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(dramatic music)
(cannon blasts)
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- Tonight, a mystery from
the golden age of piracy.
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- Anyone that's raised on the
Atlantic seaboard has grown up
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listening to tales of Captain
Kidd and his lost treasure.
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- In 1698, Captain
William Kidd raids a ship
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on the high seas and
seizes its vast treasure.
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- Gold bars, silver,
coins, rubies,
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emeralds, diamonds,
and other treasures.
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- These other pirates now know
he's sitting on a fortune.
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Captain Kidd wound up
the most wanted man
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in the British empire.
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- What did the
notorious seafarer do
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with all of his loot?
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We'll explore the top theories
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around Captain Kidd's
hidden treasure.
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- Where could Captain Kidd
have hidden this treasure?
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It could be anywhere
as far as Madagascar,
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potentially somewhere
in the Caribbean,
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possibly somewhere
in the United States.
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- Here is a true,
buried treasure story,
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Kidd's lost treasure.
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- What happened to Captain
William Kidd's lost treasure
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and where is it now?
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(dramatic music)
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(tense music)
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- [Laurence] In 1696, William
Kidd is a celebrated veteran
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of the British sea battles
against the French.
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(cannon blasts)
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Kidd has risen to
the rank of captain,
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working as a privateer,
plundering enemy ships
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in the service of his
Majesty's government.
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- The only thing that
differed between pirates
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and privateers was
a piece of paper.
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- [Laurence] That paper was
known as a letter of marque.
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- When you got a
privateering commission,
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you got a letter of
marque from the government
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that allowed you to capture
foreign ships legally.
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This was not piracy,
this was privateering.
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- [Laurence] But now, the famed
privateer is a semi-retired,
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53-year-old gentleman.
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- Kidd is living in New York.
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He's married to a
wealthy woman, Sarah,
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and they have a
couple of daughters.
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He's got a perfect life.
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He's well respected around town.
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And then comes an offer
that he can't refuse.
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- He got this offer, this
opportunity to capture
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French merchant ships
or any ship traveling
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with a French letter of
passage to take their treasure
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and then divide it
up with the people
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who backed his mission.
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Captain Kidd was backed by
four of the most powerful lords
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in England and he also had
one of the wealthiest men
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in New York backing
him, Robert Livingston.
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He had the future governor of
New York and Massachusetts,
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Lord Bellomont, backing him.
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He had to assume this
was a legal mission.
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These were very powerful people.
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(dramatic music)
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- [Laurence] On September 6,
1696, Captain Kidd set sail
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out of New York Harbor aboard
a swift, well-armed ship
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named the Adventure Galley.
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- He's been given a
crew of over 150 men,
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which will give him
loads of resources to rob
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very large ships, guaranteeing
the most successful voyage
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of his entire career.
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- [Laurence] But Kidd's
promising voyage
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is off to a troubled start.
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(tense music)
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- [Rebecca] About four months
into this privateering journey,
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Captain Kidd is not having
the success he hoped for.
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- He hasn't found
any pirate ship,
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he's lost 40 men to disease,
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and the only hope he has
is finding prey quickly.
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- They're under contract
to go after French ships,
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but instead, they're
coming across Dutch ships,
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and so Kidd is not
attacking them,
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but the crew is starting
to demand this.
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- [Laurence] Kidd can't attack
a ship sailing under the flag
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of a nation that's not
at war with England,
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but his crew is
getting desperate.
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- Privateers generally
functioned under this idea
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of no prey, no pay,
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meaning if you do not
pursue and raid ships,
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no one on board is
getting any money.
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This puts Captain Kidd
in a difficult situation,
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because of course, he
does need to pursue prey
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in order to pay his crew, but
if he pursues the wrong prey,
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then there will be no
distinction between himself,
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as a privateer, and
a regular pirate.
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(dramatic music)
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- Finally, the gunner of
the ship, William Moore,
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basically confronts Kidd,
saying there's a huge Dutch ship
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on the horizon, they
should attack it,
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they'll get lots of money.
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Kidd refuses and the two of them
end up yelling at each other.
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- [Richard] Moore says,
"You've made us beggars."
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And Kidd says, "You
are a lousy dog."
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- [Rebecca] Captain Kidd takes
a bucket and cracks it over
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the head of William Moore,
cracking his skull.
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- [Laurence] The next morning,
Moore dies of his injuries.
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- Kidd claims that he
didn't mean to do it,
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but the surgeon has suspicions
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that it was probably
done on purpose.
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Many members of the crew
also start to believe this.
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- Captain Kidd knows right
away that this is dire.
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He has now killed a member of
his own crew and he can hear
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the murmurings among
the remaining crew.
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He's losing them and
that's really dangerous
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for him at this point.
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- He needs to take
a very large ship,
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pay the crew to keep them happy
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so he can keep his
captainship, avoid a mutiny,
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avoid any more violence,
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and also to keep the respect
of the British government.
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- After Moore dies, Kidd's
desperate to find a prize.
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So he brings the Adventure
Galley around the horn
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into the Arabian Sea, hoping
to find one of these prizes
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under the protection
of the French.
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(dramatic music)
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- [Laurence] Then, on January
30, 1698, nearly 16 months
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after leaving New York
Harbor, Kidd is off the coast
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of India when his crew spots
a large merchant ship ahead.
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- She's sitting
low in the water,
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which means she's
a heavy cargo ship.
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She's flying a French color
and, for Kidd, this is perfect
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because his letter of
marque entitles him to take
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French vessels and the
assets that are on board.
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This is a legitimate prize.
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(intense music)
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- [Laurence] Kidd's ship
pulls up alongside its prey
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with its guns loaded
and ready to fire.
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The merchant ship
quickly surrenders.
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(dramatic music)
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- Kidd's luck finally changes.
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On board is a king's
ransom in treasure.
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- It's the ship Captain
Kidd has dreamt of.
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It is filled with really
expensive textiles
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such as muslins, calico,
silks, it's full of opium,
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other items like tobacco
and teas, sugar and salt.
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All of these goods might
amount to $12 million
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in today's currency.
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- Now, his crew are gonna
have everything they want
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and his investors are
gonna get the return
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on their investment.
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- Kidd comes across
a very large chest
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that is double
padlocked with iron
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and to his absolute
astonishment,
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it's filled with gold
bars, silver, coins,
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rubies, emeralds, diamonds,
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amounting to about $2.4
million in today's currency.
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- But the problem is, Kidd
is quite nervous about it
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because he discovers this was
basically Armenian merchants
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on an Indian ship with
a local crew and it has
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an English captain who presents
a French letter of passage.
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And he also says it's
a legitimate capture.
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- The Quedagh Merchant
is under the protection
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of the French, he's
carrying a French pass,
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but the Quedagh Merchant
is actually a vessel
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belonging to the Grand Mogul.
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- [Laurence] The Grand
Mogul, Aurangzeb Alamgir,
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heads the Mogul empire of India,
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ruling a vast expanse
of South Asia.
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- Captain Kidd knows
that he is now possibly
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under threat from all angles,
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not just the Mogul who
this ship belongs to,
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but the English who are going
to have to answer to the Mogul
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for what Captain
Kidd has just done.
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And he still needs to promise
that this treasure is going
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to go to the crew that has
already proven to be mutinous.
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That there might be some
question as to whether or not
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this is a legitimate target
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becomes clear to Captain
Kidd fairly quickly.
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He needs to keep that
French letter as proof.
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This makes it a
legitimate prize.
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- Kidd has the Adventure Galley,
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the Quedagh Merchant,
and all this treasure.
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He has to get this
treasure back to New York.
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(dramatic music)
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- They start making stops
around the Arabian Sea,
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selling off as much of
that cargo as they can
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to turn it into hard currency.
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- What Kidd's doing now, is
he's liquidating these assets
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and putting them
into gold and silver
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and it makes it easier,
not only to transport,
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but also pay his bills.
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But the Adventure
Galley is in a bad way.
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She's done a lot of miles
in harsh conditions.
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She's leaking,
she's in bad repair,
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so they're making for
the coast of Madagascar.
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- They sail south to
Sainte-Marie's Island
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off the coast of Madagascar,
and it's a little pirate port,
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and that's where Kidd went to
get ready for his voyage back.
