The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-02
KNOWS KIDD'S SECRET.
Maine skipper Tells Where Capt.
Kidd Hid All His Treasures.
From the New York Sun.
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From the New York Sun.
An aged and respected tradition, cur
rent in New England for more than
200 years, asserts that when Capt.
Kidd went to Boston to make terms
with the Earl of Bellamont he took
three trusted companions with him,
travelling overland from Newport,
and reaching Boston after dark.
After eating his supper the pirate
captain went to the Province House,
in Province Court, and sat among the
idlers TO learn how the people felt to-
ward him and his crew. He dis
covered that the outlook was very
bad.
The story goes that Kidd sat UP late
that night, packing and arranging the
silks and jewels he was going to pre-
sent to Lady Bellamoht and giving IN
structions to his companions. In order
to be prepared for the worst he gave
them three silver plates, upon which
were engraved in cipher full directions
for finding the jewels and gold
which had been concealed by Kidd
previous to going to Boston.
The names of the three men who
were made custodians of the treasure
were Stewart, Blackburn and Nichols.
In case Kidd was arrested they were
to wait until his case was brought up
for trial, when they were to secure a
stay in the proceedings until they could
rescue the wealth from its hiding place,
and it was to be used in hiring coun-
sci and in bribing the jury. The plan
failed because the pirate. instead of
being tried in Boston, as he expected,
was shipped away to London, where
he was convicted and hanged before
any of his associates could render
aid.
Two of the silver plates are said to
be in existence to-day. One is said to
be in the possession of David Nichols,
an employe Of the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington, and a direct de-
scendant of Kids friend. The other
is said to be owned by Capt. NJ. A.
Stewart of Machiasport who is de-
scended from brother of the Stewart
to whom kidd impaired the secret.
Capt. Stewart has commanded coast
ing vessels which have carried goods
between Maine and Boston for nearly
fifty years. He has studied the inscrip-
ton on the plate very often, and
though he cannot make out the full
meaning of the cipher, he has discov-
cred that the treasure is sunken at a
point between three islands off the
coast of Lincoln county, Maine, and
that the depth of water above the
treasure boxes at low tide is 113 feet.
IF you expect me to tell you the
place" said Capt. Stewart, you are
greatly mistaken. This secret has been
in my family for two centuries. and I
am not going to give it UP now.
IF it will do you any good, I will
say that the plate contains a rough
drawing Of a tall headland. surmounted
by a building. BY the side of the
building is a flagstaff bearing the Eng
Hsh flag. on the limerick ledge of the
headland are scratched the figures of
two spears, both pointing to spot in
the water about equidistant from the
three small islands.
II will also say that / have worked
around the spot with graphing irons
for many months. pretending I was
dredging for quahogs. when in reality
l was doing all 1 could to get a hook
into one of those iron treasure chests.
l have taken soundings in every square
foot OF water among the islands, and
will confess that have never found
place where the depth was more than
10 feet at low tide, though this Is
no doubt due to the filling In Of drift
matter. My belief in the existence OF
great wealth at that spot is as strong
as Is my confidence that l am alive.
n / dared to confde the secret to
others could find the treasure easily,
for there are plenty of people who
would be glad to 60 into the venture
on shares.
III / had $1,000 that was all my own
I would buy a diving suit and pump
ing machinery. and with the help Of
my son could bring up those chests
inside OF a week. Yes. there Is more
than one chest The silver plate tells
me how many but | am not going TO
reveal all have learned.
why, in July. 1875 / hooked Crap
ME into one OF the chests and brought
Il so near the surface that could
see II. II was a rusty box, about three
feet square and / guess 10 weighed
more than 300 pounds. am very sure
n h filled with gold bars.
And an this wealth must stay there'
doing nobody any good while ] grow
old ana die poor man. That Fellow
Nichols in Washington, who has
plste ike mine, 81 getting $500 year
ana h too lazy or too rich 20 take any
interest In the work. II had my way
~ shouldnt receive q cent rom the
chests. re doesn't deserve any
saees~
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