Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-11
CAPTAIN KIDD.
A Search for Hidden Treasures.

ions, sustained by considerable capital, are
pursuing the search for Captain Kidd's money
one somewhere in New England and the other
at Oak Island, Nova Scotia. No one has for
gotten the large sums of money sunk in a Golfer
dam on the North river, few years since in
the search after of Kidd's vessels loaded with
gold and silver and diamonds; and il Is probable
that the two expeditions aboye-named are not
the only seekers. Here and there, along our
shores, IT Is not uncommon to see one two or
three individuals pursuing the same search On
the whole, 1t II probable that a great MANY peo-
PIE really believe that the treasure may found.
A few facts, therefore, where there is so much
fancy, may be worth recalling.
Doubtless one of the most terrible names in
The juvenile literature of England and English
America, during the last century and a half
has been that of William Kidd, the pirate In
the nursery legend, in story, and in song, his
name has stood forth as the boldest and blo0diest
OF buccaneers.
The terror of the ocean. when abroad, he re-
turned from his successive voyages to line our
coasts with silver and gold, and to renew with
TIE devil league, eemented with the blood of
victims shot down, whenever fresh returns of
the precious metals were to he hidden. Accord
ing to the supersttiOns of Connecticut and Long
Island, it was owing to these bloody charms that
honest money -diggers have ever experienced so
much difficulty IN recovering the buried
reasures. Often, indeed, have the lids of the
iron chests ruDg beneath the mattOck of the
stealthy midnight searcher for gold; but the
flashes of sulphGIOus fires, blue and red and the
saucer-eyes and chattering teeth OF legions of
dc mons have uniformly interposed 10 brighten
the delivers from their posts and preserve the
treasures from their greedy CLUTCHES. But not
wlthstanding the narrowing sensations con-
nected with the name of Kidd, and his renown
as pirate, he was but one of the last and most
lnconslderable of that race of sea-robbers, who,
during long series OF years in the seventeenth
century, were the admiration of the world for
their proves, and its terror for their crimes.
In the latter part of the seventeenth century
Kidd was in command of a merchant YES
sci trading between New York and London,
and was celebrated for his nautical skill and
enterprise. The first mention of him i'm
authentic colonial history occurs in 1881, in
which year the "Journals of the New York
Assembly" tell Us that on the 18th day of
April much credit was allowed to be due him
province, in attending with his vessels" But
in what capacity or for what object he thus
attended with his vessels does not appear. 1t
was also declared that he ought to be suitably
rewarded. Accordingly, on the 1ith of Nav
following, it was ordered by the same Assembly
THAT the sum of ESQ be paid to Captain Kidd
as suitable acknowledgment for the import
from his hands" The presumption is that
those services were in some way connected
with the protection of the colonial merchant
marine from the attacks of the pirates who
were at that time lowering along the coasts of
the northern colonies. Indeed, the harbOr of
New York was no stranger to the pirate vessels,
and the commerce between them and the Z" peo-
pie OF figure in this city was not inconsiderable
Ii was no great secret that the pirates were fire.
quently in the Sound, and were freely supplied
with provisions by the inhabitants of Long
Island; and still further, il was well known i'm
the year 1896 that the English freebooters had
htted out their vessels in the very harbOr of New
York itself. On the arrival of the pirate vessels
from their cruises, their goods were openly sold
in the city; and the conduct of the colonial gov
ernment was such that collusiOn, if not direct
partnership, between them and the authorities
was not doubted.
Such was the condition of affairs, when Rob-
ert Livingston, OF New York, recommended to
Governor RellamOnt Captain Kidd, as a man of
integrity and courage, well acquainted with the
pirates and their places of rendezvous, and Is
one in all respects fit to be entrusted with the
command of a vessel engaged in such difficult
service. A ship was accordingly procured and
equipped, and placed under the command of
Kidd, who sailed from New York under a regIl-
lar commission, in April, 1896. For a time he
served faithfully; and on his return from his frs
voyage he was received with public hOnors and
awarded another grant of f250 But on his next
voyage he stretched away to the Indian Ocean
and became a pirate himself Selecting the
Island Of Madagascar a. his principal place of
rendezvous, and burning his own ship after
capturing one that suited him better his depre
datIons upon commerce are represented to have
been great.