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(tense music)
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- [Laurence] During
this stop in Madagascar,
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long simmering tensions
between Kidd and his crew
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come to a head.
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- With the amount of
money that they took
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from the Quedagh Merchant,
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00:09:49,375 --> 00:09:51,500
they're surprised to find
that the amount of money
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they're getting is
actually quite average.
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They start threatening
to abandon Kidd
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unless they get
their fair share.
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- There's a pirate ship
that's in the harbor
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and it's got a very small
crew, very minimal crew.
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Kidd orders his men to
go and attack the ship,
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but his men respond
by saying, quote,
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"We'd rather put two
pistol balls into you."
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And they mutiny.
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Kidd ends up losing 98 men who
go and join the pirate ship.
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- [Laurence] Leaving
only a handful
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still under Kidd's command.
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- That pirate ship is now
in position to attack Kidd
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because he has no men to
work his guns or outmaneuver.
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00:10:29,833 --> 00:10:32,708
- You can imagine he must
be feeling that he has
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to get out of Dodge
really quickly.
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These other pirates now know
he's sitting on a fortune.
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- So he basically takes off
as many of the stolen goods
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off the Adventure Galley
as he possibly can,
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burns the ship and sinks
it, and then takes off
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on the Quedagh Merchant with
a very tiny crew that's left,
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only about 13 people.
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- [Laurence] Kidd
leaves Madagascar,
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the Adventure Galley, and
an enduring mystery behind.
225
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What happened to
the loot on board?
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00:11:02,708 --> 00:11:05,083
(dramatic music)
227
00:11:07,375 --> 00:11:09,708
- In the chaos of trying
to get rid of everything
228
00:11:09,708 --> 00:11:11,458
off the Adventure
Galley and sinking it,
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00:11:11,458 --> 00:11:13,958
there's always the possibility
that Kidd may have left
230
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some items behind,
some precious items.
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- Some people believe that Kidd
actually left treasure here
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and maybe some was even left
on the Adventure Galley.
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And so in 2000, the adventurer
and diver Barry Clifford,
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he came to Madagascar.
235
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- I was thinking, well, if
Kidd had a lot of treasure,
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what did he do with it?
237
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I was always
interested in looking
238
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for the Adventure Galley.
239
00:11:40,667 --> 00:11:43,042
- When Barry's diving the wreck,
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he believes that he has found
part of Kidd's treasure.
241
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- One of the things he was
supposed to have had on the boat
242
00:11:51,333 --> 00:11:52,792
was silver bars.
243
00:11:52,792 --> 00:11:54,167
(splashing)
244
00:11:54,167 --> 00:11:56,958
So I went over to where
the Adventure Galley was,
245
00:11:56,958 --> 00:12:00,792
dove down and had
my detector with me,
246
00:12:00,792 --> 00:12:02,375
and I started getting readings,
247
00:12:02,375 --> 00:12:05,292
like, right under where
Kidd's cabin would've been.
248
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,792
The whole area
was hot with metal
249
00:12:09,792 --> 00:12:13,250
and I found all of
these metal bars.
250
00:12:14,708 --> 00:12:17,292
- He believes that
he has found part
251
00:12:17,292 --> 00:12:20,583
of the silver that
was allegedly on board
252
00:12:20,583 --> 00:12:22,583
the Quedagh Merchant.
253
00:12:22,583 --> 00:12:24,208
- Barry Clifford
turns the bar over
254
00:12:24,208 --> 00:12:27,042
to the Madagascar government,
who in turn sends it
255
00:12:27,042 --> 00:12:31,958
to the United Nations for
investigation into what it is.
256
00:12:31,958 --> 00:12:33,917
- [Laurence] The results
of that investigation
257
00:12:33,917 --> 00:12:35,167
are a disappointment.
258
00:12:36,667 --> 00:12:41,208
- The ingot is not
silver, it is lead.
259
00:12:41,208 --> 00:12:43,375
And the experts doubt
that it even came
260
00:12:43,375 --> 00:12:45,083
from Captain Kidd's ship,
261
00:12:45,083 --> 00:12:49,042
but that it was most likely an
old pier that had gone down.
262
00:12:50,167 --> 00:12:52,708
- [Laurence] But legend
persists of a hoard
263
00:12:52,708 --> 00:12:54,292
that may have been left behind.
264
00:12:55,667 --> 00:12:58,167
- Did Captain Kidd's treasure
go down with the ship
265
00:12:58,167 --> 00:13:02,167
in Madagascar, or did it
follow him to the Caribbean?
266
00:13:02,167 --> 00:13:04,792
Is there any more buried
treasure out there?
267
00:13:05,917 --> 00:13:08,375
- [Laurence] On his voyage
home from Madagascar,
268
00:13:08,375 --> 00:13:11,542
Kidd makes a stop on the
Caribbean island of Anguilla.
269
00:13:13,292 --> 00:13:17,083
- When everybody lands on shore,
they hear the horrible news.
270
00:13:17,083 --> 00:13:21,000
Captain Kidd is now a wanted
pirate and will be sentenced
271
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,208
to hang if captured.
272
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,542
(suspenseful music)
273
00:13:28,542 --> 00:13:30,500
- [Laurence] When Captain
William Kidd's prized ship,
274
00:13:30,500 --> 00:13:35,458
the Quedagh Merchant, arrives
in a Caribbean port in 1698,
275
00:13:35,458 --> 00:13:37,625
he learns shocking news.
276
00:13:37,625 --> 00:13:41,792
The vessel's capture is now
considered an act of piracy
277
00:13:41,792 --> 00:13:44,125
and not a legitimate act of war.
278
00:13:44,125 --> 00:13:48,125
Kidd's freedom, and perhaps
his treasure, are now at risk.
279
00:13:49,792 --> 00:13:51,042
- He thought he
would be welcomed,
280
00:13:51,042 --> 00:13:53,042
but it was the exact opposite.
281
00:13:53,042 --> 00:13:55,375
He was the most wanted
man in the British Empire.
282
00:13:56,667 --> 00:13:59,042
And so, now he has
a huge decision.
283
00:13:59,042 --> 00:14:00,375
If the Royal Navy catches him,
284
00:14:00,375 --> 00:14:02,167
he knows what they
do to pirates.
285
00:14:02,167 --> 00:14:04,958
I mean, he could be hanged
before he even gets back.
286
00:14:04,958 --> 00:14:06,750
- In his mind, he
knows this has to be
287
00:14:06,750 --> 00:14:08,208
some sort of misunderstanding,
288
00:14:08,208 --> 00:14:10,042
perhaps a problem
with communication
289
00:14:10,042 --> 00:14:11,833
as news traveled
across the ocean,
290
00:14:11,833 --> 00:14:14,042
perhaps by some
upset crew members.
291
00:14:14,042 --> 00:14:17,542
To him, he followed every
rule of his letter of marque.
292
00:14:17,542 --> 00:14:19,208
There were French passes,
293
00:14:19,208 --> 00:14:20,875
the Quedagh Merchant
was protected
294
00:14:20,875 --> 00:14:22,083
by the French government.
295
00:14:22,083 --> 00:14:24,750
Surely, there is
absolutely no way
296
00:14:24,750 --> 00:14:27,542
he could really be
considered a pirate.
297
00:14:27,542 --> 00:14:29,833
- [Laurence] But powerful
forces are working
298
00:14:29,833 --> 00:14:31,542
against Captain Kidd.
299
00:14:31,542 --> 00:14:35,083
The Grand Mogul of India
owns the Quedagh Merchant
300
00:14:35,083 --> 00:14:38,542
and he's angry that
Kidd took it as a prize.
301
00:14:38,542 --> 00:14:41,250
The Mogul's displeasure
threatens British trade
302
00:14:41,250 --> 00:14:43,292
in South Asia and the profits
303
00:14:43,292 --> 00:14:45,458
of Britain's East
India Trading Company.
304
00:14:46,875 --> 00:14:49,500
- Captain Kidd wound up the
most wanted man in the empire
305
00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:54,250
because the Indies was such
an important, new trade,
306
00:14:54,250 --> 00:14:56,292
trading opportunity
for the British.
307
00:14:56,292 --> 00:14:59,042
The English East India Company
was was the great future.
