The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-23

ecutIon of the Notorious Captain Kidd
MONDAY, MAY %, 1910.


Last year unusual interest was again
attracted TO Captain Kidd the pictur-
esquc pirate, In the revival OF the effort
10 secure his buried treasures For more
looking for this buried wealth, but with
out success. Al various points the Al
lantlc coast has been searched from New
York City 10 Nova scotia with the mys.
terry OF its hiding as deep as the sea In
which ~ is thought 10 be buried. Every
now and then some one claims 10 have
found clue TO the whereabouts of the
hoard.
William Kidd was Scotch navigator.
He was born about 1850. and early be-
came famous as privateersman, CruIs-
ing OF the American coast: he did gallant
service for the colonies in the French
English wars, and afterward swept the
waters around New York free OF tho pi
rates who, in those days. infested the
coast. Kidd became the hero Of sea-
loving folks.
II was few years after this that
syndicate was formed for the alleged pur-
pose OF destroying piracy. The purpose
OF this syndicate was To capture and de-
stroy all pirate ships and 10 bring home
whatever treasure these pirate ships
might contain This treasure was To be
divided among the stockholders.
Robert Livingston, ? rich New York
merchant and landowner. was at the
head OF this syndicate and In looking
Kidd. So King William sent a commits
sion empowering THE well-beloved and
truSty captain Kidd To seize French or
pirate ships a will.
The syndicate fitted out n 2S7~ton gal
ley. the Adventurer, and Kidd set out
as pirate exterminator. But the adage
set a rogue to catch a rogue" did not
work well. for he turned pirate himself,
For time no definite news was heard
OF him. Finally word came that he was
actually iooting and sinking the honest
merchant ships he met.
How many vessels Captain Kidd and
his men plundered is hard 10 tell His
chief adventures at this time were con
fined to the Indian ocean. Finally IL came
TO his ear that a squadron had been sent
ont TO capture him. He had been in the
east two years, and had earned hand
some profits for his partners. so he was
not reluctant to leave,
Although half a dozen warships were
securing the seas for him, he had no in
reference on his way back to America,
ie feared 10 land in New York, and after
a short conference off Governors Island
he put out for Boston. into which har-
Dor he sailed on July 1, 1899.
For week Captain Kidd occupied a
house in Boston which stood on the
ground now occupied by the Boston
Globe. Then one day he was arrested.
From Boston he was taken TO London.
There was great political row on there.
the Outs accusing the 1ns of having sent
Kidd out as n pirate TO enrich them.
Even the king got his share Of the blame.
For year they kept Kidd In prison.
Then he was put on trial. 1t was neces-
sary. In order that the government should
vlndicate itself. that Kidd should hang.
He did hang. but his trial was a farce.
They found him guilty OF murder. He
had hit mutinous sailor with a bucket
and the blow fractured the sailors skull.
Then they found him guilty OF piracy and
several other crimes.
On May %. 170l, three days after his
conviction. he was hanged. Poor William
Kidd! He has a fame he does not de-
serve. He became n pirate against his
will, yet his name will ever stand as a
synonym for piracy. With him was
hanged nine OF his crew.
On May %. 1909. the second jamestown
charter was granted. II is the date Ma
poleon was crowned king OF Italy at MI
Ian In sos. On which the battle Of Ram
lilies occurred in 1906. II is the birthday
Of Empress Catherine OF Russia 1729):
Samuel w. King, who suppressed DORIS
rebellion GTS6): ZadoC Thomson the