The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-02-11
Eyes, mamma: it WAS mo that he
wanted al thc time, and not the house"
n Visit from Captain Kidd.

In an illustrated article on Cardincr's
lsland,in the December Century, GEORGE
Parsons hathrop writes Us follows, re-
gardlng an unexpected visit from the
notorious pirate: lord John Gardiner
one June evening observed mysterious
sloop with six guns riding at anchor off
the island. Il was Kidd's last vessel the
dntonto. This Lord John was \ LARGE.
hearty man, who lived generously, was
clever 10 the Indians and squaws, and
had so much ability in affairs that, al
though he married four times and spent
great deal of money, he portioned off
his daughters handsomely and left q
large estate ut his death. He was not a
person to be scared by mysterious
armed sloop; so, after she had lain 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 Kid0-til then
unknown to him--receivcd him with the
traditional politcncsS of Il thriving des-
perado, and asked after the health of
himself 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
'N'oi w Noti WV INSlo bpNS duu one
girl ashore, to be kept there until he re-
turned or sent an order for them? Gar
diner consented, and went back to the
island. Inc next morning Kidd re-
Sumed intercourse by sending ashore q
board ut once, and bring six sheep with
him. This was rather forcing the ac-
quaintancc, Gardiner may lave thought;
lint l,n ;nl
promptly ripcncd acquaintance into in
timacy, and asked him if he could spare
barrel Of cider. Lord John once moro
proved neighborly, and found that he
co"(G spare the cider sending two
of his men ashore to fetch it, While
waiting for their return, Kidd got out
from his cargo, two pieces of damaged
Bengal muslin,-& rare and valued
fabric in its pristine statc-which he
put into u bag and requested Gardiner
to take rs u present 70 his wife. 1t is
likely enough thtt the captain, seeing
in hearty Lord John a capacity for such
things. produced some of his ffty-shil-
ling rum. or thrcc-hundrcd- pound Ma
dcira TO be tasted. Something, at any
rate,wamed him up to increased gencr-
osity Tor iii about II quarter Of an hour
he prcScn ted he 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
for the cider; but Gardiner protested
that he Was sufficiently rewarded bv the
present to his wife. They parted at last;
and Kidd, gallantly firing Il 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
the 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 ncfar-
ious sloop, which relieved him of chests
containing plate and gold and other
goods. This time Kidd again sent for
Gardiner and committed to his charge
a chest, Il box of gold,a bundle of quilts,
and four bales of goods. Tho box Of
gold, as Gardiner afterwards solemnly
dcposed, was destined by Kidd for Lord
Rellomont. All the treasure and mcr-
ehandise was buried in some swampv
land near Cherry Harbor, beside Home
Pond, within Il mile of the manor-housc,
to be kept for Kidd or his order.
eff call for it and it is gone Kidd
declared to Lord John, Il will take your
head or your sons"