308
00:14:59,042 --> 00:15:01,167
I mean, the present
was the Caribbean
309
00:15:01,167 --> 00:15:03,708
and the sugar plantations,
but India was the future
310
00:15:03,708 --> 00:15:06,083
and they only had, I think
it was 10 trading posts
311
00:15:06,083 --> 00:15:09,042
at the time, but it was
starting to go very well
312
00:15:09,042 --> 00:15:10,875
and it would lead
to empire and lead
313
00:15:10,875 --> 00:15:12,667
to England taking over India.
314
00:15:13,875 --> 00:15:15,208
- By the late 17th century,
315
00:15:15,208 --> 00:15:17,042
The East India
Company is already
316
00:15:17,042 --> 00:15:19,500
one of the most powerful
conglomerates in the world.
317
00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:21,750
They're establishing good
trading relationships
318
00:15:21,750 --> 00:15:25,292
with the Indian Mughals, so
there is virtually everything
319
00:15:25,292 --> 00:15:27,375
in the world at stake
for them to make sure
320
00:15:27,375 --> 00:15:30,250
they can protect their trading
relationships with India,
321
00:15:30,250 --> 00:15:32,000
so that way, the
East India Company
322
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,708
can continue to
survive and thrive.
323
00:15:34,708 --> 00:15:37,417
- So with the capture
of the Quedagh Merchant,
324
00:15:37,417 --> 00:15:40,000
the Grand Mogul
wanted his ship back.
325
00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,917
He wanted the goods
that were on board.
326
00:15:41,917 --> 00:15:44,833
He wanted the products
and the treasure
327
00:15:44,833 --> 00:15:48,083
and he wanted somebody
to pay the price.
328
00:15:48,083 --> 00:15:50,042
Kidd was that man.
329
00:15:50,042 --> 00:15:52,208
- They threatened the East
India Company that if Kidd
330
00:15:52,208 --> 00:15:55,167
is not captured and
not made an example of,
331
00:15:55,167 --> 00:15:57,458
they will not only
cut off all trade,
332
00:15:57,458 --> 00:16:00,000
they will consider
it an act of war.
333
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,042
- It's costing millions
of pounds in trade.
334
00:16:03,042 --> 00:16:06,792
This problem has to be
fixed, Kidd must be taken.
335
00:16:07,792 --> 00:16:10,208
- [Laurence] The British
government agrees to go after
336
00:16:10,208 --> 00:16:14,042
their own man even if
he might be innocent.
337
00:16:14,042 --> 00:16:16,042
- So even with his
letter of marque,
338
00:16:16,042 --> 00:16:18,250
even though he thought
he had the right
339
00:16:18,250 --> 00:16:20,917
to take these vessels,
things have changed.
340
00:16:20,917 --> 00:16:23,875
It's turned into
a political game.
341
00:16:23,875 --> 00:16:26,250
So Kidd now is in an
impossible position.
342
00:16:26,250 --> 00:16:29,042
He can't stay on board
the Quedagh Merchant
343
00:16:29,042 --> 00:16:31,375
and he can't let
his treasure go.
344
00:16:31,375 --> 00:16:34,958
So what he has to do is
find a way out of this.
345
00:16:34,958 --> 00:16:37,208
- He realizes that
he is on a vessel
346
00:16:37,208 --> 00:16:42,542
that is easily recognizable and
in order for him to get back
347
00:16:42,542 --> 00:16:45,208
and prove his innocence,
he actually needs to sneak
348
00:16:45,208 --> 00:16:48,583
into New York and so
he needs to find a boat
349
00:16:48,583 --> 00:16:53,083
that will let him enter the
harbor there without detection.
350
00:16:53,083 --> 00:16:56,125
- Kidd has to get rid
of the Quedagh Merchant,
351
00:16:56,125 --> 00:16:58,542
so he needs to offload.
352
00:16:58,542 --> 00:17:00,958
- [Laurence] But first,
Kidd must part with some
353
00:17:00,958 --> 00:17:03,708
of the Quedagh Merchant's
valuable cargo.
354
00:17:03,708 --> 00:17:06,042
- Kidd basically has to do
a fire sale and sell off
355
00:17:06,042 --> 00:17:08,542
what he can and then
he needs to buy a ship.
356
00:17:08,542 --> 00:17:11,458
And so he sells off enough
goods to have the money to buy
357
00:17:11,458 --> 00:17:14,917
a ship called the San
Antonio and sail it back.
358
00:17:14,917 --> 00:17:16,875
- He can't take
everything that's left
359
00:17:16,875 --> 00:17:19,583
on the Quedagh Merchant, but
he does bring some with him,
360
00:17:19,583 --> 00:17:23,250
as much as he can fit
on the San Antonio.
361
00:17:23,250 --> 00:17:24,958
- [Richard] Kidd still has
a very sizable treasure.
362
00:17:24,958 --> 00:17:28,708
We think it was 75 pounds of
gold and 150 pounds of silver.
363
00:17:28,708 --> 00:17:31,375
It had a chest of jewels.
364
00:17:31,375 --> 00:17:34,333
- [Laurence] Kidd leaves the
Quedagh Merchant in Anguilla
365
00:17:34,333 --> 00:17:37,167
in the care of his
friend, Henry Bolton.
366
00:17:37,167 --> 00:17:39,417
But what becomes of
the precious cargo
367
00:17:39,417 --> 00:17:42,042
he may have left on board?
368
00:17:42,042 --> 00:17:44,375
(dramatic music)
369
00:17:46,417 --> 00:17:49,875
- Kidd leaves the ship with
Bolton to go and clear his name.
370
00:17:49,875 --> 00:17:53,208
Bolton starts to get worried
because he has the same fear
371
00:17:53,208 --> 00:17:55,708
that Kidd does, now he's on
this ship that sticks out
372
00:17:55,708 --> 00:17:56,750
like a sore thumb.
373
00:17:56,750 --> 00:17:58,542
- Bolton maneuvers
the Quedagh Merchant
374
00:17:58,542 --> 00:18:01,375
into a nearby Caribbean
river called the Rio Dulce
375
00:18:01,375 --> 00:18:04,333
where he abandons it
and sets it on fire.
376
00:18:04,333 --> 00:18:06,375
Rumors abound as to
how much treasure
377
00:18:06,375 --> 00:18:07,875
was actually left
aboard the ship
378
00:18:07,875 --> 00:18:09,500
when it was burned and sunk.
379
00:18:10,708 --> 00:18:13,542
- [Laurence] For more than
300 years, the location
380
00:18:13,542 --> 00:18:17,125
of the Quedagh Merchant and
its possible sunken treasure
381
00:18:17,125 --> 00:18:19,250
remains a mystery.
382
00:18:20,625 --> 00:18:25,000
Then, in 2007, some local
residents are diving
383
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,625
in shallow waters off an island
near the Dominican Republic
384
00:18:29,625 --> 00:18:35,125
and come across an old cannon
lying on the ocean floor.
385
00:18:35,125 --> 00:18:37,208
- In a collaboration
between Indiana University
386
00:18:37,208 --> 00:18:38,792
and the Dominican
Republic government,
387
00:18:39,917 --> 00:18:45,500
we began assessing the
site and recovering data.
388
00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:48,042
- I happen to be hired on as
the historian for the mission.
389
00:18:48,042 --> 00:18:51,792
I have the documents that say
how many cannons there were
390
00:18:51,792 --> 00:18:54,125
and where they were placed.
391
00:18:54,125 --> 00:18:58,417
And so the cannon pretty much
are just about exactly right.
392
00:18:58,417 --> 00:19:01,542
- This Is the first
clue that we may have
393
00:19:01,542 --> 00:19:03,250
the Quedagh Merchant
on our hands.
394
00:19:04,375 --> 00:19:07,708
The final piece of evidence
was when we uncovered
395
00:19:07,708 --> 00:19:11,833
a much more significant section
of hull and we were able
396
00:19:11,833 --> 00:19:15,625
to actually identify the
ship construction technique
397
00:19:15,625 --> 00:19:17,708
described in the
historical document.
398
00:19:18,625 --> 00:19:20,750
- So, we found the
Quedagh Merchant.
399
00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:24,542
- So, the shipwreck
itself didn't have any
400
00:19:24,542 --> 00:19:28,458
of what we normally
think of as treasure.
