The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-09

request was also
IN the nature OF a command. and tur-
tner emphasized by a display OF the
small arsenal OF pistols, arqueouses'
and cutlasses which Blackboard wore
about his person, his crew always nc
cepted his invitation with alacrity'
Once In the hold. with the hatenes
battened down, the genial pirate
lighted sundry pots OF birthstone pre-
vlously prepared. and then sereneiy
awaited developments. With lungs OF
leather and a constitution haoitua'ea
to diabolical pastimes, Mr.. Blackoearu
inhaled the fumes sulphurous Us
though they were gales OF incense from
Araby, and when one OF his unfortunate
messmates ventured TO cough he was
promptly knocked on the head. ana
when, at last, sneezing and coughing
splitting and swearing, the crew essayeu
a bolt for the matches and outer air the
festive mariner simply crossed MS
hands and fred indiscriminately lhto
the crowd OF writhing wretches, wound
ing and killing without mercy. =.
This was Blackbeard's idea OF
good time and perhaps an
tic!patory Of the good times IN
store for them when he and his
comrades should have departed for the
pirates happy hunting grounds. Al all
events, It was simply one OF his lighter
pastimes, his really serious work being
put in on the hapless sailors and mer-
chantmen who fell into his hands whlle
his vessel was cruising the seas between
the island Of Jamaica and the coast OF
America. Another of his diversions
consisted in making his many prisoners
walk the plank, said plank being stuck
out over the side of the vessel, with the
farther end projecting into nowhere
and the bowling waves beneath. The
scene Of this pirates depredations was
chiefly about the group OF ISLANDS
known as the Virgins. in the West IN
dies, where the numerous concealed
harbors and inlets gave him opportuni-
ty for escape when holly pursued by his
many enemies. For. though 1t may seem
very strange, this great man had
enemies, who, perhaps jealous OF his
successes, and desiri0us Of putting an
end 10 them, chased him from one place
TO another most persistently.
It was about the middle Of the seven
teenth century that Blackboard, for
merly known as Capt Tench, Of Bris-
toll. England, took to the high seas for
q living, and became the scourge OF the
Spanish, Dutch and English merchant
marine. He had discovered in the is
land of ST. Thomas, then recently taken
possession OF by the Danes, a retreat
after his own heart. II abounded In
hidden harbors, deep inlets, reef-in-
closed bays, and projecting promon-
tories that commanded wide extended
views of the surrounding seas. The
Danes had seized II, finding 1t practi-
cally unoccupied: and, not TO be be-
hind them in push and progress. he
took possession of the best strategic
point on the island. They had erected
little red fort (Which may be seen
today, supplied 1t with cast iron can
non (still there), garrisoned 1t with a
handful of stolid soldiers, appointed a
governor and police inspector, and then
claimed II ALL This claim Capt. Black
beard was disposed to resent, and so
when the valiant Danes drove him out
of their fine harbor he vowed he would
brinS the compatriots of the immortal
Hamlet TO terms.
He sneaked around to the other side
of the island, the northern shore
where he knew of a harbor as good as
their own. and there landed. This har.
Dor is still there and is yet as solitary
as the day old Blackboard sailed into Il
with his rapacious crew. 1t lies di
rectly north Of the fortified harbor o.
Charlotte Amalia, which is also known
as st. Thomas but there is high hill
intervening. which shuts it out from
the rest of the world, and the handful
OF Danes in their little red fort. 1t /!
deep, harp-shaped, with high cliffs OF
either side. and a beautiful beach o
white sand at its lower end, neares
to the town beyond the hill.
Landing there at their leisure, TIL
pirates carried their stores and gun
TO the top of the hill, peeping over tn
crest Of which they could see all tn
harbor OF Charlotte Amalia spread GU
before and beneath them. This hill
crest Is about 1900 feet above eithe
harbor, north and south, and com
mands. in fact. the entire island, wit
Its outlying reefs and islets. Havin
taken possession Of the Interest, Black
beard then had the Danes at his mere!
But this was not what he wanted-thi
narrow ridge, so far above the sea tia