Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-31

| lico river in North Carolina, where HI
| announced his intention to settle down al
| peaoeable citizen, and took for hi
| thirtieth wife the rosy daughter of G
| planter, who seems to have seen oulv the
sentimental side OF pirates life and
| character. But a man like Black Bearc
could not remain quietly on shore, mol
die quietly in his bed, aud in year oil
| two he manned another ship and put tc
sea again. For time he pretended that
the vessels that he SYSTEMATICALLY towed
iuto port had been picked up abandoned
This was hardly likely, especially a:
Governor Eden, and the colonial secre-
tary. and the admiralty judge of North
Carolina shared the gains with Black
Beard. There seem to have been public
officials of easy consciences in those days
no less.
At last this noble corsair threw off all
disguise and tearlessly secured the coast
capturing everything that came and rum
ming his prizes up to his haunt on the
Pamlico river. This was more than the
good people of that state could bear.
Whatever their opinion OF piracy, they
had no humor to have their goods
snatched from them, the stuffs for the
ladies gowns, and the wines aud BRAN
dies for the folks.
Finding that their own governor was
unwilling or unable to help them, and
having no stomach to attack this wild
beast in his lair, the oolonists appealed
to Governor Spotswood of Virginia to
come to their aid. He Immediately or
dered Lieut.. Maynard of the royal navy
to proceed against Black Beard IN an
armed ship. Maynard was just the man
to succeed in so desperate an enterprise
Black Beard heard of his coming and
anchored his own vessel in an advau-
tageous position. He had crew of
twenty-five picked men of true piraticsl
fibre. They had been IN many a fight
and knew well that the only thing for a
pirate in battle is 20 win or die, but TO
surrender never, for that meant 1nglo-
rious death at the ropes end.
Maynard had much larger crew than
Black Beard. He concealed most of his
men below the deck. But his ship
grounded when approaching the pirate,
who at once opened a terrible fire.
Twenty men were shot down at the first
broadside. Seeing but few men left on
deck, Black Beard concluded that the
man-of-war was completely crippled and
boarded her with most of his crew. At
that moment Maynard ordered up the
men hidden below. They sprang on deck
and few at the pirates like tigers, taking
them completely by surprise. The two
captains met in hand to- hand conflict,
and it came near going hard with Nav
nard when his sword broke; but just rs
he was about TO fall beneath the COR
sair's descending blade he fired his pistol
and Black Beard threw up his arms,
81
He cheated the gallows, and his end was
more glorious than his deserts. Every
one of the boarding party of seventeen
were killed or wounded.
Maynard in time now boarded the pi-
rate ship, just in time to seize negro
standing with lighted match by the mag
azine to blow up the ship. according to
Black Beard IS order, in case of defeat.
The eight men remaining on board were
hanged, and the head of Black Beard
was fixed to the end Of the bowssrit OF
his own ship, and in this maunei May
nerd returned with his trophy TO Vir-
giuia.
While Black Beard was thus terminal
ing his wild career, his former comrade,
Steed Bonnet, carried matters with such
a high hand on. the coast of South Caro-
lima that Governor johnson fitted out an
expedition against that corsair. 1t was
commanded by Captain William Rhett,
member of q family that has since be-
come noted. The ships met near Cape
Fear river, and desperate conflict en-
sued. The pirates were overpowered,
many were killed and Bonnet, with
twenty-nine of his men, were taken alive
and carried to Charleston. They re-
ceived u summary trial, and all but
were hanged. 1t must have been pref
ty solemn spectacle.
One would think that this example
would have served as a warning to all
other sea rovers to steer clear of Charles
ton for time, for when people become
fairly aroused they are likely prove TO
dangerous. But Captain Worley, who,
you remember, commanded one of Black
Beard 8 ships, reasoned that after such
an effort the people ofCharleston " ould be
less likely to resist an attack from him.
In a strong ship mounting six guns Cap
tain Worley therefore ventured to enter
the bay and lay his ships before Charles
ton. 1t was a daring feat and even
mariners skiilful rs pirates may repeat
it once too often, as this brave corsair
found to his cost. For Governor John
son, then ruler of Sonth Carolina, proved
to be a man of determination and spirit.
A large armed ship lay in port, with a
crew OF hardy tars. The Governor
called for volunteers to reinforce them,
and being bit of sailor himself, went
on board himself to command the at
tack.
Morley was not the man to dowse his
color nor to fly. Whatever else NAV be
said of him, he was bold as lion, and
awaited the enemy, although superior to
him in force, without flinching. After
exchanging shots the ships grappled.
As the governor and his men swarmed
over the sides of the pirate ship no quar-
ter was given nor asked. Many OF the
boarding party fell and all of the pirates
were slain except Worley and one of bis
men. But they were desperately wound
ed and lest they should die before the
justice of the law could execute the last
on them they were at once
hanged at the yard arm. Thus ended
the remarkable career of the corsairs of
the Carolinas.
WITH A OBJECTIVE"
how to Handle a Hand Camera with tho
Best ResuIts-By Alexander Black,
Author of .'Confessions OF an Amate If Photo
grapher" in ''Wide-Awake.'
20 PHOTOGRAPHY with
"a "a out the hand camera