401
00:19:28,458 --> 00:19:30,875
There was no gold,
no silver, no jewels.
402
00:19:30,875 --> 00:19:34,542
Any of the organic materials
had most likely decomposed
403
00:19:34,542 --> 00:19:36,958
or broken down like
the fabrics, the silks,
404
00:19:36,958 --> 00:19:39,042
the muslins, the sugar.
405
00:19:39,042 --> 00:19:40,750
None of the booty
was actually found.
406
00:19:42,125 --> 00:19:46,083
One could assume
that, A, it was looted
407
00:19:46,083 --> 00:19:48,875
before the ship sank, or B,
408
00:19:48,875 --> 00:19:51,167
Kidd took everything with
him for this journey.
409
00:19:51,167 --> 00:19:54,500
- That there wasn't any of
Captain Kidd's treasure found
410
00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:57,875
on the wreckage of the Quedagh
Merchant just doesn't prove
411
00:19:57,875 --> 00:20:00,583
that all of that treasure
left the Caribbean.
412
00:20:00,583 --> 00:20:03,708
His friend Henry
Bolton could have taken
413
00:20:03,708 --> 00:20:05,667
some of that
treasure and kept it.
414
00:20:05,667 --> 00:20:08,042
Kidd could have
buried some of it
415
00:20:08,042 --> 00:20:10,333
to come back and get it later.
416
00:20:10,333 --> 00:20:12,167
- Some people have
speculated that Kidd
417
00:20:12,167 --> 00:20:13,750
hid treasure in the Caribbean.
418
00:20:13,750 --> 00:20:16,292
I mean, Kidd was there and
we know that for a fact,
419
00:20:16,292 --> 00:20:17,917
'cause we have
eyewitness accounts.
420
00:20:17,917 --> 00:20:21,042
- Some of that treasure
could very well still be
421
00:20:21,042 --> 00:20:22,375
somewhere in the Caribbean.
422
00:20:25,958 --> 00:20:29,667
- [Laurence] On May 15,
1699, Kidd sails northwest
423
00:20:29,667 --> 00:20:34,417
aboard his new ship, the San
Antonio, bound for New York
424
00:20:34,417 --> 00:20:37,583
and eager to prove
he's not a pirate.
425
00:20:37,583 --> 00:20:39,458
- He takes the
goods that he needs,
426
00:20:39,458 --> 00:20:42,208
he takes the wealth that he
needs, and he gets a small sloop
427
00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:44,542
and he starts to sail
towards North America
428
00:20:44,542 --> 00:20:46,917
because the person he really
needs to talk to is going
429
00:20:46,917 --> 00:20:49,917
to be his friend and
financier, Lord Bellomont,
430
00:20:49,917 --> 00:20:52,625
the governor of New
York and Massachusetts.
431
00:20:52,625 --> 00:20:54,667
- With the money and the
treasure that Kidd still has
432
00:20:54,667 --> 00:20:58,333
on board the vessel, he wants
to take this back to New York,
433
00:20:58,333 --> 00:21:01,125
so he has something to
bargain with his investors
434
00:21:01,125 --> 00:21:02,708
and the governor.
435
00:21:02,708 --> 00:21:05,375
- He is certain that once
he explains the situation
436
00:21:05,375 --> 00:21:07,667
to Lord Bellomont, that
he'll be able to prove
437
00:21:07,667 --> 00:21:09,625
that he was operating
under the law
438
00:21:09,625 --> 00:21:11,625
and that he was
absolutely not a pirate.
439
00:21:12,583 --> 00:21:15,542
- [Laurence] At the
end of May 1699,
440
00:21:15,542 --> 00:21:18,375
Kidd makes a pit stop
on his way to New York,
441
00:21:18,375 --> 00:21:20,917
and this 10-day stay leads
442
00:21:20,917 --> 00:21:23,792
to a new theory
about his treasure.
443
00:21:24,875 --> 00:21:28,667
- Kidd anchors off
Lewes in Delaware Bay
444
00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:31,625
and this is where he
sends his men ashore.
445
00:21:31,625 --> 00:21:34,708
We know Kidd stopped there
because it's actually recorded
446
00:21:34,708 --> 00:21:38,375
in the Maryland archives as
well as in Kidd's journals.
447
00:21:39,542 --> 00:21:42,208
- Kidd stays in the
bay for about 10 days.
448
00:21:42,208 --> 00:21:46,542
People believe that this is
where Captain Kidd offloads
449
00:21:46,542 --> 00:21:49,125
a bunch of his
treasure and leaves it.
450
00:21:49,125 --> 00:21:50,917
- With the pressure
Kidd's under,
451
00:21:50,917 --> 00:21:54,792
maybe he's feeling that he
should be placing caches
452
00:21:54,792 --> 00:21:58,792
of treasure that maybe he can
come back to at a later date.
453
00:21:58,792 --> 00:22:02,625
- Captain Kidd had the
means and the motivation
454
00:22:02,625 --> 00:22:04,958
to hide treasure everywhere,
455
00:22:04,958 --> 00:22:08,167
from Madagascar, the
Caribbean, the East Coast.
456
00:22:08,167 --> 00:22:10,750
And part of the reason why
he would've wanted to do that
457
00:22:10,750 --> 00:22:12,792
is because these
caches of treasure
458
00:22:12,792 --> 00:22:14,667
could literally save his life.
459
00:22:14,667 --> 00:22:16,167
They could be used for bribes,
460
00:22:16,167 --> 00:22:19,167
for bartering, and just
the leverage that he needs,
461
00:22:19,167 --> 00:22:21,250
not just to satiate his backers,
462
00:22:21,250 --> 00:22:23,542
but to get himself out of jail.
463
00:22:23,542 --> 00:22:25,708
- If he was able to
beat the piracy rap,
464
00:22:25,708 --> 00:22:28,083
he could come back and
collect that treasure later.
465
00:22:28,083 --> 00:22:31,417
- Captain Kidd's treasure could
be used to start a new life,
466
00:22:31,417 --> 00:22:33,375
if he's lucky enough to keep it.
467
00:22:33,375 --> 00:22:35,750
(dramatic music)
468
00:22:37,042 --> 00:22:39,958
- It would make sense for Kidd
to bury his treasure here
469
00:22:39,958 --> 00:22:41,875
because he's been in
Delaware for so long
470
00:22:41,875 --> 00:22:45,083
and he's under threat of
his identity being known.
471
00:22:45,083 --> 00:22:49,458
He's been here for 10 days and
he needs to get to New York
472
00:22:49,458 --> 00:22:51,708
to plead his case
to Lord Bellomont.
473
00:22:51,708 --> 00:22:55,167
So, he needed to bury
it and then move on.
474
00:22:56,208 --> 00:22:58,167
- [Laurence] And there
may be compelling evidence
475
00:22:58,167 --> 00:23:00,417
that points to this possibility.
476
00:23:01,542 --> 00:23:05,042
- So for centuries now,
coins from Kidd's era
477
00:23:05,042 --> 00:23:08,333
have washed ashore in
the Delaware Bay area.
478
00:23:08,333 --> 00:23:12,875
Some believe that this is part
of Kidd's hidden treasure.
479
00:23:12,875 --> 00:23:15,250
- Benjamin Franklin
said you couldn't walk
480
00:23:15,250 --> 00:23:17,958
along the banks of the Delaware
River without stumbling
481
00:23:17,958 --> 00:23:19,667
in pirate hunter holes.
482
00:23:19,667 --> 00:23:21,750
People were digging
in Ben Franklin's era
483
00:23:21,750 --> 00:23:24,542
and he claimed there
were holes everywhere.
484
00:23:25,542 --> 00:23:28,583
- [Laurence] And there's
another dig in 1890
485
00:23:28,583 --> 00:23:31,542
that provides a more
intriguing clue.
486
00:23:32,875 --> 00:23:36,375
- A contractor digging in
the area of Delaware Bay
487
00:23:36,375 --> 00:23:38,750
comes across something hard.
488
00:23:38,750 --> 00:23:42,292
He finds a large blue stone
489
00:23:42,292 --> 00:23:44,500
in the shape of a rectangle.
