The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22
CAPTAIN K|DO'S GOLD :
IS AGAIN BEING SOUGHT
Dredging Company Has Found
Ancient Coins on a Shoal in the
Lower Delaware River.
SKEPTICISM OF FISHERS
Shad Hauler's Views of Treasure
In General and Some I6O-Year-
Old Whisky in Particular.

PHILADELPHIA. May H.-An epidemic
of Captain Kidd fever is about TO break
loose along the shores of the Delaware bay.
Years have passed since this devastating
nlaIady swept the towns OF Delaware and
New Jersey that border on the broad stream
where most of the untold wealth of the
ancient pirate is supposed TO have sunk
into the sand and mud. Ever since that
Iong-ago time the New Jersey and Della
ware shores have been visited at intervals
with the fever that causes men to dig and
dig I'm the bottom OF the bay until they have
more money TO buy shovels
According to conservative estimates, 1t
takes more money TO cure one epidemic OF
captain Kidd fever than three visitations
of smallpox.
But years have passed since ii paid its
last call. and the citizens of Salem, Penns-
grove. Delaware City and all the rest of the
towns that go down to the bay TO catch
shad, thought that the memory of Captain
Kidd and his gold was buried forever in
good old Delaware mud.
No so.
Like a thunderbolt out OF a clear sky
comes the news that the big scow of the
American Dredging Company has been
pumping up ancient silver coins out of
Dan Baker Shoal. where the United States
government is cutting out a deeper chan
mel to Philadelphia.
The news first leaked out in Salem.
which is situate three miles up the Salem
river and a good nine from the shoals. 1t
is not generally known yet. even in Salem
because, it is rumored. the few who got
the first information buying up all the
tools to dig for the treasure OF the wicked
Mr.. Kidd.
OF course, it must be the right ship for
the coins said very good authority
TO be Spanish. and Captain Kidd only took
Spanish money because it was the least
likely to be counterfeited. Those sucked
UP by the dredges big pipe also said
TO be of silver. but you can bet the gold is
underneath. for 1t is well known that Capt
Kidd always covered his gold with old sill
YER pieces. just so as to conceal how much
he really had. He also had a practice of
wrapping up a wad of 500 bills in an old
81 silver certificate when he counted change
for a ransom.
Jersey and Delaware Is peculiarly sus-
ceptfble to Captain Kidd fever" the fisher
folk, who dwell close 10 the bay and have
have become immune. In fact. to casual
observer they treat treasureseeking in a
pee iliarly blase manner.
SHAD FISHERMAN'S TALE.
Two of the best shad fishermen in Salem
were drying their big gill net at the edge
of Salem river when a reporter inquired as
TO the best way of seeking for Captain
ISidds private gold.
We'll, L tell yer the TRUTH said the tall,
bronzed captain of the beached smack, II
don't think there's much in it. An I'll
tell yer more. an that is that think that
II all the money oil Kidd lost was found it
wouldn't make up what's been lost lookin'
fer it.
But what I dew think somebody might
git is. the money that sunk in a big
ship that sailed from Philadelphia about
30 years ago with 100000 on board. She
sunk in the bay.
But dyer know it's queer how tn
rivers and Their bays change about. Now,
III bet ther bay is nine miles from where
II were when oil Kidd sailed up. Why.
ger might find it in that OF farm over there
fer all yer kin tell.
sunk in the Mississippi. She oil
stern paddle boat. and she went down 100
years ago with about 200 barrels OF whisky.
well, them there Southerners jest natu-
rally couldn't git over losin' that whisky.
and they kinder never Civ up. Well. about
ten years ago they wus pokin' holes in the
river bottom with iron rods when Teller
why, over there bout three mile IS
where Their river ulster run. So he went
over and druv rod hisself. ana. by gosh,
he hit Their boat Their third shot
so they dug and fetched up all them
barrels o rum. An say. d yer know what
1t wus like? Why. it wus jest like oil Just
think, Rum 160 years old. Why. it sold fer
SO teaspoonful. or dram, l dunno which.
so, yer see. they might find sunthin' yet
on old Dan Baker shoal. only wouldn't try
1t. Shad's bad enough. But here's luck TO
ther' Teller that gifts 1t.
What yer say? The government takes il
If there's any treasure found. Oh. don't
you worry about that mister Dyou think
the government d git it If saw it first or
yew saw it first? Not much. Oh. no. if
them fellers finds 1t they'll keep it an
IL was queer about that there rum, though.
kivered up 160 years.
Here an unusually bad angle in the big
gill net took the shad fishers undivided
attention and the chapter on treasury seek
ing was ended.
WRECK ON THE SHOAL
But certainly something has been found on
Ian Baker shoal. for Assistant Engineer
Haskari. who is in charge of the work at
the shoal. was in the city yesterday to see
Major Sanborn about the removal of an
old wreck which is right in the line of
the new channel. 1t is near the surface and
will be a dangerous obstruction unless re-
moved 1t is supposed from its location TO
be the original old brig from which Brig
buoy takes its name.
Mr.. Haskarl said that the treasure had
not been found when he left the shoal. al
o'clock. Friday afternoon. so that he
said. for there four old wrecks in close
proximity to the Brig buoy. Three of them
are so completely covered by mud and salt
that IL is impossible TO tell what they are
They are all old No one seems to know
just how long ago they were sunk 1t is
quite possible. he thinks, that some old
Spanish ship from the isthmus or the West
Indies. driven by stress OF weather into the
coast. had sought shelter in the bay. The
spirit OF adventure and fondness for ex-
ploration of the old navigators may have
induced them 10 sail up the river. The shp
might have been stranded and the crew
have fallen victims 10 the savages who
roamed along the border OF the stream al
that time.
The story that Captain Kidd sunk YES
sell treasure laden. In the river is we'll
known legend on the lower river No one
has ever been able 10 learn just where the
pirates ship was wrecked and il may as
well have been at Dan Baker shoals as al
any other Doint-
Wherever the treasure comes from Mr.
Haskarl says II will. IL recovered by the
dredges. be turned over TO the government