Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-12-23
\ Visit From Captain Kidd.

"Lord John Gardiner one June even.
| ing observed a mysterious sloop with
six guns riding at anchor off Blockisland.
1t was Kidd's last vessel, the Antonio.
| This Lord John was a large, hearty
man, who lived generously, was clever
/ to the Indians and squaws, and had so
much ability in affairs that, although
he married four times and spent great
deal of money, he portioned off his
! daughters handsomely and left large
estate at his death. He was not per-
son to be scared by g mysterious armed
sloop; SO, after she had lam in sight two
days without making any sign, he put
/ off in boat, to board her and inquire
what she was. AS he came up over the
side, Captain kldd-tIll then unknown
I to hlm-receiyed him with the tradi-
tionaI politeness of thriving deSpera-
do, and asked after the health Of him
self and family. Then, in answer to
Lord Johns inquiries, he said that he
was on his way to Lord Bellomont at
Boston: would Gardiner do him the
favor to carry two negro boys and one
negro girl ashore, to be kept there un.
til he returned or sent an order for
Z "Chb
back to the island. The next morning
Kidd resumed intercourse by sending
ashore request that Gardiner should
come on board at once, and bring six
sheep with him. This was rather for
cling the acquaintance, Gardiner may
have thought; but he complied. There
upon Kidd promptly ripened acquaint-
apce into Intimacy, and asked him if he
could spare barrel of cider. Lord
John once more proved neighborly, and
found that he could spare the cider,
sending two Of his men ashore to fetch
it. While waiting for their return,
Kidd got out from his cargo two
spieces' of damaged Bengal muslin,-a
rare and valued fabric in its pristine
state,-which he put into bag and re-
quested Gardiner to take as present
to his wife. 1t is likely enough that
the captain, seeing in Lord John Ca
pacity for such things, produced some
of his fifty shilling rum, or three hun
dred pound Madeira to be tasted. Some
thing, at any rate, warmed HIM up to
increasd generosity, for sin about a
quarter of an hour he presented the
Lord of the Isle with some muslin for
his own use. When the men came back
with the barrel of cider. he gave them
four pieces of gold for their trouble.
Furthermore, after getting ready to
sail, he offered to pay Tor the cider; but
Gardiner protested that he was suf1i-
ciently rewarded by the present to his
wife. They parted at last, and Kidd,
CALAMITY firing a salute OF four guns,
stood for Block Island.
His purpose in lingering in these
waters was to get rid of his suspicious
freight before going to Boston. During
his stay near the island two New York
sIoops took off part of his cargo; and
three days later he returned from Block
island in company with another nefari
ous sloop, which relieved him of chests
containg plate and gold and other goods.
This time Kidd again sent for Gardiner
and committed to his charge chest,
box of gold, bnndle of quilts, and four
bales of goods. The box of gold, as
Gardiner afterwards solemnly deposed,
was destined by Kidd for Lord Bello-
mont. All the treasure and merchan-
disc was buried in some swampy land
near Cherry Harbor, beside Home
Pond, within mile of the Manor
house, to be kept for Kidd or his order.
"'If 1 call for it and it is gone,' Kidd
declared to Lord Jonn, will take your
head or your son's.'"