Show 0 SCOTT WATSON 6 1921 1924 western newspaper union captain kidds fatal mistake THE HE die had been cast and capt william kidd whom king wllliam william had bad sent out to catch pirates had decided to be a pirate himself and had announced his intention of ballast ballasting Log his ship with gold and silver from the mocha fleet so to the port of babbs key where the mocha fleet was loading its cargo captain kidds ship the adventure sailed galled and then the mocha fleet one night stole out of the harbor outwitted the would be pirate and got clean awall an ayt but captain kidd was soon la in hot pursuit and catching up with it this daredevil english seaman pushed hla his little galley I 1 nto into the midst of the b big ig merchantman merchantmen merchant men and opened the battle but alas for the crews dream of rich loot I 1 the adventure was roundly peppered by the merchant mens guns find and forced to fall back while tha fleet continued on its way to india d ia so grumbling abose arose among the crew r e w captain kidd tried in vain to recoup hla big fortunes but the few captures which he made atter after the escape of the mocha fleet beet were unimportant por tant the climax came in a battle with the portuguese ship the loyal captain for five hours the two ships banged at each other then the portuguese sailed away and all the pirates had to show for their work was ten badly wounded men the grumbling among the crew increased it came to a head in the person ot of gunner moore who made so bold as to say that he be could have shown captain kidd a way to have taken the loyal captain and that without any risk there was a sting in those three words with their insinuation of cowardice on the captains part which way could you have put me in a way to take that ship without risk he be demanded the gunner sought refuge in a lie sir he protested 1 I never spoke such a word nor ever thought such a thing you lousy dog roared the captain it I 1 am a lousy dog you have maa made me so cried moore desperately you have brought me to ruin and many more this last a subtle appeal for the support of his mates matea have I 1 then ruined you ye dog cried the infuriated pirate then take thail captain kidd seized a heavy wooden basket bound with iron hoops and struck the gunner a crushing blow upon the head gunner moore died ills words and actions had been incipient mutiny and as such his captain was justified by the harsh rule of the sea in punishing it tun thus but that one blow proved to be captain kidds fatal mistake for it he paid la in execution dock |