Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

180 several of our comrades. Our thanks to them. General Brussiloff, who is reported to have suc- ceeded General Alexieff in supreme command of Russian land forces, is something of a mystery. Sketches of his career sent out from Russian and English sources are reticent as to his origin. Lon- don Jdeas prints a sensational story identifying him as General Hector Macdonald, the noted English army officer supposed to have committed suicide in disgrace in Paris in 1903. In this story, Mrs. Tay- lor, a kinswoman of Macdonald, is quoted as saying: “Sir Hector was a small man, stockily built. ‘General Brussiloff is of the same figure. “Tt is odd that a man in supreme command of the greatest offensive of the war should be of a previous history totally unknown. _ “Brussiloff is not a real Russian name. ‘“‘And the photographs of the general show that he is not like a Russian. “Thus, is Brussiloff, Sir Hector Macdonald?” HKXPLAINING the suicide story the London Ideas article says: ‘““A suicide did take place in the hotel where Mac- donald stayed, the story goes, and the famous gen- eral was the first to discover what had taken place. He was quick to grasp the situation, “He quickly exchanged clothes with the dead man, and went forth in his new identity, with his past, whatever it may have been, entifely obliter- ated, and his future all before him. - “Then came the story of his reappearance at the siege of Port Arthur. He was a Japanese general of great ability, but of the most retiring habits, the tale said, but was seen and recognized by British soldiers who were there. es HIS alleged history goes on in China, where he is F reported to have played a part, and a most im- portant one, in the reorganization of the Chinese army, which became a comparatively efficient force within the last ten years. “From that time until recent days nothing much has been heard about this living presentment of Sir Hector Macdonald. But now he comes to light again. ert is affirmed that he is identical with the great Russian General Brussiloff, and a comparison of the photographs of the two men certainly reveals a striking resemblance.” ERE’S something from J. Allan Dunn about his pirate story in this issue, and with it the copy of an old document concern- ing that quite famous old rascal, Captain Kidd. Mr. Dunn did give me a look at the quaint and ancient volume he had found in the attic of the old house he has taken in Massachusetts and very interesting it was. Its main bases are absolutely authentic, which may or may not add value. But the names of the governors, King’s captains and the pirates generally are real, as are the dates, the issuance of the pardon at Old Providence, the escape of one determined pirate as described. I have tried not to make them Adventure have any bearing on the story—as a story—save to help assurance that the color of the yarn is correct. I note that you once ran an article on Ann Bonny. As that energetic lady was the paramour of ‘‘Calico- Jack Rackham”’ in events later than I have chron- icled, you will notice that I have gone through my manuscript and changed Rackham’s name, although the shot that went through his throat did not neces- sarily kill him. The dope about Kidd is authentic. For the Camp-Fire I am enclosing an actual copy of Kidd’s commission from the king, taken from this old book I told you I discovered in the attic of this house. When I come up to town I'll bring the little volume with me. What I tried to do in “On the account” was to make an action yarn that would give a true picture of pirate life around 1650-1750. While there were many turtlers who were used by, of use to, abused ey and abusing the pirates, Todd is, of course, pure ction. CAPTAIN ROBERT KIDD was recommended by Lord Bellamont, Governor of Barbados, and by other persons in touch with the Government of King William the Third, as a person very fit to be entrusted with the command of a Government ship to be employed in cruising upon the pirates, “as knowing those seas perfectly well, and being ac- quainted with all their lurking places,”’ but, this first proposal meeting with no encouragement the Lord Bellamont and some others who knew what great captures had been made by the pirates and what a prodigious wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at their own private charge. To give the thing a better reputation, as well as to keep their seamen under the better command, they procured the King’s commission for the said Cap- tain Kidd, of which the following is an exact copy: “WILLIAM THE THIRD, by the grace of “God, King of England, Scotland, France and “Treland, defender of the faith &c. To our “trusty and well beloved Capt. ROBERT “KIDD, commander of the ship the Adventure “galley, or to any other commander of the same ‘‘for the time being, “GREETING: Whereas we are informed, “that Capt. Thomas Too*, John Ireland, Capt. “Thomas Wake, and Capt. William Maze, or ‘“Mace, and other subjects, natives or inhabi- “tants of New York, and elsewhere, in our ‘“‘plantations in America, have associated them- ‘selves, with divers others, wicked and ill-dis- “posed persons, and do, against the law of ‘nations, commit many and great piracies, “robberies and depredations on the seas upon “the parts of America, and in other parts, to “the great hindrance and discouragement of “‘trade and navigation, and to the great danger ‘‘and hurt of our loving subjects, our allies, “and all others, navigating the seas upon their “lawful occasions. “NOW KNOW YE, that we being desirous to “prevent the aforesaid mischiefs, and as much . ‘“‘as in us lies, to bring the said pirates, free- “‘booters and sea-rovers to justice, have thought “fit and do hereby give and grant to the said “ROBERT KIDD (to whom our commission- “ers for exercising the office of Lord High Ad- ‘“‘miral of England, have granted a commission ‘fas a private man of war, bearing date the 11th COmicloo C© 5}