The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-23

! Is. s. f. \ q i. < ~ .a 4
warship deserters. pirates and rogues
/ as the Western ocean could supply.
/ His plan was to go to the East Indies
where pirates were numerous, 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
| Massachusetts,.
His Commissions.
The good captain had two commits
sions from His Gracious Majesty the
| King. One was to seize pirates. The
second was to .'apprehend, seize and
| take ships. vessels and goods belong
| ing to the French King and his sub
| 1ects and such other ships, vessels and
! goods as are or shall be liable to con-
tiscation." This gave great latitude
to Captain Kidd. but there was a
| clause that may be considered some
what like a joker, in which it was
specified that he should do nothing
contrary to the true meaning Of mis-
instructions. AS the undertaking was
one OF profit purely and the syndica-
tors were looking to Kidd to fatten
| their purses, this commission might
be taken by him In rather broad
light. especially in view OF the way
things were done on the sea in those
days.
Apparently Captain Kidd tried to be
real good pirate chaser for a year or
so. but the fates We're against him. He
got into the Indian Ocean and he
searched honestly and faithfully for
pirates, but no pirates could he find.
There were plenty Of pirates in those
waters, but luck was against him.
Meanwhile he was having troubles OF
his own. That gallant band OF rogues
he had shipped in little old New York
had various things to say to him.
The days and the months We're Slip
ing by, and there was. no pay for
them. No prize no pay.'was the con-
tract If anything willstlr up the devil
In crew of rogues idleness surely
will and Captain ISidd's $50 or moro
rogues had been more or less idle for
year. Not only that but the captain.
had another nightmare. Not a penny
or for the duke. or the chancellor. or
My Lord Bellomont, or good Mr.! Liy-
ingston, To remain idle In the Indian
Ocean meant mutiny. To go homo
sempty-handed meant disgrace and ruin.
What was Mr. Kidd to do?
busy Days for Mr.. Kidd.
Just what he did will remain n dis
puted point In history SO long as time
lasts The captains own report was
that his mutlnous crew locked him In
his cabin, attacked and plundered
merchant ships without regard to the
flag under which they sailed. and
even fought drawn battle with a
Portuguese man of-war. This NAV be
true or it may be false, But 1t is n
fact that from out of the Indian Ocean
came reports soon after that Mr.. Kidd
and his New York pirate-chasers We're
the busiest pirates those pirattcal
waters ever had known.
IS And certain 1t is. too, that ~ the
captain was locked in his cabin whiiei
the crew captured some vessels ,hsl
was not locked In the cabin when tia.
richest prizo Of the cruise, he ouedah
Merchant, was taken. This great shin
had n great store OF chandi se' Z =
iot Nof gold and silver, precious stones
az considerable value and a miscel-
laneous cargo such as would delisht
the heart Of any pirate. sS
How many vessel Gaptain Isidd and
NJ 4 q en- 3 undered Is hard to q alI5 M.
n time they gave their attention "a
Vessels only, and We're scrupulnnsiv
shnnast IN their do tngs With ia mar r,.
rSAStANN