Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-16
echoed the reports, as volley utter vol
4. 4

echoed the reports, as volley alter 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, as he
/ dashed into the thickest of the fray
carried CONSERVATION with it:
Eight, men! you're fighting for your
livesl"
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
them!"
But the pirates We're too greatly out
numbered, and it became apparent that
eventually they must be annihilated.
Cobb, Hendricks, Plunkett and many
others had already fallen, and now Bill
Gibbs had struck his last blow, and
fell with 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
Ing from his shoulders, as the blade OF
Black Boards cutlass severed It from
his body.
"Strike, men! Strike for your livesi
these dastnrds come for money. give
them DEATH"
Bow Leggs, with nm immense weapon,
was following In the wake of Black
Beard, and more than one marine lay
on the damp floor of the cavern, q VIC
tim to this ungainly black, whose life
four months before Black Beard had
saved; but now the red blood was
coursing down his limbs from many
wounds.
At this moment Block Beard fell,
pierced by half dozen musket balls ut
once. He gave one cry as he fell to the
rocky floor Of the cavern:
1.-THE magazine! Bow Leggs! Fire
the magazine!"
And Bow Leggs, bleeding from every
pore, reeled to the fireplace, and seized
burning brand.
A number sprang forward to inter-
cept him, while others endeavored to
rush from the cave.
The doors were closed: they could
neither tell where they were, nor how
to open them.
AS Bow Leggs seized the brand, he
made rush for the magazine, which
was recess ut one side of the cave,
about midway between the entrance
md the fireplace.
A dozen pistols and muskets were
aimed ut the fearful black, and twice
he fell, but struggled to his feet again,
and finally, with q cry of triumph, fell
forward into the very mouth OF the
magazine.
There was one cry from every marine
there; then deafening roar that shook
theisland 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 living man or the vestige of q
dead one remained to tell the tale.
There was no longer cave In ex-
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 1t the
Clara Belle, while the revenue boat had
broken her mornings, us 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 We're 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.