Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-05-21

south, and commands, in fact, the
entire island. with its outlying reefs
and islets. Having taken possess
ion Of the Interest, Blackboard
then had the Danes at his mercy.
But this was not what he wanted
this narrow ridge, 30 far above
the sea that his retreat might be
cut OF at any moment-his desires
we're fixed upon a certain tower,
standing isolate upon one Of the
central hills on which the town was
beginning to be built. Having
accumulated at the crest all the
stores and ammunition necessary,
together with such cannons % he
could spare from his ship, he await
ed favorable opportunity to des-
cend and take the tower. This
came that night, and, il any Of US
had been there, we might have seen
q band of villainous cut-throats
carefully vending their way down
the steep hillside toward the object
of their desires. They finally
reached IL, summoned the captain
in command of his small garrison
to surrender--which he did at dis
cretion--and thea quickly took pos
session. When, next morning, the
peaceful Danes gazed northward,
they saw the pirate flag, with its
emblems Of death, flying from the
parapet Of the old tower.
That they we're aston;shed, goes
without saying; that they hastened
to point their antiquated cast-iron
guns in the direction Of the tower
is a matter of couse. But they
never fired them off. Discretion
was clearly the better part of valor
in this instance, especially as it was
enforced by the pirate commanders
threat to blow their fort to smith
Greens at the least sign of offensive
preparation. Down from the hill
crest Blackboard brought his am
munition and plumber, not forget
ting, yoa may be sure, the nineteen
women who stood to him In the
nature Of wives, and whose fair faces
were yelled from the sight of Curl
Gus spectators. And there they were
incarcerated. tradition tell us, these
nineteen captives brides. They
were a heterogeneous collection,
sheir very nationalities showing
the broad sympathies and oatho-
licity of taste of their husband.
There were creoles from Cuba; two
had been snatched from the very
jaws of Havana from q galleon just
sailing ont of it's famed harbor.
Three were taken on the Spanish
Main, and, judging from their dark
complexion, had native Indian
blood in their veins. One came
from Jamaica. the daughter of an
English trader, and had first seen
the light in seaport town of old
England. She, with her complex.
ion of cream and roses, was reputed
the favorite of the stern, black whis-
kered sailor and consequently was
hated by the others. How long
they were confined there tradition
does not inform us; but it is likely
that the deeds of their master soon
brought upon him the combined
feet of the nations which he had
so long and violently outraged.
Square-sternedDutc droghers, full
wasted English ships, high-decked
Spanish galleons, all were securing
the seas after this universal enemy;
and it were very strange if he should
not be brought to bay at last and
made to answer for his misdeeds.
A sea dog born and bred, he could
not long stay ashore, even though
holding securely fort that domi-
mated the island of the Danes.
Leaving portion of his harems in
the tower, be climbed down to the
hidden harp-shaped harbor behind
the hills, and again ventured forth
upon the sea. There, finally, he
met his fate in the perssn Of q val
liant officer Of the English navy,
who, after fierce fight, overcame
him and carried him and his bloody
crew to port. 1t 10 matter Of his
tory that this valiant lieutenant
sailed into q harbor at Virginia
with the head of Black beard affixed
to his bowsprit. 1t was the fiercest,
most savage-looking head that has
ever been seen since the Medusa
shook her snaky locks and trans
L f. A