Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-04
A vl.l, from Cap,a,n Ix,da.

In an illustrated article on GARDENERS Isl-
and, in the December Century, George Par.
sons Lathrop writes regarding an unexpected
visit (but not to Vernon) from the notorious
pirate;
Lord John Gardiner one June evening OBJ
served a mysterious sloop with six guns rid.
ing at anchor~off the island. 1t was Kidd's
last vessel, the antonio. This Lord John
was a large, hearty man, who lived generous
~, was clever to the Indians and squaws
and had 30 much ability in affairs that, al.
though he married four times and spent a
great deal of money, he portioned of his
daughters handsomely and left a large estate
at his death. He was not q person to be
scared by mysterious armed sloop so, af-
ter she had lain in sight two days without
making any sign, he put of in q boat, to
board her and inquire what she was As he
came up over the side Captain Kidd-till
then unknown to him-reoeived him with
the traditional politeness Of thriving dee
perado, and asked after himself and family
Then, in answer to Lord Johns inquiries, he
said he was on his way to Lord Belomont at
Boston would Gardiner do him the favor
to carry two negro boys and one negro girl
ashore, to be kept there until he returned or
sent an order for them Gardiner consent
ed, and went back to The island. The next
morning Kidd resumed intercourse by send
ing ashore a request that Gardiner should
come on board at once, and bring six sheep
with him. This was rather forcing the &C.
qnaintance, Gardiner may have thought but
be complied. TbereupoD Kidd promptly ri
lened acquaintance into intimacy, and asked
him if he could spare q barrel of cider
Lord John once more proved neighborly,
and found that he could spare q barrel of CT.
der sending two of his men ashore TO fetch
it. While waiting for their return, Kidd got
out from his cargo two pieces Of damaged
b ngal muslin-a rare aud valued fabric in
its pristine state-which he put into bag
and requested Gardiner to take as q present
TO his wife. 1t is likely enough that the cap
tain, seeing in hearty Lord John q capacity
for such things, produced some Of hia fifty
chilling rum, or three hundred pound Made
ria to be tasted. Something, at any rate,
warmed him up to increased generosity, for
in about quarter Of an hour he presented
toe Lord of the lie 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. Further
more, after getting ready to GAIL, he offered
to pay Gardiner for the cider but Gardiner
protested that he was sufficiently rewarded
by the present to his wife. They parted at
last and Kidd. calamity firing salute Of
four guns, stood for Block I-land.
His purpose in lingering In these waters
was to get rid of his suspicious freight be-
fore going to Boston. During his stay near
the island two New York sloops took of part
of his cargo and three days later he return
ed from Block Island in company with an
other nefarious sloop, which relieved him Of
chests containing plate and gold and other
goods. This time Kidd again sent for Gard
ner and committed to his charge q chest, q
box of gold a bundle of quilts, and four
bales of goods. Tue box of gold, as Gardiner
afterward solemuly deposed, was destined by
Kidd for Lord B-llomont All the treasure
and merchandise was buried in some swampy
land near Cherry Harbor, beside Home Pond,
within a mile of the manor house, to be kept
for Kidd or his order.
"'If call for it and it ia gone Kidd de-
clared to Lord John, will take your head
or your sons"