Books: Scapegoat, Will-o'-the-Wisp?

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Lord Bellomont wrote Kidd two weasel letters to lure him ashore, then clapped him in jail, sent him to London. At his trial Kidd was not allowed counsel. As evidence that the prizes he had taken were legitimate, he had kept their French "passes" (commissions); but these vital papers had been taken from him and he could not produce them in court. Their evidence would not have affected the verdict, thinks Author Wilkins. The British Admiralty was determined to make an example of him. Reason: India's Great Mogul, tired of English pirates, had threatened to drive out the East India Co. from his domain unless some scapegoats were hanged. For some unexplained reason, Kidd did not try to implicate his backers, who for their part sacrificed him without a qualm. So Kidd's life was ended at 56, and his immortal notoriety begun. At his execution he shocked the attendant parson by being "inflamed with Drink, which had discomposed his mind, that it was in a very ill frame."

No sooner had Kidd been laid by the heels than rumors of his buried treasure spread like wildfire, set amateur treasure-seekers (and still does) searching and digging. One reason: the "treasure" captured with Kidd was disappointingly small, indicated to optimists that more must be cached somewhere. Another: in a last attempt to buy his life, Kidd offered to guide a King's ship to hidden treasure worth £100,000. In the 19th Century nine different companies were formed to look for this legendary hoard. Author Wilkins believes Kidd's treasure is really there—somewhere—thinks he knows at last where it may be found.

In recent years a friend of his who collects buccaneering relics has acquired at different times four maps, ostensibly initialled and annotated by Kidd himself, of an island in "a certain remote Far Eastern sea." The first three maps gave no latitude or longitude; the fourth, strangely enough, gave both. Equally luckily for Author Wilkins and his friend, the island in question is not on any modern map or chart. Soon there will be another expedition to have another go at the will-o'-the-wisp of Captain Kidd's treasure. And Author Wilkins will sign on for the voyage.