The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-31

egated to him for his own private gain,
instead Of for the stockholders inter ssts.
The fact Is, very little is absolutely
known about Capt. Kidd during these
three years of alleged piracy. In a gen
eral way it is recorded that he first cruised
along Madagascar where he laid in pro-
visions and then sailed up into the Ted
sea and captured the Harry merchant,
vessel laden with merchandise and money,
and owned by an Armenian. Next he is
reported to have attacked a fleet of Moor
sh ships near Bab's Key, in the Red sea,
but, being repulsed by their escorts, he
fed. Subsequently he captured one of the
ships that had become separated from
the fleet.
This was a year after he had sailed from
New York. Two or three other Moorish
ships and Dutchman were captured dur
ing the winter of 1889; but the most inn
portant prize was that of the Quedagh
merchant, a large vessel supposed to be
loaded with many valuables. Kidd chased
her under the French flag, and not only
captured her valuable cargo, but some 3d.
900 rupees that belonged to the Armenian
merchants who happened to be travelling
with her. With the Quedagh manned by
a part of his crew he sailed for NADIA gas
devious for pirates. 1t is said be picked
up few small Moorish vessels and
ketches on the way, and conflscated all of
their cargo and turned the men loose to
seek safety in flight. The Quedagh haul
amounted to something like $4,000 TO $780,
600; but no man except the pirates ever
did or WILL know the exact amount of
booty obtained from the merchantmen.
Like all of the other stories related about
Kidd. the accounts differ widely and are
loosely told by different witnesses.
The Adventure Galley was abandoned at
Madagascar, and the Quedagh, or Scud-
| dee merchant, was selected as the pirates
boat, and in this vessel he next appeared
on the Atlantic coast. Many of his men
deserted him at Madagascar, and he had
to recruit new men from various places
and in the Long Island sound he was con-
siderably handicapped for the lack of sur
| fcient men, and this loss was further en-
phasized by more desertions. On Dec. s.
1898, King William III of England issued
his proclamation outlawing Kidd and Az
| cry, but offering pardon to all of his crew
who surrendered before the end of the
following July. Moreover, a squadron
under Capt. Thomas Warren was sent out
to capture Kidd to bring him to justice.
Under these circumstances, his home
coming was unfortunate, His men desert
| ed him at every opportunity to take ad-
vantage of the pardon offered them be-
fore it was too late. Stories of his Won
derful piracy had preceded him from Mad
| agascar, and when it was announced that
he had appeared on the American coast
again wonderful accounts of his adven-
lures and the great treasures he had col
lected passed from mouth to mouth If
Sc landed at any point 1t was for the pur-
pose of burying his accumulated wealth.
1t was Known that he touched at Cape
May, GardSSer's Islznd and at several
points on the Long Island and Jersey
| coast. He managed to charter, and later
purchase, a sloop called the Antonio from
Philadelphia, and it is supposed that he
even dared to communicate with his
friends in New York.
Word had been sent to New York that
Capt. Kidd had appeared in Gardiner s
Bay. 1t was supposed that a Mr.. Emmet
who had been staying with Gardiner when
the pirate sloop first appeared, carried this
news to the city. Kidd had, mean while,
sent letters to Bellomont in Boston, claim
ing that he was not pirate, but that he
had started out TO fulfil the orders of lis
company, and that the only piracies COM
mitted were done by his men. over whom
he had lost control These letters told a
long story of mutiny and of crime, In
which he had not participated. They de-
clared that he was even locked up in his
cabin at times, while his men captured
ships and destroyed their crews. From
Block Island he sailed direct 70 Boston,
for the purpose of seeing Bellomont. Eth
er he had implicit faith In his innocence
and believed that his former friend would
save him, or he was the most daring of
men.
He Immediately had an audience with
Lord Bellomont This long interview was
held in the presence OF witnesses. In trying
100000 to the syndicate as their share of
the goods he had captured; but he abso-
lutely refused to disclose the whereabouts
of the hidden treasures. Lord Bellomont
temporized with him for five or six days.
IL was hoped that i'm time Kidd would re-
veal his secret; but when this became
hopeless, he was arrested. On the day of
his arrest one of his men tried to run
down to GARDENERS Island 10 secure the
treasures; but he was followed and Lord
John Gardiner was ordered TO render up
the goods buried on his estate. They Sc
cured altogether goods valued at about
$4,000; but the rest of the 10000 was
never discovered.
Capt. Kidd was not taken to England
until 17O0. There had been an attempt in
Parliament to defend him, and the Earl
of Oxford and Lord Sombers were nearly
impeached for their attempt to speak for
the pirate captain. The knowledge of the
partnership that had originally existed be-
tween Capt. Kidd and the King and his
ministers caused public excitement to run
high, and for time his case caused con-
siderable political difficulties. Kidd ar