The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-07-03
CAPT. KTDD,s TRUE HISTORY
Employed by Syndicate TO Phi
waterfalls Acts and Trial.

William Kidd was born in Scot
land, and married Sarah Wort, of
New York. Several men of London,
England, subscribed money, formed
a Joint stock company, bought the
Adventure Galley, fitted her with
proper armament, and provisioned
her at cost of $500. They en-
ployed Dir. Kidd as commander, and
furnished him with commission to
act against the French and pirates
or in other words as a privateer.
The King was to receive one tenth OF
whatever the vessel brought home.
On the way down from London
his vessel was boarded by an i'm
pressment crew, his crew taken, and
he had to go ashore and secure such
seamen as he could who were well
fitted to act as privateersmen. He
sailed, and after being absent about
a year it began to be talked that his
acts savored of piracy.
When his voyages In the Indian
Ocean were finished he set sail, and
appeared in the Sound of New York
and set goods on shore at several
places. He established himself at
GARDENERS Island, near Long Island
shore, and sent word to Lord Bel
mont at Boston, by a man named
Emmot, that he had with him S1O,-
600 worth of goods, and had left the
Quedah Merchant at Hispaniola IN
creek there with a valuable cargo;
that he would prove his innocence of
what he had been charged with.
The letters of Kidd and statements
- o-l fuua Eronob poGGaG
were placed by Belmont before his
Majesty's Council, who at the same
time describes Kidd's messengers as
"a cunning Jacobite, fast friend of
Fletchers and my avowed enemy"
With their consent and In their pres
ence, he furnished MIR. Kidd ''safe
conduct" Captain Kidd relied on
this, and came to Boston with his
wife, and took lodgings at Duncan
Campbell's the most luxurious house
of entertainment In Boston, where he
remained several days.
On July 8, 1899, he was summoned
before his excellency and council to
give an account OF his proceedings
In his late voyage to Madagascar.
After Captain Kidd had given a
summary account of his doings, of
the cargo on the sloop now in port,
and also on board the vessels left at
Hispaniola, they required of him to
give detailed account of his voy-
ages, captures, etc. Captain Kidd
found that the safe conduct which
they issued was merely intended to
induce him to come to Boston, where
he would be deprived of his liberty.
He did not make any further state
ment, and the council ordered his
arrest and imprisonment, seized his
treasure chest at GARDENERS Island,
and took everything that his wife
had.
The treasure chest contained quite
a variety of articles, and the follow
ing is a list of its contents: No. /,
one bag of gold dust, 63a4 ounces. No.
2. one bag OF coined gold, IL ounces /;
one bag of coined gold, 124 ounces.
No. 3. one bag of gold dust, 24aa
ounces. No. 4, one bag OF silver rings,
AZ ounces. No. 5, one bag of precious
stones, 12I ounces. No. 6, one bag of
unpublished precious stones. No. z,
one bag of pieces of crystal carno-
lian. No. s, one bag OF silver buttons
and lamps. No. 9, one bag OF broken
silver, 1873 ounces. No. 10, one bag
of gold bars, 3534 ounce. No. II, one
bag of gold bars, 1881 ounces. No. II,
one bag of gold dust, so ounces. No.
ID, one bag Of silver, 800 ounces.
The Earl of Belmont was evidently
anxious to get possession of the ship
and treasure, and preferred negotia-
ton TO immediate hostile measures.
MIR. Kidd seemed to have been will
ing to surrender ship and treasures,
but wished in doing so to have an
assurance or guarantee of his own
protection.
Captain Kidd requested that he
should be taken as prisoner to His
PAMELA to bring back the Quedah
Merchant. Belmont refused. To this
refusal of Belmont we are indebted
to the fact that no man knows where
that treasure is today. 1t is the trea-
sure in search of which the whole
coast of New England las been
visited.
The law officers and those OF the
council who were known as legal
gentlemen decided and argued that
there was no authority to send him
to England. Belmont and his coun'
Gil Qau jill SlcPAuho Oh eASAA
which they did not care for. Oppor'
tunity was allowed for his escape
but he declined the boon. In my
possession is a deposition which ls
the evidence, and also that money
was ready for him. The authorities
have retained those papers which he
acted under, and sent him to Eng
land for trial. Mrs. Kidd's jewels, 6
silver tankard, silver mug, silver
porringer, spoons and forks were re
turned to her, with other pieces OF
plate and 268 pieces of eight.
In England he was confined closely
in prison two years and permitted
no counsel. The government was
represented by four men. Kidd was
tried both for murder and piracy
The murder which he was supposed
to have committed was that of Moor
his gunner, whose death resulted
from blow given by water bucket
in fight without reconciliation. Nc
sentence but that of manslaughtel
was justified by the evidence. He
was found guilty of murder. In the
trial for piracy he was treated with
tho same Injustice.