The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-02-24
THE SCARCE FOR CAPTAIN KIDD'S
TREASURE BATTLES EVERY SEEKER

governor OF New York., In OF his
reports to the home government, de-
there were nine pirate ships in New
York harbor: that they had 100000
worth OF stolen goods aboard, and that
the pirate trade was so cherished by
the people of New York that not one
OF he pirates was molested.
It was a time Of lax morals on land
and on sea, but a change was, under
way. So great had been the depreda-
tons of the pirates hat It was thought
necessary by William III. to call a halt.
The king probably would not have been
concerned particularly but for the
losses III commerce Of England had
easiest ways Of abating the nuisance
was believed to be to At out vessels to
prey upon the pirates. seize their plum
der and bring them to Justice. This
was considered not only a good but a
profitable method Of combating the
evil, and so in January, 1896, a syndi-
to At out a vessel to rob the robbers.
The members of this syndicate were
the king, the lord chancellor, the Duke
OF Shrewsbury, the Earl Of Bellomont,
Robert Livingston, William Kidd and
various other gentlemen. It was Liv-
ingston who suggested Captain Kidd.
He ouche for him not only q a man
Of integrity but as a brave man, too
He offered to furnish bond for Kidd's
portion, OF the contribution to the syn
dicate fund n he told Of the glorious
work Kidd had done for England in
two sea fights with the French. In one
OF these his arrival saved a British
ship from capture by six French ves-
sells that were closing in on the lone
Englishnan. His conduct in this en-
gagement had won for him the highest
praise: No one could have behaved
Against HE Will.
When the proposition was made to
Kidd in London to take command Of
the privateer to go out in pursuit of
the pirates he views 1t with disfavor.
Only a few years before he had mar
ried. His wife had owned an excel
piece OF property In Hanover
square, near where the Cotton Ex-
change now stands, and he had sold
this and moved into a new house on
we'll to do. home loving and had
thought of giving up the sea. To go
privateering would mean long absences
from home and increased dangers, So
he declined. ..
But the king and the kings friends in
the syndicate did not intend that he should
have his own way. 1t was intimated to
him that he must accept. Otherwise he
would not be permitted to leave the
names. Hesitatingly and reluctantly he
accepted. Livingston signed his bond and
all the syndicates except the king put
up their money to At out the privateer. In
the language of the turf the king WEIGHED.
So far as is known he retained his inter-
est. but kept his money. He had served a
purpose, however. He had been a good
decoy duck to gel others to subscribe to
the pool. A a 30-gun vessel OF 81
tons. he Adventure, wal purchased, and
in April. 1896. Kidd sailed in his for New
York, to complete his crew and make
ready for business.
On his way over to New York he cap
tured a French ship off the Newfound-
land banks. and when he reached New
York he was greeted as a conquerer. The
provincial assembly voted ESQ to him hy
way Of testimonial.
II ever a man got a daredevil crew for
a boat, Kidd got n for the Adventure in
New York. He signed his men on the
contract OF no prize no pay, and he got
pirates and rogues as the Western ocean
could supply. His plan was to go to the
East Indies, where pirates were numer-
Gus. and in September, 1896, he sailed out
Of New York bay with the good wishes
Of the people and the blessings Of the
Earl Of Bellomont. who had been ap-
pointed governor Of New York and Mas
sachusetts.
His Commissions.
The good captain had two commissions
from his gracious majesty, the king. One
was to seize pirates. The second was to
'apprehend, seize and take ships, vessels
and goods belonging to the French king
and his subjects M such other ships,
vessels and goods as are or shall be liable
to confiscation." This gave great latitude
to Captain Kidd, but there was a clause
that nay be considered somewhat like
a Joker, in which it was specified that he
should do nothing contrary to the true
meaning OF his Instructions. AS the un-
d%ertaking was one of profit purely and
the syndicators were looking to Kidd to
fatten their purses. this commission might
be taken by him in a rather broad light,
especially in view Of the way things were
done on the sea in those days.
Apparently Captain Kid tried to be a
real good pirate chaser for a e or so,
but the fates were against him. He got
into the Indian ocean and he searched
honestly and faithfully for pirates, but
10 pirates could he find. There were
plenty OF pirates in those waters, but
luck was against him. Meanwhile i,e was
having troubles of his own. That gallant
band OF rogues he had shipped in little
to him..
The days and the months were slipping
by. and there was no pay for them. No
prize no pay was the contract. If any,
thing will stir up the devil in a crew Of
rogues, idleness surely will, and Captain
Kids $50 or more rogues had been more
or less idle for a year. Not only that. but
the captain had another nightmare. Not
a penny was he earning for his royal
partner, or for the duke, or the chancellor.
or My Lord Bellomont, or good Mr.. Liv-
ingston. To remain idle in the indian
ocean meant mutiny. To go home empty
handed meant disgrace and ruin. what
was Mr.. Kidd to do?
Busy Days for Mr.. Kidd.
just what he did will remain a disputed
point in history SO long as time lasts.
The captains own report was that his
mutinous crew locked him in his cabin.
attacked and %plundered merchant ships
without regard to the flag under which
they sailed, and even fought a drawn bat
tie with a Portuguese man-of-war. This
may be true or 1t may be false. But it is
a fact that from out Of the Indian ocean
came reports soon after that Mr.. Kidd
and his New York pirate chasers were
the busiest pirates those piratical waters