490
00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:46,542
When this rock was brought up,
491
00:23:46,542 --> 00:23:49,917
there was the symbol K on
the underside of the rock.
492
00:23:51,292 --> 00:23:55,833
And this is published in the
Delaware State Journal in 1890.
493
00:23:55,833 --> 00:23:58,875
- Having a rock, or
a sort of a marker
494
00:23:58,875 --> 00:24:02,958
with a K carved into it, that
led many to believe that Kidd
495
00:24:02,958 --> 00:24:04,875
actually did leave
behind some treasure
496
00:24:04,875 --> 00:24:06,875
in order to come and
retrieve it later.
497
00:24:08,625 --> 00:24:10,375
- [Laurence] Does
"K" mark the spot
498
00:24:10,375 --> 00:24:12,792
where Kidd buried his treasure?
499
00:24:12,792 --> 00:24:16,208
If so, nobody's found it yet,
500
00:24:16,208 --> 00:24:18,625
but that's not the
end of the hunt.
501
00:24:19,542 --> 00:24:21,375
- Once Kidd leaves Delaware,
502
00:24:21,375 --> 00:24:24,292
there is a paper trail and
this is where we start to get
503
00:24:24,292 --> 00:24:26,458
some hard facts.
504
00:24:26,458 --> 00:24:29,208
And one of those hard
facts is that he's got
505
00:24:29,208 --> 00:24:31,625
gold with him, lots of gold.
506
00:24:35,333 --> 00:24:38,542
- Captain William Kidd is a
hunted man in June of 1699.
507
00:24:38,542 --> 00:24:42,375
If caught, he faces
execution for piracy,
508
00:24:42,375 --> 00:24:44,792
but he has one important
negotiating chip,
509
00:24:44,792 --> 00:24:46,750
the location of the
treasure he seized
510
00:24:46,750 --> 00:24:48,958
from the Quedagh Merchant.
511
00:24:48,958 --> 00:24:51,708
Where is he hiding it and does
he still have more to hide
512
00:24:51,708 --> 00:24:54,042
before he gets to New York?
513
00:24:55,333 --> 00:24:57,792
- Kidd is very worried about
going straight into New York,
514
00:24:57,792 --> 00:24:59,708
even though that's
where his backers are.
515
00:24:59,708 --> 00:25:01,375
He has this treasure with him,
516
00:25:01,375 --> 00:25:04,375
but he doesn't know what kind
of welcome he's gonna receive.
517
00:25:04,375 --> 00:25:06,708
So, he decides to
loop all the way
518
00:25:06,708 --> 00:25:09,625
around the tip of Long Island
and back to Oyster Bay,
519
00:25:09,625 --> 00:25:12,042
which is on the north
shore of Long Island.
520
00:25:12,042 --> 00:25:15,042
Common sense says you should
put a little treasure here
521
00:25:15,042 --> 00:25:17,583
and a little treasure there
in order to help yourself
522
00:25:17,583 --> 00:25:20,125
escape in case things turn bad.
523
00:25:20,125 --> 00:25:23,208
Kidd then contacts his lawyer
so that he can send messages
524
00:25:23,208 --> 00:25:25,583
to his wife and messages
to Governor Bellomont.
525
00:25:25,583 --> 00:25:28,042
He wants a guaranteed pardon
526
00:25:28,042 --> 00:25:31,000
before he's willing to
deliver the treasure.
527
00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,458
- Kidd's ultimate goal is
to negotiate a surrender
528
00:25:33,458 --> 00:25:36,208
with Lord Bellomont, governor
of New York and Massachusetts
529
00:25:36,208 --> 00:25:38,042
and his friend and financier.
530
00:25:38,042 --> 00:25:39,875
He needs to prove to
Lord Bellomont that he,
531
00:25:39,875 --> 00:25:41,958
of course, is not a pirate.
532
00:25:41,958 --> 00:25:45,542
- In Kidd's mind, he should
be able to clear his name
533
00:25:45,542 --> 00:25:48,625
and turn over the ship's
cargo and the treasure
534
00:25:48,625 --> 00:25:51,750
to his benefactors
and hopefully that
535
00:25:51,750 --> 00:25:55,833
will be the linchpin to
returning to normal life.
536
00:25:57,208 --> 00:25:59,542
- Kidd's lawyer James
Emmett contacts Bellomont
537
00:25:59,542 --> 00:26:03,917
and demands a pardon in exchange
for the treasure being delivered
538
00:26:03,917 --> 00:26:06,542
and Bellomont will not
remotely agree to that.
539
00:26:06,542 --> 00:26:08,833
He, at first, won't even
put anything in writing.
540
00:26:08,833 --> 00:26:10,958
He just sends a message
to Kidd verbally
541
00:26:10,958 --> 00:26:14,167
that, "I welcome you back," and
that's not sufficient for Kidd.
542
00:26:14,167 --> 00:26:17,042
So Kidd sends a message back
to him that I need something
543
00:26:17,042 --> 00:26:20,125
in writing and that's
when Bellomont says,
544
00:26:20,125 --> 00:26:23,792
if your story turns out
to be exactly as you say,
545
00:26:23,792 --> 00:26:26,833
I will move heaven and
Earth to get you the pardon
546
00:26:26,833 --> 00:26:28,375
you so richly deserve.
547
00:26:28,375 --> 00:26:31,583
But he's dealing with a
very shrewd Lord Bellomont
548
00:26:31,583 --> 00:26:34,000
and a very aggressive
Lord Bellomont.
549
00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,875
- Lord Bellomont also has
a personal stake in this.
550
00:26:36,875 --> 00:26:40,667
As Captain Kidd's financier,
he feels he's owed money.
551
00:26:40,667 --> 00:26:44,292
If there's a massive cache
of golds, and jewels,
552
00:26:44,292 --> 00:26:47,167
and valuables, and other
treasures lying around,
553
00:26:47,167 --> 00:26:50,292
or anything valuable, Lord
Bellomont is going to take
554
00:26:50,292 --> 00:26:52,375
what he feels is his fair share.
555
00:26:52,375 --> 00:26:55,208
- [Laurence] Kidd is determined
not to give up his treasure
556
00:26:55,208 --> 00:26:58,292
or its whereabouts
without a full pardon
557
00:26:58,292 --> 00:27:01,042
and turns to a friend for help.
558
00:27:01,042 --> 00:27:03,875
- Captain Thomas Paine
lives in a big house
559
00:27:03,875 --> 00:27:07,833
on Connecticut Island in
Jamestown, Rhode Island.
560
00:27:07,833 --> 00:27:11,500
Like Kidd, Paine was a
merchant sailor and privateer,
561
00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:14,708
and like Kidd, he also got
into some scraps with the law
562
00:27:14,708 --> 00:27:17,375
over his privateering ventures.
563
00:27:17,375 --> 00:27:21,042
Paine has a side business
as a banker to pirates.
564
00:27:21,042 --> 00:27:24,292
Pirates can't use the normal
banking system so they go
565
00:27:24,292 --> 00:27:29,000
to people like Paine who will
keep the transaction secret.
566
00:27:30,375 --> 00:27:32,375
- [Laurence] Paine rows out
to Kidd's ship for a meeting
567
00:27:32,375 --> 00:27:35,958
with his old privateer
friend and firsthand accounts
568
00:27:35,958 --> 00:27:38,042
reveal evidence of at least some
569
00:27:38,042 --> 00:27:41,292
of Kidd's treasure
changing hands.
570
00:27:41,292 --> 00:27:43,333
(dramatic music)
571
00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:48,375
- Kidd gives Paine three
pounds of gold for safekeeping
572
00:27:48,375 --> 00:27:51,250
knowing that Paine will keep
this transaction a secret.
573
00:27:51,250 --> 00:27:54,667
- Around $90,000
in today's money.
574
00:27:54,667 --> 00:27:57,333
- The understanding is
that it is sort of akin
575
00:27:57,333 --> 00:27:59,875
to burying it, another
way to hide treasure
576
00:27:59,875 --> 00:28:01,458
to save him down the line.
577
00:28:02,625 --> 00:28:04,625
Captain Kidd doesn't
know if he can
578
00:28:04,625 --> 00:28:06,333
trust Governor Bellomont yet,
579
00:28:06,333 --> 00:28:09,875
and so he's not going to give
up this incredible leverage
580
00:28:09,875 --> 00:28:12,083
he has until he
knows that he's safe.