1t is beyond doubt true that Long Island
Sound contained several of his hidiBg-places.
"kidd's ROOk' is well known at Manhasset
upon Long Island, to this day. Here he is sun
posed TO have buried some of his treasures; and
many have been the attempts OF the credulous
in this section to find the hidden gold There is
a so 10 doubt that he was wont to hide himself
and his vessel among those curious rocks in
Sachcm'S Head HarbOT, called the Thimble
Island. In addi ion to the "Pirate's Cavern"
III this vicinity. there is unOn OF these rocks
sheltered from the view oi the sound, a beauti-
full artificial excavation OF an oval form, hold
ing, perhaps, the measure OF a barrel, called
'kidds Punch Bowl" 1t was here, ac-
cOrding to the traditions of the neigh
borhood, that he used to carouse with
his crew. 1t is fact beyond controversy
that he was accustomed to anchor his vessel in
Gardeners Bay. On one occasion, in the night,
he landed upon Gardner's Island and requested
Mrs. Gardner to provide a supper for himself
and attendants. Knowing his desperate charac-
ter she dared not refuse; and fearing his dis
pleasure she took great pains, especially in
roasting pig. The pirate chief was so pleased
with her culinary success that on going away he
presented her with a cradle blanket of lgold
cloth. 1t was of velvet inwrought with gold
and very rich. A small piece OF 1t yet remains
in possession of the family. On another occa-
sion. also, when he landed upon the island, he
buried "A small casket OF gold, silver and precious
stones i'll presence of Mr.. Gardner, but under
the most solemn injunction of secrecy.
Repairing soon after this occurrence to BOS-
ton. where Lord BellamOnt CHANGED to be at the
time, he was summoned before his lOrdsiip and
ordered 10 give report of his proceedings since
he had sailed on his second voyage. Refusing
however, TO comply with this demand. he was ar
rested ON the Sd of July, 1899, on the charge of
piracy. He appears to have disclosed the fact
OF having buried treasure on Gardeners Island.
for the same was demanded by the Earl of Bell
aEOnt and surrendered by Mr.. Gardner. have
seen the original receipt for the amount, with
the different items of the deposits. The sum was
by no means large, and affords evidence of no
such mighty sweepiDgs OF the sea as have been
told of by tradition. OF gold, in coins gOld-dust
and bars, there were $50 ounces; OF silver J06
ounces; and Of precious stones, 10 ounces
Meanwhile Kidd was taken to England, tried
on an Indictment for piracy and murder and
hung ia chains, " til six of his crew. In addition
to the indictment for piracy, he was indicted Tor
the murder of one OF his own subordinate Off GERS
named Moore, whom he killed in a quarrel by
striking him on the head with q bucket He
was convicted upon both charges, but protested
to the last that he was a victim OF conspiracy
and perjury.
Suspicious were entertained by the public that
the execution was a sham; that the government
dared not put him to death, and that to avoid
disclosures a man of straw was hung in his place
In proof of this assertion it was generally and
positively allie ged that Kidd had been seen alive
and well many years afterwards by those who
could not he mistaken as to his identity. There
Il little doubt. however, of his having been hon
eStiy hung at Execution Dock, in London on
the l-th OF May, l1O1.-N. Y. EreHiRg Post.
DisS trace and Death.
DAU GHTERs SHAME AND FATHERS DE-
sPAIR.
ON Saturday last a warrant was granted by
Alderman Walsh for the arrest of Frank Ged-
ney, carpenter, residing at No. 347 Sd street.
on the complaint of Ellen j. McManus, of No
SIS sth street, who charged that Frank was