The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-02-26
CAPT. KIDD'S HOME.
The House Occupied by the Bold
Pirate Still Standing.
salA % Have Been Buut Years B~fors
Wsshlngton WAs Msdo First Prssa-
dent - Still Hunting for
Buried Treasure.

Between the quaint little hamlet OF
Allenwood, n. J., and the village OF
Sea Girt, made famous through the an
nual encampment of tho New Jersey
state militia. stands an Old-fashioned
shingle house, which antedates the
recollection of even the oldest resident,
and has become the show place OF the
country. Not only does the great age
of the old house make it interesting to
visitors, but also the story that the
BODY of the late lamented Capt. Kidd,
whose treasure is buried somewhere
along the coast and has been searched
for from Florida to Maine, lies uneasy
in its grave, and makes periodical vis-
its to the house once occupied by that
wealthy but somewhat errat:c gentle
man.
The house is a two-story structure,
conspicuous chiefly for the fact that
instead of having only.a shinRle
roof, as was customary in the days
when the house was built, 1t is
constructed altogether Of shingles,
and presents the appearance OF having
been built with the idea to repel an at
The old men of Allenwood say that the
bouse was built years before Washing
ton assumed the Office of president OF
the United States, and that one of the
early settlers in that part of the coun-
try, Morris by name, cut each and
every shingle by hand, and with only
the assistance given by q strong pocket
knife
The house is at the junction OF the
three roads, one leading TO Allenwood,
one to Sea Girt and one to Brielle, an
other small town four miles away. A
mile or two from the house the Mana
suan river flows steadily on its tortuous
route to mother ocean, and several
times in the memory of the present in
habitants the banks of the river have
been searched for relics of Capt. Kidd,
while many persons have gained per-
mission from the farmer, and, armed
with charts and maps, have dug for
miles around for the missing buried
treasure. Even now party is hard at
work on the Toms river, but ten miles
from the old house, diligently working
on the old claim and believing that
each new day will see discoveries which
will make work for the treasure hunt
ers unnecessary in the future. And
still the glittering prospect is held as a
bait before their eyes, and when the
patience of one party of searchers gives
out another Is ready and waiting ia
take up the pick and shovel and keep
up the good work.
The old Morris house, as it is called,
is now on the Tilton farm, old Grand.
father Tilton having purchased the
! farm from the Morrises many years
ago. The farmhouse of the TIton fam
ily is but stones throw from the old
house, which is tenanted by several o1
the farm helpers during the busy sea
son. The room in whichit is alleged
that Kidds ghost walks is at the top Of
the house, and it is said that when he
| was travelling through that part OF the
country he would always stop at the
Morris house, where he was always sure
of a welcome and bed. could find
nobody during . recent visit to thai
part of Monmouth county who would
| confess to having seen the ghost, but
| it is a fable which has been handed
down from father to son that on stated
occasions he would be heard moving
about in his room until early in thu
/ morning, as he was wont to do in ths
early days Of the settling of New Jer
sey, when visiting at the old house.
| The house was built with but few
windows, and, although several hav'
been added recently, there are onl,
eight, and two doors on the front, while
the sides have one each. Capt. Kidd
room was under the caves of the house
and it is said that even now on storm,
nights the captains head is often thrus
out, as though surveying the heavens
and figuring upon the kind Of weathe
day would bring forth.-N. Y. Herald