581
00:28:13,417 --> 00:28:17,167
- Authorities attempt to
shake down Paine but he denies
582
00:28:17,167 --> 00:28:20,917
anything about having
anything from Captain Kidd.
583
00:28:20,917 --> 00:28:23,542
They search his property
and all of his goods
584
00:28:23,542 --> 00:28:24,958
and they find nothing.
585
00:28:26,542 --> 00:28:28,500
- [Man] Giddy up, giddy up!
586
00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:31,042
- [Laurence] As governor of
Massachusetts and New York,
587
00:28:31,042 --> 00:28:34,208
Lord Bellomont has no
authority in Rhode Island
588
00:28:34,208 --> 00:28:37,458
so he can do nothing further
with Paine as he tries
589
00:28:37,458 --> 00:28:40,875
to track down the fugitive
Kidd and his hidden treasure.
590
00:28:43,250 --> 00:28:45,750
- Captain kid can't
imagine that he is
591
00:28:45,750 --> 00:28:47,625
actually being
accused of piracy,
592
00:28:47,625 --> 00:28:48,917
especially since he's backed
593
00:28:48,917 --> 00:28:50,875
by four of the most
powerful men in England.
594
00:28:50,875 --> 00:28:53,042
He thinks once the French
letters of passage
595
00:28:53,042 --> 00:28:55,167
are delivered, everything
will be all right.
596
00:28:58,875 --> 00:29:00,958
- [Laurence] By the time
Captain Kidd returns
597
00:29:00,958 --> 00:29:03,208
to the British
colonies in New England
598
00:29:03,208 --> 00:29:05,417
to prove he's
innocent of piracy,
599
00:29:05,417 --> 00:29:08,917
he may have already left
portions of his vast treasure
600
00:29:08,917 --> 00:29:14,000
in Madagascar, in the Caribbean,
or on a Delaware beach.
601
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:15,875
(suspenseful music)
602
00:29:15,875 --> 00:29:18,875
After leaving some of his
remaining gold in the care
603
00:29:18,875 --> 00:29:21,833
of an old privateering
friend in Rhode Island,
604
00:29:21,833 --> 00:29:24,792
Kidd may be looking to
stash the rest of his loot
605
00:29:24,792 --> 00:29:26,458
with another trusted friend.
606
00:29:28,625 --> 00:29:32,583
- Kidd decides to stop and
visit his friend John Gardiner
607
00:29:32,583 --> 00:29:34,333
on Gardiner's Island.
608
00:29:34,333 --> 00:29:37,875
He hopes that John will assist
him in holding onto some
609
00:29:37,875 --> 00:29:40,000
of the treasure as
a bargaining chip
610
00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,375
for his release
should he be arrested.
611
00:29:42,375 --> 00:29:44,708
- [Laurence] Gardiner's
wealthy family owns
612
00:29:44,708 --> 00:29:47,167
a five-square mile strip of land
613
00:29:47,167 --> 00:29:50,542
off the east end of
Long Island, New York.
614
00:29:50,542 --> 00:29:52,167
He agrees to help.
615
00:29:52,167 --> 00:29:56,250
- So Kidd loads up gold,
jewels, and treasure
616
00:29:56,250 --> 00:29:59,458
and has them transported
to Gardiner Island,
617
00:29:59,458 --> 00:30:01,708
whilst he's in negotiations
618
00:30:01,708 --> 00:30:03,458
with the governor
for his pardon.
619
00:30:04,625 --> 00:30:06,458
- I think Kidd drops
the motherlode
620
00:30:06,458 --> 00:30:09,875
of at least 50 pounds of
gold on Gardiner's Island.
621
00:30:09,875 --> 00:30:11,708
He was just hedging his bet.
622
00:30:11,708 --> 00:30:14,292
He could not trust
Bellomont yet.
623
00:30:14,292 --> 00:30:17,375
- There's numerous
accounts of Kidd's sloop
624
00:30:17,375 --> 00:30:20,542
going back and forth
to Gardiner's Island
625
00:30:20,542 --> 00:30:22,875
and this is substantiated.
626
00:30:22,875 --> 00:30:24,917
It is believed that Gardiner
627
00:30:24,917 --> 00:30:27,875
actually buried
treasure for Kidd.
628
00:30:27,875 --> 00:30:30,458
(dramatic music)
629
00:30:30,458 --> 00:30:33,792
- Now, Gardiner is taking
a great personal risk here
630
00:30:33,792 --> 00:30:35,875
because this would
make him complicit
631
00:30:35,875 --> 00:30:39,375
if Kidd is then
convicted of piracy.
632
00:30:39,375 --> 00:30:42,583
But because Gardiner viewed
Kidd to be a gentleman
633
00:30:42,583 --> 00:30:46,417
like himself, he agreed to
hold onto that treasure.
634
00:30:47,375 --> 00:30:49,542
- He needs to prove to
Lord Bellomont that he,
635
00:30:49,542 --> 00:30:51,208
of course, is not a pirate,
636
00:30:51,208 --> 00:30:55,917
But Lord Bellomont politically
cannot actually be associated
637
00:30:55,917 --> 00:30:58,125
with anyone who might
be a wanted pirate.
638
00:30:58,125 --> 00:31:00,625
So Lord Bellomont sort
of keeps Captain Kidd
639
00:31:00,625 --> 00:31:02,292
on a string here.
640
00:31:02,292 --> 00:31:05,042
He tells him that he's
forwarded all of Kidd's letters
641
00:31:05,042 --> 00:31:07,083
and all of his reports to
the English authorities
642
00:31:07,083 --> 00:31:09,917
and then Lord Bellomont
convinces Kidd to sail
643
00:31:09,917 --> 00:31:11,208
to Massachusetts, to Boston,
644
00:31:11,208 --> 00:31:13,375
where he promises
Kidd will be safe.
645
00:31:14,333 --> 00:31:15,917
- [Laurence] On Lord
Bellomont's advice,
646
00:31:15,917 --> 00:31:18,542
Kidd agrees to
surrender in Boston.
647
00:31:18,542 --> 00:31:21,125
Believing a pardon is
imminent, he hands over
648
00:31:21,125 --> 00:31:24,542
the French passes, the best
evidence of his innocence.
649
00:31:26,083 --> 00:31:28,458
- [Jamie] Once Kidd arrives
to Boston, he is met
650
00:31:28,458 --> 00:31:32,083
with a most
unexpected situation.
651
00:31:32,083 --> 00:31:35,000
- [Laurence] Bellomont
double crosses him.
652
00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,042
- He is arrested and then thrown
653
00:31:37,042 --> 00:31:39,458
into solitary confinement
in a Boston jail.
654
00:31:40,958 --> 00:31:43,542
- [Laurence] Kidd is
unaware that Lord Bellomont
655
00:31:43,542 --> 00:31:47,583
is in possession of critical
evidence against him.
656
00:31:47,583 --> 00:31:50,583
- Bellomont has an informer
and this informer gives him
657
00:31:50,583 --> 00:31:53,750
a letter that Kidd had
written to Robert Gardiner
658
00:31:53,750 --> 00:31:56,625
on Gardiner's Island saying
that he was going to offload
659
00:31:56,625 --> 00:31:58,167
loads of his treasure,
660
00:31:58,167 --> 00:32:00,917
a whole bunch of gold, and
coins, and money, and jewels.
661
00:32:00,917 --> 00:32:05,125
And so Bellomont finds that
this is proof that Kidd stole
662
00:32:05,125 --> 00:32:07,542
a whole bunch of goods
from the Mughal merchants,
663
00:32:07,542 --> 00:32:10,167
that Captain Kidd
was indeed the pirate
664
00:32:10,167 --> 00:32:11,625
that they're looking for.
665
00:32:12,625 --> 00:32:14,875
- The government's
informants, they're led
666
00:32:14,875 --> 00:32:17,458
to Gardiner's Island
and Gardiner shows them
667
00:32:17,458 --> 00:32:20,042
where some of Kidd's
treasure's buried.
