Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-04
m1srel!aneans.
A Block Island Legend.
THE LOCAL STORY OF CAPTAIN KIDD AND
HIS BURIED TREASURE.

I Block Island came in for Captain Kidd
story As up the shore of Narragansett
Bay, along the silent waters of Long
! Island Sound. in the Vineyard, and on
the Massachusetts coast, the freebooter is
! said to have buried his wealth, so did he
here. and within the memory of the "old-
! est men have dug at Sandy Point. at the
northwest point Of the island. for the
buried treasure. A hardy islander
dreamed for three nights in succession
that huge chest Of gold pieces lay near
/ the head of the cove in this locality. He
was directed to take his negro, Dick. with
him to hold an open Bible in the centre of
ring to be drawn on the sand around
where the excavation was to be made.
I This was 10 overpower the enchantment
hanging over the spot. On no account
was a word to be spoken, or the mystic
spell would be broken and the gold would
vanish.
| The instructions were complied with to
the letter, Dick was seated in the ring
thumbing the old family Bible and hold
| ing his lips with the other hand lest he
should break the command of silence.
The master dug downward about the aged
slave. In his toll he forgot everything
but the gllltering gold. and as he pro-
crossed his motions quickened. Great
Jumps OF clay flew from his spade: he
cut through LAYER of gravel, and pres
emily. to his supreme delight, ne struck
the chest. His pleasure was uncoAtrolla
bic. He eagerly uncovered it. There it
lay, exactly as he had dreamed. The
hinges. the handles and the lock were all
the same. Involuntarilv he paused and
unused upon his stroke OF fortune, and
dazzling visions of untold wealth danced
before him.
Suddenly there fell stunning report on
his ear, and cannon shot whizZed be-
tween him and his negro. He looked off
on the merry waters of Block Island
Sound, and here. dancing in the sunlight,
lay three of Kidd's vessels flying
The black flag of death. their low
inky bulls and their snowy sails
sharply outlined against the blue shores of
Point Judith As he looked second gun
pealed forth, and another and still
another. The air about the chest was now
thick with flying missiles and the pirates
were apparently preparing to land in their
boat At the stern of the largest vessel
stood man of herculean proportions,
who motioned the gold hunters to desst
and flee. He wore long boots, his belt
VAS lined with pistols, and his fiery face
outvied his flaming shirt. A scarlet cap
was crushed tightly ON his jeity locks.
His long b. ard and curling moustache
heightened his ferocious appearance.
| The cannonade continued, hotter and
hotter and the balls sang about the head
ii the now frantic digger and he terrified
darby, who gripped the Bible firmly in
both hands and ducked his poll. The
chest was almost clear OF the earth which
had encircled it. But moment more
and the prize would be the hunters, and
he renewed his rapidly waning energies.
A shot sliced away portion of his shirt
sleeve. but he needed it not. He ceased
to watch the pirates. His strained eyes
refused to move from the rusty chest
But the next shot cut the rim Of the
darky's ear, and with howl of dismay
the faithful slave leaped high in the air,
dropped his Bible and screeehed out:
Gosh. Use hanged if III be killed" He
| started on a gallop for home.
AT that instant the spell was broken and
the Mortified digger saw the chest sink
quickly into the ground and out of sight.
| The strain was too great tor him. He
sank nerveless into the pit and lay there
till the cool night winds revived him.
Then the fleet had disappeared and there
was nothing about him but the upheaved
earth. There was no chest. and the gray
waters of the Sound sent up hooking
,augh from the pebbly beach at his feet
For the rest OF his life this man cursed
the weakness of poor Dick which lost him
a fortune. Mrs. Armenia Roses great
grandfather. Amos Rose was the digger,
aud she now has the diary of his adven-
ture, made by the old man in his after
! life.-NeW York Times