The sun., 1901-07-28
ONE DEBT CAPT. KIDD PAID:
4 RELIC OF rHE OLD PIRATE THAT
REPOSES ON SHELTER ISLAND.

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There may have been and there may still
b numerous members Of the Kidd family
but To fame. though It be Of an evil quality
there has been and is only one Capt Kidd.
He may have stolen even his seafarins
rank, for, according to such information
- has been handed down the ladder OF
time. he was a man who possessed neither
bowels Of compassion nor compunctions
OF conscience Much time and money
has been expended in searches for the
treasure which, II Is said. he buried or had
buried for him. He may or may not have
owned treasures OF money and jewels
previous to his departure for another.
and, let Us hope. a hotter sphere.
II such were the case why may he not
have buried It upon Shelter Island' More
or les veracious history tells that he was
q frequent caller at the port OF New York
and that he was intimately acquainted
with Long Island and the smaller islands
which lie of its northern end. Rumor.
even In its childhood. Is graceless. and
there 10, therefore. lees dependence to
- placed upon Il In It's old age Accord
lng to such mean authority he was more
or lees frequent caller at every port on the
eastern Atlantic seaboard. from the dark
green and ice-cool waters Of Cape Breton
70 the warmer latitude Of Chesapeake Bay
He, Of course, ranged farther south also.
In fact, all waters were alike to him 80
long a. they afforded him booty and safety.
though, IL Ia safe to conclude he may often
have been forced to accept the latter with
such grace as a pirate Of his caliber could
manage to assume.
While many OF his alleged haunts have
no material evidence to show that Kidd
was upon calling terms with them. there is
absolute proof that he landed at Shelter
Island and completed matter Of business
there in q manner that was altogether
foreign to his usual methods. His sense
Of humor was OF q character that was ap-
preciated only by himself and the cut
throats over whom he ruled as captain.
1t was his fashion to ask a captive II life
would not lose all SAVIOR through the loss OF
every yestige OF worldly belongings. When
the unsuspecting victim would agree to
the proposition he was requested. In order
to save him from regret. to walk the plank.
Though the request was not always willingly
complied with. the victim invariably walked
xle ,,Io,L aitl,ar NTH or vithout oasi iat MOO
To have creditors was an abomination to
Kidd, and as when he laid hands on them
he always induced them to walk the plank
he was seldom bothered by the presentation
of accounts. Had 1t been otherwise he
might have kept a set Of books that would
have been Of great interest to the new and
more gigantic race OF pirates which to-day
infest many parts OF the globe.
II may have been in order to enjoy a
new sensation that Kidd paid in gold debt
which he contracted at Shelter Island long
before the present mammoth hotels were
dreamed or As everybody knows, or
ought to know, the northern end Of Long
Island is shaped not unlike two-pronged
fork. Within this fork. with Little PecOnic
Bay on one side and Gardeners Bay on the
other, Hes Shelter Island. II Is nine miles
long and at its broadest part five miles
eeruss. When the island became the prop
erty Of Nathaniel Sylvester, under grant
from Charles H., A ID. 1895. the year OF the
Great Fire OF London. II was covered with
fine and lofty trees. 1t has been denuded
of much Of the first growth, but does not
to-day lack shade, small stretches or rich
meadow land being bordered with groves
of live oaks and locusts.
The island does not lack antique features.
even in this modern age. The Golf Club
house. which Is an appurtenance OF the
Manhanset House. was built in lI7O. The
old Manor House Is occupied by Miss Hos
ford, the last descendant Of Nathaniel
Sylvester. and among the priced possessions
Of this lady Is the payment made by Capt
Kidd for something which, 1t seems strange.
he did not take without payment
This relic Of distant past as well AZ Of a
most murderous personality consists OF
several links OF gold chain In kidds 9
day this was common mode OF payment
when coined money was not at hand.
Gold chains, also. were, In his day. much
heavier and worn Of much greater length
than would be considered either necessary
chain were very heavy and being in mood
that was strange to him he was not mig.
gardly His stores, 1t happened. were
at low ebb and his cutthroats called
for fresh meat. Seeing smoke that indl'
Gated residence of some sort Kidd landed
He soon came upon the Sylvester man
sion and as he neared II he saw some fine
pigs. They represented kind Of fresh
meat OF which sailors are fond. His crew
laid hands upon two. As Is the nature
OF pigs they at once began TO squeal. Tht
squeal brought ore Of the household upor
the scene. She was fresh-faced maid
and having no knowledge Of the character
of men who faced her. demanded their
intentions. They laughed. The maid
doubtless, did not know her danger but
she was not more astonished than kidd''
crew when the captain explained that
he was in need of fresh meat and. being
an honest man, was willing TO pay for it
whereupon he broke of several links o
the chain he wore about his neck and
pressed them upon her. Why he did nO
treat her as they did the pigs his crew
were unable to understand Doubles,
they thought that his mental qualities
as cell as his animal passions were upoT
the wane At any rate the girl escapet
harm and the links Of gold remain unit
this day in Miss HOsfords possession Il
prove that Capt Kidd made honest pay
ment once in his life.
Close as II is to the greatest city OF a vas
continent there is yet flavor OF antiquit,
about many spots on Shelter Island, ON
quaint and hist orical bit is the Sylyeste
family burying ground. II occupies bu
O small space, measuring about fifty by
twenty-five yards. II is well shaded an
Is In every way such a spot as would b'
selected by the first resident proprieto
OF tho manor of Shelter Island. Nathal
Sylvester would have taken umbrage a
one feature OF his earthly resting place
IL Is enclosed by fence made Of oakel
A St...A k.. IaNs . k...