The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-15
CAPTAIN KIDD's TREASURE.
The Thrilling Story that is Told to Visitors
TO Block Island.

Letter in New York Times
Block Island came in for Captain Kidd story.
As up the shore of Narraganset bay, along the
silent waters of Long Island Sound. in the Vine
yard, and on the Massachusetts coast, the free
booter is said to have buried his wealth. so did
he here, and within the memory of the oldest"
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 sue
cession 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 center Of ring to be
drawn on the sand around where the excavation
was to be made. This was to Overpower the
enchantment hanging over the spot. On no
account was 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 thumb
ing the old family Bible. and holding his lips with
the other hand lest he should break the com-
mand Of the silence The master dug downward
about the aged slave. In his toll he forgot every
thing but the gttering gold, and as progressed
his motions Ouickened. Great Jumps OF clay
flew from his spade he cut through q layer of
gravel. and presently, to his supreme delight, he
struck the chest His pleasure was almost I'M
controllable He eagerly uncovered it. There
it lay exactly as he had dreamed. The hinges.
the handles and the lock were all the same. In
voluntarily 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 a cannon shot whizzed between himself
and his negro. He looked of on the merry
waters of Block Island Sound, and there, dane
ing in the sunlight. lay three Of Kidds vessels
flying the black fac Of death, their low, lnky
huIks ard their snowy sails sharply outlined
against the blue shores of Point Judith. AS he
looked a second gun pealed forth. and another,
and still another The air about the chest was
now thick with flying missiles and the pirates
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 desist and fee He wore
long boots his belt w2s lined with
pistols, and in his fiery face outvied his flaming
shirt. A scarlet cap was crushed tightly on his
jetty locks. His long beard and curling nous
tache heightened his ferocious appearance. The
cannonade continued, hotter and hotter, and
the balls sang about the head Of the now frai-tic
digger ard terrified darkey who grpped the old
Bible firmly in both hands and ducked his poll
The chest 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. 4 shot sliced away
portion of his shirt sleeve, but he
needed rot 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 screeched out, Gosh, Use hanged il
I'll 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
too great for him. He sank nerveess into the
pit and laid there until the cool night winds re
viveG him. Then the feet had disappeared, and
there was nothing about him but the upheaved
earth. There was chet, and the gray waters
of the sound sent up a hooking laugh from the
pebbly beach at his feat For tho rest OF his
life this man cursed the weakness of poor Dick,
which lost him fortune Mrs. Armenia Roses
great grandfather, Amos Rose, was the digger,
and she now has the diary of his adventure,
made by the old man in his after life.