The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-11

Bubble and kindred decisions.
TRUE TALE OF CAPTAIN KIDD.
The true story OF Captain Kidd is told
oddly enough in the American Pioneers
and Patriots" series, published by Dodd
& Mead nearly five years ago. The book
written by John S. c. Abbott. was entitl-
cd. Captain William Kidd and Others OF
the Pirates and buccaneers Who Ravaged
the Seas. the Islands and the Continents
of American 200 Years Ago"
William Kidd. the son of a clergyman.
started out in the world with the very
best intentions. In 1895 he was a promi-
nent merchant in New York. In his earli-
er days he had been a privateersman
against the French. In 1895 he was Undue
ed by Lord Bellamont (then the governor
of the province) to take command of a
privateer for the purose of making war
on the buccaneers and Frenchmen. The
money TO fit out the ship was supplied by
the founder of the Livingston family and
by a party of English mobiles and persons
of high degree. among them Lord Som
ers and the Duke OF Shrewsbury. Thus
equipped and with laudable purpose in
view, Captain William Kidd went forth
upon the high seas. Then, like many an
other well meaning man, he went wrong.
History does not say whether II was due
TO nearsightedness or bad judgment but
at all events, in addition TO taking in
French ships he dropped by easy stages
into taking everything that came along.
He had a Partially for the richly laden
Dutch merchantmen. although Spaniards
were always welcome. When the good
people OF New York who had helped him
heard of his msdoings they waxed e1-
ceeding wroth and forthwith proclaimed
Captain Kidd a pirate. The genial, If at
times thoughtless. captain tried to bear
up under the scathing denunciation. He
forthwith hoisted the black flag and went
upon the seas to hold up more honest
Dutchmen. 1t was then that he fell into
the 1eprehensible habit of burying his
treasure. According to all available re
ports he was engaged solidly for four
years in burying gold and Jewels all the
way from the tip end Of sunny Florida
up to the northernmost point OF Nova
Scotia His favorite retreats were at
Shelter Island. off the easterly end OF
Long Island. and up in Malone Bay.
Nova Scotia. Statisticians estimate that
he must have buried half the visible sup
ply Of gold at that period. II Is sad 10 re-
feet that so little Of II has been found.
The records do not show that either Cap
tain Kidd OF his men were addicted to the
habit Of digging it up again.
Well, in 1899 Captain Kidd returned to
New York and made a flying trip 70 Bos-
ton. burying some treasure at Gardeners
Island on the way up He was then ar
rested by Lord Bellamont. who sent him
to England for trial. In the meantime an
attempt was made 70 impeach Lord som
ers as a partner in the piracy. and 50 his
trial became a party question. much more
exciting than the tariff or the sound
money standard. Somers was absoived
and Captain Kidd was hanged. This oc-
Cured in 170l All England was agog
with his doings. and. as historian re-
marks. "It was a mere accident that Kidd
was hanged as n pirate Instead Of being
toasted as a victor" The joke was APP
parently on Kidd.
Thus ended the eventful career 81
sinr1ilarIy active man who VIII be re-
membered for all time.