The Penn's Grove record., 1885-12-19
A 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 1atonio.
This Lord John was q large, hearty
man. who lived generously, 'wasclever'
to the Indians and squaws, and had so
much ability in affairs that, although
he married four times and spent a great
deal Of money, he portioned off his
daughters handsomely and left a large
estate at his death. He was not e nar-
son to be scared by q mysterious armed
sloop; SO, after she had Lam in sight two
days without making any sign, he put
off in a boat, to board her and inquire
what she was. AS he came up over the
side. Captain Kldd-tll then unknown
to him-received him with the tradi-
tionaI p~oliteness of a 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 BcllomOnt at
Boston: would Gardiner do him the
favor to carry two negro boys and n
negro girl ashore, to be kept there IN,
til he returned or sent an order for
them? Gardiner consented, and went
back to the island. The next morning
Kidd resumed intercourse by sending
ashore a 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-
ance into intimacy, and asked him If he
could spare a 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 m~uslin,--a
rare and valued fabric in its pristine
state,-which he put into a bag and re-
quested Gardiner to take as a present
to his wife. 1t is likely enough that
the captain, seeing in Lord John a ca.
pacity for such things, produced some
Of his fifty shilling rum, or three hum
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 ifonble.
Furthermore, after getting rea0y TO
sail, he offered to pay for the cider. but
Gardiner protested that he was snill-
GENTLY 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 lingersng IN these
waters was to get rid OF his suspicious
freight before going to Boston. During
his stay near the island two New York
sloops took off part of his cargo; and
three days later he returned from Block
island in company with another nefari
Gus 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 a chest, .
box of gold, q bnndle Of quilts, and foAr
bales of goods. The box of gold. as
| Gardiner afterwards solemnly depoSd,
was destined by Kidd for Lord Bdlo-
mont. All the treasure and mercian-
disc was buried in some swampyland
near Cherry Harbor, beside Home
| Pond, within a mile Of the Manor
house, to be kept for Kidd or hii order.
"sIf / call for it and 1t is gonf.' Kidd
declared to Lord john, l will tfks your
head or your son's.'"