
treasures, and then carried high head about
-the streets of Boston. He even attempted To
defend himself when arrested, but was secured
and thrown into prison with his followers
Such was the formjable character of this pi-
rate and his crew, that it was thought adVis
Bile to despatch frigale to bring them to Eng
idhu. Nicdt SActilohS WeIC ulduc 10 SCIttH
him from Justice, but in vain he and his com
rades were tried, condemned, and hanged at
Execution Dock, in London. Kidd died hard, i,
for the rope with which he was Tied up broke
with his weight, and he tumbed 10 the ground.
He was tied up second time, and more effec-
tualy from whence came. doubtless, the sto-
ry of Kidd's having charmed life, and that he
had to be twice hanged
Such is the main outline of Kids history ;
but il has given birth to an innumerabe proge-
nv of traditions. The report of his having bu-
ried great treasures Of gold and lewels before
his arrest, set the brains of all the good people
along the coast in ferment. There were ru-
mors on rumors of great sums Of money found
here and there, sometimes in one part of the
country, and sometimes in anotter Of coins OF
Moorish inscription, doubtless the spoils of his
eastern prizes, but which the common people
looked upon with superstitiious awe, regard
! ing the Moorish letters as dabolcal or magic
al characters.
Some reported the treasures to have been
buried in solitary unsettled places about Ply
mouth and Cape Cod but by degrees various
other parts, only on the eastern coast, bui
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