668
00:32:20,042 --> 00:32:21,708
- They're taken to a
field where, sure enough,
669
00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:25,500
they dig up a chest and
the chest indeed does hold
670
00:32:25,500 --> 00:32:28,417
some gold, and silver, and
jewels that will amount
671
00:32:28,417 --> 00:32:31,750
to about $2.4 million
in today's currency.
672
00:32:31,750 --> 00:32:34,042
- But Lord Bellomont is furious.
673
00:32:34,042 --> 00:32:37,250
It's only a fraction of
the treasure that was taken
674
00:32:37,250 --> 00:32:39,292
from the Grand Mogul's ship,
675
00:32:39,292 --> 00:32:42,625
less than a 10th of the
value that was taken.
676
00:32:42,625 --> 00:32:46,792
- He's absolutely devastated
because this is not
677
00:32:46,792 --> 00:32:49,250
what he was led to believe
that Kidd had captured
678
00:32:49,250 --> 00:32:50,792
from the Quedagh Merchant.
679
00:32:50,792 --> 00:32:55,208
He believes there is much more
and it angers him to no end.
680
00:32:56,333 --> 00:32:59,208
- The authorities press
Gardiner, but he says this
681
00:32:59,208 --> 00:33:02,250
is everything that Kidd
brought to the island.
682
00:33:02,250 --> 00:33:04,208
- Over the course of the
next few generations,
683
00:33:04,208 --> 00:33:06,875
the Gardiner family becomes
an incredibly wealthy
684
00:33:06,875 --> 00:33:10,333
and prominent family in the
region, which begs the question,
685
00:33:10,333 --> 00:33:13,583
did Gardiner actually keep some
of the treasure for himself?
686
00:33:13,583 --> 00:33:16,292
- The family tradition is
that the treasure was buried
687
00:33:16,292 --> 00:33:18,875
in Cherry Tree Field
and that there was
688
00:33:18,875 --> 00:33:20,542
an X marks the spot there.
689
00:33:20,542 --> 00:33:23,250
But the Gardiner family
is incredibly private
690
00:33:23,250 --> 00:33:27,625
and really, nobody's seen the
spot that supposedly it was.
691
00:33:27,625 --> 00:33:29,750
- The last direct
descendant of John Gardiner
692
00:33:29,750 --> 00:33:31,875
was Robert David Lion Gardiner
693
00:33:31,875 --> 00:33:35,208
and he would bring out gold
and jewels that he claimed
694
00:33:35,208 --> 00:33:37,583
were part of his
Kidd collection.
695
00:33:38,875 --> 00:33:41,625
When he died in 2004, the
secret of whether or not
696
00:33:41,625 --> 00:33:44,375
this was truly Kidd's
treasure died with him.
697
00:33:44,375 --> 00:33:47,042
Now, the island is under
the control of a cousin
698
00:33:47,042 --> 00:33:49,583
and he will not allow
anyone onto the island.
699
00:33:50,583 --> 00:33:53,875
- [Laurence] As for Captain
Kidd, he remains locked up
700
00:33:53,875 --> 00:33:56,667
in solitary
confinement in Boston.
701
00:33:56,667 --> 00:33:59,583
- During this time, he is
questioned over and over
702
00:33:59,583 --> 00:34:03,000
about where are all the goods
from the Quedagh Merchant
703
00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,583
and Kidd refuses
to say anything.
704
00:34:05,583 --> 00:34:07,250
The authorities
then go to New York
705
00:34:07,250 --> 00:34:09,708
and they arrest
Kidd's wife, Sarah,
706
00:34:09,708 --> 00:34:12,208
and they throw her in
prison and she is questioned
707
00:34:12,208 --> 00:34:14,000
over and over.
708
00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,792
And also, her servants
are brought in
709
00:34:16,792 --> 00:34:19,625
and everybody is questioned,
trying to find the whereabouts
710
00:34:19,625 --> 00:34:21,208
of all of these goods.
711
00:34:21,208 --> 00:34:23,500
Soon enough though, Kidd's
wife Sarah is going to be
712
00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:25,708
released from prison
because they just don't have
713
00:34:25,708 --> 00:34:27,792
the evidence to hold her.
714
00:34:27,792 --> 00:34:29,250
Kidd is angry.
715
00:34:29,250 --> 00:34:31,875
He's been betrayed by his
friends, his financier,
716
00:34:31,875 --> 00:34:33,417
and by any official.
717
00:34:33,417 --> 00:34:37,042
So he refuses to give up any
information and says he's going
718
00:34:37,042 --> 00:34:39,250
to take all of his
information to the grave.
719
00:34:43,458 --> 00:34:45,875
- [Laurence] Captain William
Kidd is held for nearly a year
720
00:34:45,875 --> 00:34:47,625
in a Boston jail.
721
00:34:47,625 --> 00:34:51,167
Then, in February of 1700,
he's shipped to London
722
00:34:51,167 --> 00:34:54,583
and thrown into the
notorious Newgate Prison.
723
00:34:55,583 --> 00:34:58,417
Kidd faces a murder charge
for killing his gunner,
724
00:34:58,417 --> 00:35:00,542
William Moore, in a quarrel,
725
00:35:00,542 --> 00:35:04,208
and piracy for seizing
the Quedagh Merchant.
726
00:35:04,208 --> 00:35:07,250
But still, authorities
are no closer to locating
727
00:35:07,250 --> 00:35:08,625
the treasure he's hiding.
728
00:35:09,833 --> 00:35:11,792
- Kidd knows that the one
thing that will save him
729
00:35:11,792 --> 00:35:13,375
are his French passes.
730
00:35:13,375 --> 00:35:17,417
These will be key evidence in
his trial to prove that he did
731
00:35:17,417 --> 00:35:19,250
have the jurisdiction to be able
732
00:35:19,250 --> 00:35:21,250
to rob the Quedagh Merchant.
733
00:35:21,250 --> 00:35:24,500
Unfortunately, when
he goes to trial,
734
00:35:24,500 --> 00:35:27,542
the French passes
are never produced.
735
00:35:27,542 --> 00:35:29,625
In an interesting turn
of events, however,
736
00:35:29,625 --> 00:35:31,833
the French passes
were later found,
737
00:35:31,833 --> 00:35:34,083
supposedly having been misfiled.
738
00:35:34,083 --> 00:35:36,917
And today, one can go to the
National Archives in England
739
00:35:36,917 --> 00:35:40,083
and take a look at these
French passes for themselves.
740
00:35:40,083 --> 00:35:43,292
Unfortunately, though, it was
too late for Captain Kidd.
741
00:35:44,625 --> 00:35:48,125
- [Laurence] In 1701,
Kidd is convicted
742
00:35:48,125 --> 00:35:50,375
of murder and piracy.
743
00:35:50,375 --> 00:35:54,417
The penalty is
death by hanging.
744
00:35:54,417 --> 00:35:57,792
- As a last-ditch effort in
order to try to negotiate
745
00:35:57,792 --> 00:36:00,750
his innocence, Kidd says
he's written a letter
746
00:36:00,750 --> 00:36:03,708
that details where he hid
about a hundred thousand pounds
747
00:36:03,708 --> 00:36:06,917
worth of the goods he stole
from the Quedagh Merchant.
748
00:36:06,917 --> 00:36:10,042
- [Laurence] But the British
government won't make a deal.
749
00:36:10,042 --> 00:36:17,000
On May 23, 1701, Captain William
Kidd goes to the gallows.
750
00:36:18,042 --> 00:36:21,042
- Prior to his hanging, the
pastor at Newgate Prison
751
00:36:21,042 --> 00:36:25,667
attempts to have Kidd reconcile
with his sins and Kidd is
752
00:36:25,667 --> 00:36:29,208
stalwart and absolute and will
not admit to any wrongdoing.
753
00:36:30,250 --> 00:36:32,375
- He refused to give
the last dying speech
754
00:36:32,375 --> 00:36:35,208
because there was a whole
ritual of a public hanging
755
00:36:35,208 --> 00:36:37,542
and he refused to
participate in that ritual.
756
00:36:37,542 --> 00:36:40,417
- Execution day was a
party day in England.
757
00:36:40,417 --> 00:36:42,833
I mean, it's a sick
tradition, but it was.
758
00:36:42,833 --> 00:36:46,250
The pie man, the guy
with shots of rum.
