The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-08
CAPT. KIDD's BURIED TREASURES.

A Chest Bxhumed on the Eastern shore of
Long Island-The Pirates' Banquet on
Gardiner's lsiand-A Diamond in n Well.
1t is a well-established fact that the
eastern end of this island" ultima
thule" as Mrs. Sigourney very properly
STYLES that region in one OF her most
charming poems-and particularly the
adjacent GARDENERS Island, was favor
ite rendezvous of Capt. Kidd; and such
being the case, and also that the pirates
always buried their plunder, it is rea-
sonable to presume that much treasure
lies hidden underground in this neigh
borhood. Coin and jewelry have been
found from time to time, but in piece
meal, SO that the lead" as they say in
the mines, has not been struck vet, and
remains to be discovered. Some years
back a chest, containing coin and valu-
ables, undoubtedly deposited by the pi-
rates, was exhumed on the island. This
is q historical fact.
That the shores at the eastern end or
tail of the Typographical fish formed by
the island have been the receptacle Of
the treasures of the great pirate chief
tain there can be no doubt-none at
least to synthetical mind-from the
fact that discoveries have been made,
and that the neighborhood was favor
ite rendezvous of Kidd and his merry
men.
1t is related that once, flushed with
victory, Capt. Kidd ran into GARDENERS
Island and requested the hostess to roast
him Il pig. Now, pigs were by no means
numerous on the island at that PERIOD
and this demand of the pirate was un-
reasonable, even for him. If Mr.. Gardi-
ner had been at home, it is likely he
would have talked the captain out of
this whim; but he had sailed early in
the morning on voyage along the
southern coast of Long Island, and pro-
badly would not return for two days.
Mrs. Gardiner, fearing to rouse the cap
taius anger by q refusal, ordered the
killing and roasting of shoat. and that
night the captain and his crew were
feasted on roast pork, and doubtless
made merry, as they remained on the
island throughout the night.
In the morning, when his craving was
no longer for roast pig, the captain, who
is SAID to have been a privately commits
stoned officer OF the English king, and
whom all accounts agree III pronouncing
n gentleman, remembered the reluctance
with which Mrs. Gardiner had complied
with his request, and sought to compen-
safe her for the sacrifice. Mrs. Gardiner,
however, would accept neither gold nor
jewels; and the captain bethought him
self of means to reward her in way she
would not decline. He half resolved, it
is related, to plunder some New Eng
land settlement of its pigs, and present
them to Mrs. Gardiner. He determined
not to leave the island till he had salts
recompensed Mrs. Gardiner for the pig,
which, we fancy, must have produced
indigestion. At length plan occurrt d
to him. lie had in his pocket q costly
diamond, which he had taken from u
French nobleman on u previous cruise,
and this he slyly placed in the bottom
of the we'll bucket before embarking.
The sun was directly overhead when
Mrs. Gardiner sent her little daughter,
q golden haired, rosy-cheeked girl of
six or so, to the well for pot of water.
The child was struck with the brilliancy
of what appeared to be drop of water
remaining in the bottom of the bucket
as she lowered it, and was SO surprised
upon drawing it up and emptying it, to
ind that the crystal drop stlll shone,
that she involuntarily called for her
mother who, alarmed, hastened to the
spot. Mrs. Gardiner, too, was surprised
at the effect, but soon found what had
produced it. This singular discovery OF
the diamond puzzled her for while
when she recollected having seen the
pirate chieftain stop at the well on his
way to his ship, and with woman's in
tuition she needed no explanation
Broollyn (N. ~ Union.