The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-05-10

small arsenal Of pistols. arquebuses.
and cutlasaes which Blaekb "a wore
about his person. his crew always ac-
septed he Invitation with alacrity.
once in the hold. with the matches
battoned down. the genial pirate
lighted sundry pots Of birthstone, pre-
vlously prepared. and then serenely
awaited developments with lungs Of
leather and a constitution habituated
70 diabolical pastlmes. Mr.. Blackboard
Inhaled the fumes aulphuroua as
though they were gales Of incense from
Arahy. and when one Of his unfortunate
mossmates rontured 10 cough he was
promptly kuoeked on the head. And
when. Al iasl aneezlng and coughing
lpiiting and swearing. the crew essayod
holt Tor he patches and outer air, the
festive mariner simply crossed his
hands ana Cred Unfortunately into
ne crowd q vrlthing wretehes. wound
4E and hiil|ng without mercy.
Thla Vas Blackbeards idea Of
rood iime. and perhaps an
I|tipalorg o. the good times IN
store fof them when he and his
;Qmrades should have departed for the
,|Iales' happy hunting grounds. AZ all
events. 4 vas simply one Of his lighter
lts|lme1. bis really serious work being
oui IN on the hapless sailors and mer-
Ihtnimen who fell into his hands while
,IA vessel was cruising the seas between
~ Island ol Jamaica and the coast OF
america mother Of bis diversions
'1nsisted IN making his many prisoners
Nalk the plank. said plank being stuck
1al over the side Of the vessel. with the
hrlher end projecting into nowhere.
mo the bowling waves beneath. The
Iothe Of thls pirates depredatlons was
fhiehy about the group Of islands
Known as the Virgins. in the West In
ties. where the numerous concealed
hGrborn and inlets gave him opportuni-
" for escape when holly pursued by his
many enemies For. though Il may seem
fory strange this great man had
inemies. who. perhaps Jealous Of bis
mcccases. and deslrious Of putting an
ma 10 them. chased him from one place
~ another most perEis,ently.
Il was about the middle OF the seven
eenth century that Blackboard. for
merly known as Capt Tonch. Of nrls-
lol. England. took TO the high seas ior
tliylng. and became the scourgc Of the
spanish. Dutch and English merchant
marine. Hc had discovered In the is-
and Of 81, Thomas. then recently taken
,osscsslon OF by the Danes. a retreat
iltor his own heart Il aboundod IN
hidden harbors deep inlcts. roef-in-
slosed bays. and projecting pronn,a-
.orles that commanded wide extended
Views Of the surrounding seas The
Danes had seized Il. finding Il prac,i.
ally unoccuplod: and. not 10 be be-
tlnd them In push and progress, hg
hook possession Of the best straicfi,
point on the island They had erected
little red fort (which may be seer
,odayl. supplied Z, With cast iron can
non lstlll therel. garrisoned It with ,
handful Of stolid soldiers. appointed ,
governor and police inspector. and ther
claimed Il all This claim Capt Black
bcard vas disposed to resent. and 70
Ehen the valiant Danes drove him ou
u gholr fno harhor he vowed he woul,
,rlnF che oompa,Tiots Of the lmmor,a
Hamlet TO terms
IIe sneakcd around TO the other side
81 the island. the northern shore
where he knew Of harbor as gool al
heir own. and there landed. This har
Dor u slill there aud Is yet as solltarl
a. the day ola blackboard sailed into q
with BIS raiacious crow Il lies a.
'cctly north Of the fortified harbor o.
Charlotte Amalia. which is also know
% St Thomas but there Is u high hill
Intervening. which shuts Il out iron