Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-04-08
gales 5 Sketches.
BLACKBOARD,
The Pirate Of the Chcsapeake.


This old sea-robber was an Englishman,
whose real name was Edward Teach The
soubriquet of Blackboard was given him in
conse qucnce of his personal appearance.
L lJng, black and flowing beard, which, COW
eriny mis- face from his eyes, reached to his
waistband. In his hirsutc appcndagc, to-
gethcr with the hair OF his head, which was
permitted to grow uncut, the pirate great
ly prided himself; and this, added to eyes
black as night, and of a peculiarly sinister
expression, gave him an exceedingly savage
appearance. This frightful expression he
was was said to increase in times of action,
by attaching to the rim of his hat, and
among his tangled locks, lighted matches :;
so that, ut those times, he must indeed
have looked the heartless flend he really
was.
Many vessels Of all nations became his
prey and their crews were most inhuman-
ly murdered. His favorite mode was to tie
his helpless prisoners TO the main rigging,
and dispatch them separately with his own
pistol, that he might, rs he said, Improve
in his pistol practice.
Em5oldened by a long course of success,
this terrible cut-throat infested all the At
lantic coast, particularly the shores OF the
Chesapeake Bay, to such an extent that
fishing boats even could not pursue their
occupation unmolested. In short nothing
was safe along those shores, not even the
dwellings and poultry yards of the planters
in the vicinity Of the sea.
To such an extent indeed had these afro
cities been carried, that, in the summer of
17lS, Governor Spottswood Of Virginia,
made proclamation, Offering reward Of
1--WE hundred dollars for the head of the no
torious Blackboard /; and for every other
commander of pirate ship, two hundred
dollars for each inferior officer, seventy
tive to one hundred dollars and fifty dol
lars for every piratical sailor who might be
taken, dead or alive.
Soon after the publication of these re-
wards, one Lieutenant Maynard sailed
from James River in search of the robbers;
and on the evening OF the 3lst of June, he
came in sight of Blackbeard's vessel, lying
quietly at anchor in the mouth of Ocracoke
inlet, on the coast of North Carolina.
Maynard was the very man for this inn
portant expedition, as was proven by his
prudent, yet heroic conduct, and the sue
cess of all his plans. In the first place, he
prevented all communications between the
shore and the pirates, by stopping and de-
tanning all boats he met with in the river
and Pamlico sound. Bat it appears, that,
notwithstanding all the lieutenant'S pre-
cautions, the pirates conlederates on shore
communicated with Blackboard, caution
ing him to be on his guard.
But the pirate, having frequently before
been falsely alarmed, paid no heed to this
friendly warning Of his accompiices; nor
did he have thought Of the expedition
sent against him, till the little vessel OF the
lieutenant hove in sight.
Blackboard now, convinced ofhis danger,
lost no time in getting his vessel ready for
defence. After doius this, he addressed
his crew, eXhorting them 10 fight like liends,
and sell their lives dearly. In his company
was the master of II coasupg sloop, who
had long boen suspected OF acting rs a
lighter TO the pirate, aud conveying their
ill-gollcn plumber 10 the s;orehouses Of the
receivers ON shorr. With this fellow the
pirate chief descended To his cabin, aud
commenced n drinking bou., rs was his
custom previous 10 going into action. With
ali his savage aud desperate nature, the
ruiiian had To resort 10 drunkenness 70
iorliiy his courage.
On coming within gnushot distance, the
lieutenant left his two small slOOps, aud
manning his boats advanced I'LL lac drew
the lire OF the pirates. lie then waited til
the vessels came up asd displaying the
Kings dag bore directly down upon the
eneIsy. Blackboard now cut his cable,
aud endeayored 10 run, whlle he kept up a
continual discharge vi heavy guns, which
the young oiiicer could only geply 10 with
email arms, not belng able 70 carry cannon
On shallos-draught Nessels,
The pirate, Ilndlng !. imposslbls, with
what llile Wind theTe was, and tho dead
ahead, 10 escape to sea, dssl1Taiely ~
solved on 4 bloOsiy aell0n ran hls Vessel
vp1n the shoals, aud awaited lhe approach
VI lhe lleuinpapt's b0at.
Tbs laltsT, - enahls him 70 come With
Ia bssar,iing dlslagees Nas obliged IA uiros
overheard ballast, sstef, anl eF.gJ article
W could SPAR, sEeg ~ hls anchors. AZ
he approached, haek1afl, with q ltFa'
CLIQUE oath, dsllal,,lsdf
"Nhe aIe ysaf aDd abs Dc yon lemsl
nae " blos yoa ~ h. ~
That I aia noi yesF lfisna, 500 ulay
40 N thai " ansseFsi lhe yoana enAai,
posi,llng v ihe Fa5 Al liaa - hls nsasihfsd {,
'and ~ 81 yeas lhFtaig, ~ go salnf
ihfia Meth o. ! itas lhsmi