759
00:36:46,250 --> 00:36:48,208
They were singing,
they were carousing.
760
00:36:48,208 --> 00:36:50,083
They followed the cart
from Newgate Prison
761
00:36:50,083 --> 00:36:52,417
all the way to execution
dock in Wapping.
762
00:36:52,417 --> 00:36:54,542
It was common
practice back then.
763
00:36:54,542 --> 00:36:57,792
The pirates were hung
on the waterfront
764
00:36:57,792 --> 00:36:59,667
at the low-tide mark.
765
00:36:59,667 --> 00:37:04,167
So the gallows were placed
over the low-tide mark
766
00:37:04,167 --> 00:37:06,750
and people would gather
on the waterfront.
767
00:37:06,750 --> 00:37:08,708
- [Laurence] But when the
order is given for Kidd
768
00:37:08,708 --> 00:37:11,750
to be hung, the
trap doors sprung,
769
00:37:11,750 --> 00:37:15,292
the rope around
Kidd's neck breaks.
770
00:37:15,292 --> 00:37:17,000
- Kidd falls to the ground.
771
00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:19,375
And there was an English
tradition that occasionally,
772
00:37:19,375 --> 00:37:21,375
when the rope broke,
it was an act of God
773
00:37:21,375 --> 00:37:23,708
and you were pardoned
and people wondered,
774
00:37:23,708 --> 00:37:25,167
is this gonna happen for Kidd?
775
00:37:25,167 --> 00:37:27,583
But of course not, it would
not happen for William Kidd.
776
00:37:27,583 --> 00:37:29,083
And so they rebuilt
the platform,
777
00:37:29,083 --> 00:37:30,667
which took a long time,
778
00:37:30,667 --> 00:37:34,833
and he's quoted as saying that
he really regrets his wife
779
00:37:34,833 --> 00:37:36,917
having to learn of
his shameful death.
780
00:37:37,875 --> 00:37:42,000
- He is hung back up
and for the second time,
781
00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:43,542
there is no mistake.
782
00:37:43,542 --> 00:37:46,292
This time, he is killed.
783
00:37:46,292 --> 00:37:48,250
(dramatic music)
784
00:37:48,250 --> 00:37:52,875
After the hanging, this is not
where the indignation stops.
785
00:37:52,875 --> 00:37:56,375
- His body is tarred and
gibbeted over the River Thames,
786
00:37:56,375 --> 00:37:58,458
sending a warning message to all
787
00:37:58,458 --> 00:38:01,625
who might consider
piracy as a career.
788
00:38:01,625 --> 00:38:04,542
- A gibbet is essentially
a cage that you could
789
00:38:04,542 --> 00:38:07,167
kind of put over the body,
790
00:38:07,167 --> 00:38:11,750
and basically, it stayed there
until it rotted and decayed.
791
00:38:11,750 --> 00:38:13,792
- [Laurence] After Kidd's
hanging, British agents
792
00:38:13,792 --> 00:38:15,708
continued to look
for the treasure
793
00:38:15,708 --> 00:38:19,000
and pressure those
close to Kidd.
794
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:20,667
- Kidd had very few confidantes.
795
00:38:20,667 --> 00:38:23,542
So if there's anybody on the
planet who knew the truth
796
00:38:23,542 --> 00:38:25,042
about what happened
to Kidd's goods,
797
00:38:25,042 --> 00:38:26,750
it would've been his wife.
798
00:38:26,750 --> 00:38:29,583
- Even after all
Sarah had suffered
799
00:38:29,583 --> 00:38:31,833
with the death of her husband,
800
00:38:31,833 --> 00:38:34,875
the government still
pressured her to confess
801
00:38:34,875 --> 00:38:38,542
and tell where the rest of
her husband's treasure was.
802
00:38:38,542 --> 00:38:41,333
She never acquiesced to this.
803
00:38:41,333 --> 00:38:44,042
- Sarah Kidd did
perhaps leave one clue,
804
00:38:44,042 --> 00:38:45,375
however, in her will.
805
00:38:45,375 --> 00:38:47,667
When she died in
1744, in her will,
806
00:38:47,667 --> 00:38:51,042
it stated that she had assets
in New York and elsewhere.
807
00:38:51,042 --> 00:38:53,708
But whether or not the
elsewhere may have referred
808
00:38:53,708 --> 00:38:55,917
to any of Kidd's
goods is a mystery.
809
00:38:55,917 --> 00:38:59,583
But again, this continues to
fuel the myth and the rumors
810
00:38:59,583 --> 00:39:02,000
that Kidd may have buried
treasure somewhere.
811
00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:04,125
(dramatic music)
812
00:39:05,542 --> 00:39:10,458
- Tales abound of different
sites where Kidd has hidden
813
00:39:10,458 --> 00:39:11,875
or buried his treasure.
814
00:39:11,875 --> 00:39:16,333
Anyone that's raised on Atlantic
Seaboard either knows of
815
00:39:16,333 --> 00:39:19,542
or grew up with the
stories of Captain Kidd
816
00:39:19,542 --> 00:39:21,542
and his lost treasure.
817
00:39:21,542 --> 00:39:25,042
- They speculate that it's
in Delaware, Maryland,
818
00:39:25,042 --> 00:39:29,333
New Jersey, lots of New
York, lots of Long Island,
819
00:39:29,333 --> 00:39:31,000
up the Hudson.
820
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:32,250
- Some say Block Island,
821
00:39:32,250 --> 00:39:34,958
or Oak Island in Nova Scotia.
822
00:39:34,958 --> 00:39:37,875
Maybe this is the
final Kidd mystery.
823
00:39:37,875 --> 00:39:41,875
Maybe he didn't want one person
to discover it all at once.
824
00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:44,750
So in the end, Sarah
Kidd could be telling us
825
00:39:44,750 --> 00:39:47,625
that all the theories about Kidd
826
00:39:47,625 --> 00:39:50,708
and the multiple caches
of treasure are true.
827
00:39:50,708 --> 00:39:53,167
- So that kind of keeps
the mystery alive, right?
828
00:39:53,167 --> 00:39:57,708
If we can't find it, then
it might still be there.
829
00:39:57,708 --> 00:40:01,375
- Ever since the 1700s,
people have been searching
830
00:40:01,375 --> 00:40:03,208
over and over for
Captain Kidd's treasure.
831
00:40:03,208 --> 00:40:06,042
The romanticism about pirates
doesn't just simply come
832
00:40:06,042 --> 00:40:09,042
from a rumor about Captain
Kidd's buried treasure,
833
00:40:09,042 --> 00:40:10,500
it's Captain Kidd himself.
834
00:40:10,500 --> 00:40:12,750
Because we see this
conflict of whether or not
835
00:40:12,750 --> 00:40:14,583
he was a privateer or a pirate.
836
00:40:14,583 --> 00:40:16,042
- Everybody looks for treasure.
837
00:40:16,042 --> 00:40:19,542
And so here is a true
buried treasure story,
838
00:40:19,542 --> 00:40:21,042
and lost treasure no less,
839
00:40:21,042 --> 00:40:23,833
so people are enthralled
and they continue to look
840
00:40:23,833 --> 00:40:26,125
for Captain Kidd's
treasure everywhere
841
00:40:26,125 --> 00:40:31,000
from Madagascar to the
Caribbean, back to America.
842
00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,292
(dramatic music)
843
00:40:33,292 --> 00:40:36,417
- Captain William Kidd was
one of the late 17th century's
844
00:40:36,417 --> 00:40:39,083
most compelling figures,
a distinguished war hero
845
00:40:39,083 --> 00:40:43,625
and privateer, perhaps
unjustly hanged for piracy
846
00:40:43,625 --> 00:40:47,208
with a vast fortune and
treasure unaccounted for.
847
00:40:47,208 --> 00:40:49,542
Ultimately, Kidd's guilt
or innocence may be as hard
848
00:40:49,542 --> 00:40:53,792
to determine as the
location or locations
849
00:40:53,792 --> 00:40:55,875
of his infamous hidden treasure.
850
00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:58,542
I'm Laurence Fishburne.
851
00:40:58,542 --> 00:41:03,167
Thank you for watching
"History's Greatest Mysteries."
852
00:41:03,167 --> 00:41:05,500
(dramatic music)
70143
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