The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-06-24

great gusto to chastise the lawbreakers,
but became dazzled by the opportunity
thus thurst upon him, and became a
freebooter himself, creating more terror
among sailors than all previous corsairs
had done.
He roamed over the seas both along
the shores of the English colonies and
among the Spaniards of the far south.
With cargoes OF rich spoil from the
Spanish Main and the West Indies, he
would sail into the port OF Boston and
dispose Of them with the proverbial
lavishness OF freebooter. On board
his vessels were the sumptous luxuries
of the tropics, the gaudy trappings OF
the Spanish mobiles, and the precious
gems from the Brazilian mines. In
consequence of his llberali.y in hand
ling stolen goods and bestowlng them
upon others, he was gladly received by
many New England people whenever
| he chose to dwell In their midst. The
great outlaw was finally captured while
walking along street in Boston, and
soon thereafter paid the penalty of his
high handed deeds. His capture broke
up to large extent the bands OF north
ern pirates, but those of the south still
renamed as q menace to all traffic bv
sea.
At last something like an organized
effort was made to break up the gang
of desperadoes that prowled about the
seas. Captain Woods Rogers, brave
and trusted officer of the kings navy
was sent against them with a fleet of
sufficient size to strike terror into the
hearts of the freebooters. He came to
the island of Providence in the BAHIA
mas, where Teach and his gang had fix
ed their headquarters. As Rogers ap-
preached and was about to open fire
upon them, the whole OF the band ex-
cept about ninety hoisted the white
flag, claiming the royal pardon which
had been extended shortly before to all
who would return to their duties as
law-abiding citizens. Blackboard and
his 1ieutenants with their crews were
not present and thus escaped. The
nest was not broken up. It was mere
ly shifted to North Carolina. The
ninety that refused amnesty and had
escaped the clutches of Rogers soon
joined their forces with Blackboard,
and coming to the coast of North Care
lima, took up their headquarters In the
Cape Fear river, with other places of
rendezvous in the Pamlico river and
sound. There were no people living
on the Cape Fear river at that time
for Sir John Yeamans' colony that set
tied there years before bad removed to
South Carolina. The remains of their
settlement furnished shelter ard tenn
porary homes for thu pirates.
In their new quarters they seemed to
put on new life and to follow their ne
farious calling with more vindictive-
ness than ever. For some cause Cap
tain Rogers had not followed them, but
had hoisted sail and gone back to En-
gland leaving the pirates masters of
the sea. Soon thereafter, Governor
Do1o TIL Af
took matters into his own hands and
resolved to chastise the buccaneers.
Accordingly he sent out Captain Will
liam Rhett with two sloops to watch |
their movements and, If possible, to
bring them to justice. Rhett had hard |
ly crossed the Charleston bar when be
espied Bonnet's vessel, which he chased
into the Cape Fear and captured after
a stout resistance. He took his prize
to Charleston with thirty prisoners,
who, with their commander, paid the
penalty on the gallows. Governor
johnson himself soon after went In
pursuit of Worley and after desperate
engagement off the harbor of Charles |
ton captured him. The entire crew OF
the pirate vessel, with the exception of
Worley and one other were killed In
the battle: and they were dangerously |
wounded. They were taken To the
South Carolina metropolis and imme-
dlately executed for fear that death |
would cheat the gallows. Vane was
run down and slain soon afterwards |
and the band once SO formidable was
materially reduced.
But piracy was not yet broken up,
though it had received a signal reverse.
Black l5e::rd the bc|dest and most re-
doubtabie of the gang, with fifty or
sixty followers still hovered about Ocra- |
coke and the Pamlico sounds. He de-
fed capture and boasted that he was a
match for the kings navy.
In 1718, while cruising off the
coast of South Carolina, Teach cap
tured vessel having on board Samu-
ell Wragg, member OF the executive
council of South Carolina, and a man |