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

Ing citizen of New York. So was the
Chancellor of England. So was the
Governor OF New York and Massa-
chusetts. So were various British
noblemen. Probably politics played
as much part In branding William
Kidd as q pirate as did such plumber
Ing as he was guilty of on the sea.
In the latter part OF the seventeenth
century there was not more highly
respected seafaring man In New York
colony than this same Captain Kidd.
His brig, the Antigua, piled between
London. the West Indies and New
York. He was well to do, he hated
pirates and he had the confidence and
esteem of all the prominent men in
New York. No one thought more
highly OF him than did Robert Living
ston. founder of the great Livingston
family that has given to America some
brilliant men and women.
New forl'a Pirates.
There We're many good people In
New York at that time who did not
look upon piracy with disfavor In
fact. New York did glorious trade
with the freebooters of the sea- It
bought their plumber, and 1t furnished
them with men and stores.
!, He vouched for him not only as
man OF integrity. but as brave man,
too. He offered to furnish bond for
Kids portion of the contribution to
the syndicate fund and he told of the
glorious work Kidd had done for Eng
land in two sea fights with the
French. In one of these his arrival
saved British ship from capture by
six French vessels that were closing
Z in on the lone Englishman. His con-
duct In this engagement had won for
him the highest praise. No one could
have behaved more bravely.
Against His 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 viewed it with disfavor.,
Only few years before he had mar
ried. His wife had owned an excel
Square. near where the Cotton Elk
change now stands, and he had sold
this and moved into a new house on
Liberty Street, near Nassau. He was
we'll to do home loving, and had
thought of giving up the sea. To go
privateering would mean long alb
sences from home and increased dam.
gers. 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
cept otherwise he would not be per-
mitted to leave the Thames. Hest
tatingly and reluctantly he accepted.
Livingston signed his bond and all
the syndtcators except the King put
up their money to fit out the privateer.,
In the language Of the turf the King
WEIGHED. So far as is known he re-
tanned his interest, but kept his money,
He had served purpose. however,
He had been a good decoy duck to
get others to subscribe to the pool. "A
staunch thirty-gun vessel of e87 TONS
the Adventure, was purchased, and In
April 1896, Kidd sailed In this for
New York to complete his crew and
make ready for business, M
On his way over to New York he
captured q French ship off the New
Bfoundland banks,s and when lie 3rea ched
New York he was greeted as a con-
aqueror. ~ he provincial assembly voted
$3.50 to him by way Of testimonial.
fever a. m an go Y q a are deyil crew
for q boat. III ID got one for tn Ad,
venture in New ~ orls. Ife signed his
men on the contra OF Sor no prize ,,o
fIay.:and he got ass fine = collection al.