Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-10-07

and Briggs fell. Bullion seized a cut
lass and the skull of Officer Carr was
cleft in twain.
By this time every pirate was on his
feet. fighting for life, and the cavern
echoed the reports, as volley after vol
ley was fired by either side.
Bullion was welding the cutlass as
though in no other way could he re-
deem his honor for having betrayed his
comrades. He had already stricken
down two men. when he himself fell.
The giant frame of Black Beard, IS he
dashed into the thickest of the fray
carried CONSERVATION with it:
Fight, men! you're fighting for your
lives!"
One-eyed Bill was fighting like de-
mon; bareheaded. his shirt sleeves
rolled to his elbows, his voice rang
through the cavern. as his cutlass fell
Down with them! Down with
themi''
But the pirates were too greatly out
numbered. and it became apparent that
eventually they must be annihilated.
Cobb. Hendricks, PIunkett and MANY
others had already fallen, and now Bill!
Gibbs had struck his last blow, and
fell with a groan, as a ball from the
weapon in the hands of the revenue
captain pierced his breast
The captain fell in turn, his head leap
Jig from his shoulders, as the blade OF
Black Boards cutlass severed it from
his body.
Strike, men! Strike for your lives,
these dastards come for money. give
them death"
Bow Leggs, with a n immense weapon,
was following in the wake of Black
Beard, and more than one marine lay
on the damp floor of the cavern, a vic
tim to this ungainly black, whose life
four months before Black Beard had
saved; but low the red blood was
coursing down his limbs from many
wounds.
At this moment Black Beard fell.
pierced by half a dozen musket balls at
once. He gave one cry as he fell to the
rocky floor of the cavern:
THE magazinel Bow Leggs! Fire
the magazine!"
And Bow Leggs. bleeding from every
pore, reeled to the fireplace, and seized
Il burning brand.
A number sprang forward to inter
cept him, while others endeavored &c
rush from the cave.
The doors were closed, they could
neither tell where they were, nor how
10 open them.
AS Bow Leggs seized the brand. he
made rush for the magazine, which
was recess at one side of the cave
about midway between the entrance
and the fireplace.
A dozen pistols and muskets were
| aimed at the fearful black, and twice
he fell, but struggled to his feet again
and finally, with cry of triumph, fell
forward into the very mouth of ths
magazine.
There was one cry from every marine
| there; then Il deafening roar that shook
the island from center to circumference
and sealed the fate of all.
The solid rocky surface of the cave
was raised into the air, then sank, bury
ing beneath, officers, pirates and ma
rines.
Not a living man or the vestige OF
dead one remained to tell the tale
There was no longer a cave in eN
istence on Smiths island, and no longer
did the rocky, uneven surface present
to view huge powders and shelving
rocks to be clambered over by the
islands goats.
One mighty rock had fallen into The
estuary, bearing down beneath it the
Clara Belle, while the revenue boat had
broken her mooriugs, as result of the
shock, and drifted out to sea-
When the sun arose, she lay in the
| trough some nine miles out from the
inlet. Huge waves were dashing over
her, and when an inbound steamer that
had observed her and was fastening
forward for the purpose of rescuing
| any who might be in peril was yet some
| distance from her, she sunk from sight,
and it has ever been supposed, that the
! two boats engaged in an encounter. in
| which both, with their crews, were sent
to the bottom.