Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-11-06
CAPT. KIDD'S CAVE.

WOftu OF small SAIL lei me- nave YOU
never encountered real, nerve creeping
legend along here among these Highland
shadows-some companion tale to the
wrath out of which Rip Van Wrinkle
grew You spend months darting up and
down, i'm and out here amid the bows and
frowns Of Crows Nest Dunderburg and
Storm King
My friend, scholarly idler, whose pet
fancy was colonial history, leaned back on
the bench by the tiller and WAS lost in
thought The valley Of the Hudson was
visible by a turn of the head through more
than fifty miles from the Catskills on the
north to the Fishkill Highlands TO the
south of us. We were at that moment be
tween New Hamburg and PoughSeepsie.
That marvel, the most remarkable bridge
in the world save one, reached out like a
spiders web from shore to shore above the
cleaning water 4 few spires of POUCH.
keepsie pierced the green upon our right.
The castles of rich men peeped at as from
the verdure clad banks, and here and there
from velvet park the Yankee liberty pole
held aloft the red white and blue, flutter-
ing in the sultry midsummer sheen.
why yes indeedn suddenly exclaimed
my friend "We'll 60 ashore there. Old
Geek Watt Tromp's cave. Capt Kidd's
money Did you ever hear Of Tromp's
Cavern Wen 20 ashore" And promptly
the graceful little craft began to spring
in toward small cove that sweeps in a
lew miles below Poughkeepsie, on the east
bank
There's an old chap here who once vol.
unteered TO lead me in there, said my
friend All there's his hut, up there
among those ooves Of nrbOr yitn.
We soon got "A dollar or two into old Pete
Puystcr's hand and unlocked his tongue
Yes, there were countless millions ia there
He had seen the chamber where the iron
pots were hid Why did he not lift a pot
or two OUT He shook his head We
pressed our question Why should he be
taking rare dollars from visitors, or beg
gig up and down the highway, if he knew
where there were pots OF money!
1t took considerable Of this questioning
70 get from Puyster this somewhat start.
ling reply. "Ye see Pm the great-grand-
child OF Geek Watt, Tromp-him as the
cave is named after in these parts. Well,
Geek he is, or was, the child Of Capt Kidd
and--andn the old fellow paused
His bronze cheek bones lost their color, the
UllAA HifHta NA liin RihAAANA AeAN AtAtAA AFA ~
pale with emotion II took another dollar
from my friends prodigal hand toopen the
old fellows lips again.
After an interval Of deep meditation he
arose feebly, tottered into his hut. brought
out an ancient Dutch Bible and said:
Gentlemen, swear on this that you viii
never reveal what I'm bout to show you.
I'm getting very old. I'm gl in August. |
can't last much longer may as well tell
il afore die.
We declined TO swear, but gave the pa
triarch another dollar. Avarice is the sin
OF age. We argued long on the point that
be was nearly through with this world
any way, and he would make powerful
friend of my wealthy friend for his last
sickness by wholly revealing TO ms the
mysteries OF the cavern.
Especially do wish to know about the
woman in the case exclaimed my friend
"Who was Matt Tromps mother? Who
was the fair prisoner whom Capt Kidd left
here in charge Of his wealth and his baby
herr"
Old Pete stared hard al us
who said anything about any bridef'i
he asked
"Why, you left US to infer that-that
there was a wife, presumably a bride for
Kidd was not long in one place. And ]
presume her spirit haunts the place yet
guarding those pots OF gold"
As | volunteered this you could have
knocked Pete down with a feather.
feared had destroyed the days fun, for
during the next ten minutes the patriarch
scarcely moved SO much as to breathe
We gave him vet another dollar
Then he arose like a mannikin, lighted
lantern which he had probably stolen from
some freight train on Mr.. Vanderbilt's
road just below, and mumbled
you fellers are prophets. You seem to
know. Take your own risks IL you dare
Come on.
We followed him to gh entrance Of the
cavern Every one has Il Ad Of the phys |
ical fortunes endured by adventures while |
penetrating a cave had, but no descrip !
ton can do justice to the facts You are
prepared Of course to ruin your clothing, |
but you naturally resent the demands /
made ON your epidermis.
Yielding all hopes Of keeping a whole
skin, you yet draw the line at your bones |
In fact, however, you must draw nc lines
be satisfied if you can draw your breath |
Not that the air was so foul, but have al
ways found it difficult to breathe the dark
ness must have light in my air, even
the gas burning at night while sleep II
you were to turn off the light in my cham
Der should Immediately awaken from the
slumber. This habitude came
with our first baby in the home. l can
also sleep better with little noise going
on, for the same reason. Silence is to me
terrible.
The cave was the profoundest silence, the
most awful darkness. The dust of 1000
years lay like a carpet on the stones The
valley winds had strewn the cavern's
throat with sand leaves till we sink into
it three inches. 1t was perfectly dry
cavern.
do you see them shoe tracks," asked
Pete, pointing down, with his lantern held
low. How grateful / was for the voice,
though it was taken up and echoed in dis
NAL cadences. In fact the sepulchral
echoes of our voices were so frightful that
from the frs had dreaded to use this
means of SCATTERING the lence.
Them tracks are by Capt. Kidd's own
shoe, giants foot. And right here along
side is the pretty little shoe of the woman.
- > h. - L.