The New York herald., 1922-12-24


expected visits, which put the islanders
little manor on the map, doubtless afforded
welcome break in a somewhat monot-
onous exstence-unless four marriages
preclude the possibility of monotony in any
man's-or woman's-life.
On July l, 1699 Kidd sailed into Boston
harbor, relying implicitly on Lord Bello-
mont's written assurance of protection and
support. An honest man himself, It had
probably never occurred to him that his
partners reassuring phrases were en-
ployed only to deceive him and that the
plighted word and honor" of this belted
earl were false as dicer's oaths Yet
such was the fact, and Bellomont after
ward boasted that he had "wheedled" his
victim into his clutches
In his ''wheeding" letter Bellomont had
told Kidd that if he should come to Boston
he would be fitted out to go to the West
Indies and bring into port the ship he had
taken in Indian waters. Having this as
surance in mind, the captive sent his jailer
to the Governor six months later to say
that, if permitted to go to the place where
he had left the Quedah Merchant and to
st. Thomas and Curacao he would under
take to bring back goods worth 5000 to
100000 which otherwise would be lost "To
remove from me any jealousy of his trying
to escape wrote Bellomont. Kidd was
| willing to go prisoner" The Governor
replied. however, that he could hearken
to no such proposition" He had previ-
ously, according to his own statement bid
den the jailer ''to try if he could prevail
with him [Capt. Kidd to discover where
his treasure was hid by him: but he said
nobody could find it but himself and would
not tell any further" Yet in the deposition
submitted to Belomont and his council, the
Captain had distinctly stated that "the said
ship was left at st. Katherine, on the
southwest part of Hispaniola, about three
leagues to leeward of the westerly end of
Savona."
Absurd and conflicting rumors of Kidd's
doings continued to reach England even
after his long voyage had ended. Thus. a
month later than his arrival, according to
Luttrell's Brief Relation of State Af-
fairs" he was reported to have been
taken prisoner by French ship, the COM
mander of which had sent him in irons to
the Great Mogul." from whose subjects he
value of f400. 600" The same chronicler
put the value of Kidd's Jewels at 100000
and all of his effects when he reached
America ,at 100000 Three days later
august -, it is recorded: I'VE now have
letters from the West Indies which con-
tradict the taking of Capt. Kidd the pirate
and say that after the Adventure Galley
was sunk he went on board a Portuguese
and sailed directly for Darien. where the
Scots received him and all his riches"
Again, two days afterward Capt Kidd,
we now hear was at Nassau Island
(Long Island), near New York, and sent
for Mr.. Livingston and proffered
100000 to give the owners who first fitted
out the Adventure Galley and 100000 for
his pardon" Twelve days later we read:
Letters from Curassau (Curacao)
say that the famous pirate Capt. Kidd.
in a ship of 80 guns and $50 men. Of
fered the Dutch Governor of st.
Thomas $4,000 pieces of eight in gold
and a great present of goods if he
would protect him month, which he
refused.
1t was not tin August 22-nearly eight
weeks after the event-that authentic
word reached London that Kidd had sur
rendered himself to Lord Bellomont So
long as a century and a half afterward
Lord Chancellor Campbell wrote that hav-
ing "cruised against the commerce of all
nations indiscriminately. after a
sharp engagement with an English frigate.
in which several fell on both Sides he was
captured and brought home in ironsi"