Sunday, February 17, 2013

Seafaring Sunday: Departure of Doom

February 17, 1700: HMS Advice leaves Boston Harbor for London. She is carrying a frail, sickly man of 55 years who was once a prominent citizen of Massachusetts Colony. He is on his way to stand trial for piracy and will die most pitiably at the end of a rope at Execution Dock in Wapping. His name is William Kidd.

Header: William Kidd in New York Harbor by J.L.G. Ferris via Wikipedia ~ a fanciful imagining of Kidd at the height of his success

3 comments:

Charles L. Wallace said...

Poor, unfortunate Dundee man (they were saying that quite frequently at Parkhead on Saturday, but I digress)...

Others far surpassed Kidd in deed, yet he has gained immortality through memory. How many would accept such a bargain, if offered?

Timmy! said...

Somebody had to pay and Kidd was the designated scapegoat, Pauline...

Pauline said...

Wally and Timmy!: You both hit the nail on the head, I'd say. Kidd is surely more to be pitied than censored.