The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-16

! from the masthead, sail, ho:' Teach inn
! mediately ordered his helm up crowded on
! all sail, and bore down what he sup
| posed would prove rick arg0syf. But as
| he raised the strangers hull the stately
| proportions of a man-ot-War stood re-
! veaIed and as he ranged alongside a puff
! of white smoke answered his hail, while the
| Red DRAGON of St George soaring proudly
! to the peak huttered in the tropic breeze,
! What to be done in this aWNWard d-
lemma?
the average freebooter would either have
! struck his coors hauled ship in instant
and ignominious fight Not 50 Blackboard!
Such Il denoucment was not very per-
picking nor even disappointing to him, who
rocked little whether he fought for gold
: or gore. The rudy glow of either was
equally grateful to his Villianous eye. How
ever numerous and dark his vices, he was
nevertheless It perfect master OF the sail
cr's difficult profession and possessed of
a courage to which fear was utterly I'M
known. Hosting the black flag III bitter
defiance and beating to quarters, he uH-
hesitatingly accepted the gage of battle.
The vessels We're about evenly matched
and handled with consummate skill and on
that trOpic sea enVejOpcd in smoke, they
fOu-ht for hours, Circling round and ROUND
without any material advantage TO either
combatant until the gloom of night fell
upon the SangunaTy scene. when the Scar
borough, dcspairing of subjugattng her in
dOmtable foe. withdrew ana lett the pl-
rates to pursue their career of blood I'M
moleSted. This adventure was succeeded
by episode of a different character, but
no less singular interest. Overhauing an
other armed vessel, and no doubt antici-
pating u field day of carnage, Teach was
much surprised to see the black nag dis
played in answer to his hail. This vessel
proved to be the Revenge a SlOOp OF ten
guns, commanded by Major Stede Bonnet,
who unlike Blackboard was very intel
igent and cultivated, but eccentric gentle
man of Barbadoes where he occupied
high social position.
"a fisher, therefore, was he-though of
Like Peter. the aposte-and he fished
For wandering merchant vessels now ana
then,
And sometimes caught as many as he
Yet he was the naildest hammered man
That ever scuttled ship or cut throat.
The friendship between these congeual
spirits rapidly upened and they entered
into q confedcracy of blood. 1t WAS not
long, however, before Teach, with his
shrewd. practical sense, perceived mat
Bonnet was ma sailor and little fitted for
leader in Their adventurous mode OF ME. ne
therefore, in his usual summary method
OF conducting business, depcsed Hr' and
placed one Richards in command OF me
Revenge. The deposed captain he took on
board his own vessel. remarkIng with the
bandest smile: Il perceive. my dear SIR
that YOU are not used to the cares and
fa1igues of commanding vessel, anu
Will relieve you from them II VIII De
much pleasanter for you 10 live at your
ease in my cabin, where you VIII nave no
duty to perform and can follow the bent OF
Z-o1fr own incliuaiionS.' This rough pleas
autry was not unusual with Blackboard;
during intervals between raplne ana mu'-
der he often varied the monotony OF lie
at sea with sallies of the grimeSt hun0r.
ON one occasion the conversation turning
naturally enough, upon the subject Of hell,
Come" said he. "Iet Us make a httle he'll
of our own and see who can stand it the
longest" Accordingly, descending into the
bold and battenirg down al the hatcrea,
they filed several pots full of sulphur
birthstone and other combusubIes, which
they set fire to.
soon the entire vessel was enVeloped in
the most unearthy fumes, and the men,
becoming almost suffocated, cried out for
quarter when he opened the matches, not
a little sratifed that ne as usual, sur
passed them in all Villainy. Upon another
occasion he invited his chief officers to
sumptuous spread. When the fe$tivity was
at it's height, the genial host suddenly eN-
tinguishcd the candles, and, with a pistol
in each hand, crossing his arms, opened
an indiscrimnate fire upon his company.
From his delicate attention, Hands, the
pilot who occupied the post Of honor at
his chiefs right hand, received a wound in
the knee which he carried to his grave.
answered that if he did not Kill one of
them occasionally they would soon lose
all respect for him This novel method
of winning respect seems TO have been
crowned with eminent success. Tor no COM
mander was ever held in more wholesome
awe by his crew. Unfortunately, however,
his craving for respect was not Satiated by
the homage of man, but extended even
more ardently to the fair sex, and he
sought to win their regard in manner
equally eficacious. Like Bluebeard. Black
beard was a strong advocate OF matrl-
mony. and he testified his appreciation OF
the institution by entering INTO it's holy
state freQuently-in fact, upon every avail
able opportunity. At the time Of his sud
den and tragic departure from the scenes
u 50 many corjr@al triumphs, it is cred
IDLY reported 10 less than fourteen wives
survived him. In this respect, Blackboard
surpassed Bluebea"d III maSnanhnity, as
according to the most ancient and anthem
tic accounts. the latter swung up the OBJ
,ects of his alteration Ito dance On moth
ing" Strengthened by the alliance of Hon-
nets ship and crew, under Richards, Teach
directed his course to the West Indies,
where he cruised in the track of the rich
Spanish Galleons, and sometimes entering
barbors laid cities under tribute. 1t would
he . tiresome and dsheartening task to
trace him through all the sinuosities Of his
dark and ever-descerding career.
EVERY daV was marked with the same
dreamy record; ships pillaged ana burned,
their crews murdered or turned adriit, the
hard earnings Of toll seized by this robber
horde Truly, the pirate is a p5h%2olo2IcaI
;t,1,ly. il seems utterly mComprehenSibe
how with so much blood upon their Il 9nd5
and with a consciousness OF so much StnIt
accommodating upon their souls, they could
venture out in the face Of tcmpeStS to ell
countar the dangers Of the painless deep.
Notwithstanding the immense plunder he
obtained it would seem Teach was SICK at
heart To SHOW that, after al, such Il
life is full of nothing but bitter Wretched-
ness. we only need to glance at the log
written by his own hand, Il few extracts
from which present stripped of the pliiS-
phemy that interlarded Them Rum all
out-our company somewhat sober;
confusion among us, roSueS are plotting,
great talk of separation, so | look sharp
for a prize. This day took a prize with a
great deal OF liquor on board, so kept the
company hot, - hot then all things went
well!' Having cleared the seas in this
quarter, Teach now entered upon the last
and most destructive part of his
career. Steering for the coast Of
America, he cruised from the
CapeS of Virginia to Charleston,
intercepting the growing commerce of the
young colonies Within week he cap
tured four vessels off Charleston bar and