The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-03-30
CHAPTER XIV.
Copyright BY A. n. Kellogg Newspaper Co
THE ISL

THE ISLAND.
Ten days from the time that Black
Beard babe good-by to the Altemaha, the
Charleston News contained the follow
ing:
BLACK Beard Again.-The eighteen
negroes who have been missing since
the departure Of the piraticaI craft
Ranger are missing no longer, but the
good planters of the Altemaha river sec
ton, Georgia, are missing the sum of
fifteen thousand dollars, which sum
they paid for the aforesaid negroes, and
to the redoubtable Black Beard, for
there he conveyed them.
Holding them in terror of their lives
until he had received his gold, and the
last negro, as well as the planters, had
disembarlled from the Ranger, whittier
the planters had been invited by sign
hung over the Schooner's side, as she law
anchored in the stream
1T was this sign that Informed them
tnat Is negroes would be sold from
: the decks of the schooner before IL
o'clock.
The schooner had changed her name
to William Il. Niles. and her color was
now dirty red, and, though no man
with a long black beard was seen On the
decks while the planters were aboard,
they had no sooner descended to their
boats, in which their purchasers were
already seated, than they heard the
captains voice: Up anchor, and away
''As the anchors were raised, the
glided away. The negroes having their
terror removed told their tale, and the
bows OF the planters boats were turned
towards the schooner.
They called Justify, but she was fast
passing out the mouth Of the river, and
a man with o long black beard was
standing at the vessels stern, waving
them good-by with his hiatt was
doubtless Angus Bruce, alias William Z.
Niles. alias Black Beard.
The negroes have all been returned
to their masters, and the governor OF
Georgia has joined with the governor Of
South Carolina in Offering reward for
the apprehension of this daring buc-
cancer, murderer and pillagcr: thus the
amount offered for Angus Bruce, dead
or alive. by these two states is S50,O00."
On the morning when the Charleston
News contained this article there lay
anchored in a location from which she
was neither visible from sea nor main
land, Gwo-mast schooner; the location
was an estuary that entered the side of
Smiths island, about midway Of it's
length. and extended some three miles,
or half way through the island.
This island is located near the mouth
of the Cape Fear river, and about ten
miles from Smithrille.
At that date il, was Is miles in length,
and from one to six. miles in breadth.
It's surface near the coast was low and
fat, with u gradually elevating tend
encv, until near the head of the estuary,
where it terminated in rugged, broken
surface of rocky lodges, alternating
from so feet below to 500 feet above
the oceans level.
The seams that cut through this
rough formation to the depths below
were filled with brine, while the rugged
sides of the steep ascent were covered
with stunted cedars and pines. AMI num-
placed on the island by Uncle Billie
Smith. for whom both Smithville and
the island were named many years be-
fore.
liz this estuary, and at its head, in
thirty feet of water lay the schooner;
half dozen men were painting her
sides from suspended planks.
The name had already been painted
over
The men were working and singing
as unconcernedly as though they did
not know that n reward of nifty thou
sand dollars had been offered for the
apprehension of their captain, and GER
tainly as if they did not know that their
own lives were forfeit.
Sam said one of the men. did yoH
hear the captain say where next
away p 'e.to..
mo, Joe. didn't hear him say. but
no matter what he says or where ne
saws it, it's for us to obey. We've made
some good hauls in the past month.
Great! man. great! But my notion
is they're getting after US mighty
thick: if / was tho captain. I'm bowed
if don't believe I'd quit this here
coast
.''Eh amt got ready yet. Sam. Eth
seq tibet 'eh as an important job here,
before he quits this coast. But there's
thu dinner horn. Come. lads."
All dropped their brushesNbut, in
stead of proceeding to the cooks gal