The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-01-08
Real Pirate.

In an illustrated article on Cards
ner's Island, in the December Century
George Parsons Lathrop writes as fol
lows regarding an unexpected visit
omthenotorious pirate: tLord John
Gardiner one June evening observed a
mysterious sloop with six guns riding
at anchor off the island. It was Kidd,s
last vessel, the Antonio. This Lord
John was a large, hearty man, who
lived generously, was clever 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 alaroe
estate at his death. He was not 4
person to be scared by a mysterious
armed sloop; SO, after she had lain IN
sight two days without making any
sign, he put off in a boat, to board her
andinquire what she was. As ne came
up over the side, Captain Kidd-till
then unknown to him-received him
with the traditional politeness Of 4
thriving desperate, and asked after
the health of himself and family.
Then, in answer to Lord Johns inoui.
ries, he said that he was on his wav
to Lord Bellomont at Boston; would
Gardiner do him the favor to carry
two negro boys and one negro girl
ashore, to be kept there until he re-
turned 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 forcingthe
acquaintance, Gardiner might have
thought; but he complied. Thereupon
Kidd promptly ripened acquaintance
into intimacy, and asked him if he
could spare @ barrel of cider. Lord
John once more proved neighborly,
and found that he could spare the ci.
der, sending two OF his men ashore to
fetch it. While waiting for their re-
turn, Kidd got out from his cargo
two pieces of damaged Bengal
muslin-a rare and valued fabric in
it's pristine state-which he put into
a bag and requested Gardiner to take
as a present to his wife. 1t is likely
enough that the captain, seeing in
Lord John acapacity for such things,
produced some of his fifty shilling
rum, or hree-hundred-pound Madeira
to be tasted. Something at any rate,
warmed him up TO increased generosi-
ty, for in 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 oil
cider, he gave them four peices OF
| gold for their trouble. Furthermore,
after getting ready to sail he offeredto
pay for the cider; but Gardiner pro.
tested that he was sufficiently reward
ed by the present to his wife. They
parted at last; and Kidd, CALAMITY
firing a salute of four guns, stood Tor
Block Island. His purpose in linger-
ing in the waters was to get rid OF his
suspicious freight before going to Bos-
ton. During his stay near the island two
New York sloops took off part OF their
cargo; and three days later he re
turned from Block Island In company
with another nefarious sloop, whichre-
lieved him of chests containing plate
and gold and other goods. This time
Kidd again sent for Gardiner and com.
mitted to his charge a chest, a box OF
gold, a bundle of quilts, and four
bales of goods. The box of gold, as
Gardiner afterwards solemnly de-
posed, was destined by Kidd for Lord
Bellomont. All the treasure and mer-
chandise was buried in some swampy
land near Cherry Harbor, beside Home
Pond, within a mile Oh the manor
house to be kept for Kidd or his order.
off / call for it and it is gone Kidd
declared to Lord John, Il will take
your head or your sons"