The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-07-01
PIRATES OF CAROLINA.
THE TERRoRs OF TIE SEAS.
These are now Things Of the Past.

These are now Things Of the Past.
". C. Allen IN Wilmington Messenger
PART II.
Restless and rowing in his disposition
Blackboard could not long remain con
tented upon land. Accordingly to the
sea he went with his followers, who
we're at all times under his guidance
Not long afterwards he returned tt
Bath ostensibly as trader bringing 8
French ship loaded with sugar and CO
Goa. He claimed that he had found
the vessel abandoned at sea, but there
we're no marks OF violence by storm
that would occasion such belief. No
apparent reason could be shown why &
crew voluntarily should abandon a YES
sci at sea in the excellent condition in
which it was said to have been found
Governor Eden ordered court of adj
mirality with Tobias Knight as judge
to sit in Bath to decide upon the mer-
it's OF the case. Evidence was taken
from Blackboard himself and some OF
his gang in support of the iaIsehood
about finding the vessel adrift. The
court, in face OF the notorious past rec
ord of Teach and the witnesses, decided
that the boat was lawful prize and
the property of Edward Teach, the
finder. It seems strange that such a
verdict could have been obtained from
a court composed OF men who must
have known the real character OF Black
beard. It is true that he had out
wardly reformed, had given up the pre-
tention to piracy, and was trading os-
tensibly as law abiding citizen.
Williamson, in his history of North
Carolina, published shortly after the
events here described, makes a state
ment, which, if true, will Lelp to clear
up the mystery of such verdict. He
says twenty barrels of sugar and two
bags of cocoa of the French ship we're
afterwards found in the ]arder of 10
bias Knight, the chief justice who sat
upon the case. He could give no sat-
isfactory reason for their presence In
his possession, and proceedings were
Instituted against him as being 'acces-
sorry to pirates" He was tried but es-
capped conviction by the testimony of
one witness. Mr.. Knight, however,
was shorn OF his influence and no one
ever afterward had any confidence in
his integrity.
After the condemnation OF the
French ship by the court of admiralty
at Bath, Blackboard remained in
Pamlico river and vicinity to continue
his nefarious work. He again threw
off the mask and began the business
of freebooter with desire to conceal
his purpose only so far as such conceal
ment would contribute to his success.
He had his hiding places all along the
banks of the Pamlico river and sound.
He brought his booty up to the town
of Bath, and traded and trafficked with
the people as if the whole town was in
league with him.. Sometimes for
months he would live quietly at bis
home in Bath county then forsaking
the land he would ply his desperate
calling on the sea capturing merchant
vessels, killing the crews, robbing the
cargoes, and destroying the rifled YES
sells at sea.
At last the people of the province,
becoming indignant at the high hand
ed acts of the great outlaw, and think
ing that Governor Eden was secret
of the pirate, appealed to
Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, tor
protection. The appeal was not made
in vain. The Virglnian answered
promptly that he would send ample
force to bring the noted desperate to
Justice. At that time Captain Ellis
Brand was the naval officer in COM
mand in Virginia waters with small
squadron under his immediate direc-
ton. Upon the application of Gov
ernor Spotswood he detailed Lieuten-
ant Maynard with two sloops to go In
pursuit of Teach, who was then in the
of Ocracoke. Maynard
departed from James fiver at once to
perform his mission. After few DAYS
sail he crossed the bar at Ocracoke and
came in sight of BIackbeard's ship,
Queen Anne's Revenge, with its crew
OF desperadoes. The pirate had been
informed OF the coming Of Maynard,
but made no effort to escape, doubtless
thinking that Maynard and his crew
would soon be prisoners In his hands.
AS Maynard's boat came in gunshot
Teach opened upon him with all his
guns. Maynard replied with effect,
and the battle soon became bloody
MAYNARD steered his vessel straight for
the pirate, intending to board, but un-