The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-26


two stories high, with a deep basement
walled in by rocks, which have given way
to time, exposing the basement to view
from the outside. Though not built after
the fashion of castle, the house reminds
one of the traditional castles of the Rhine
Within twenty feet of the house flows
the Pasquotank River, and an indentation
in the banks of the river, formed by ma
ture, or. perhaps, by men. affords a
pretty bay, said TO have been the landing
place Of the pirates boats, which We're
thus hidden from the river view by the
trees surrounding Though nearly two
hundred years must certainly have elapsed
since this house was erected, it is yet
practically intact, and has even been re
paired and placed IN habtabe condition.
As it now stands the remodeled house
would appear not over fifty years of age
Time has done little to crack the walls
of glazed English brick. The floors have
given way, though heart cedar was placed
on the rafters. This gives proof of the
age of the building, and is a good illustra-
ton of the perfectness of the English
brick of two centuries ago. In its once
dilapidated condition the flooring broke
and a resident of the house, a lady, was
hurled to the basement beneath, where
her arm was broken. A new roof has been
placed on the walls since the photograph
was taken. several months ago.
REMARKABLE HOUSE.
The feature of the Blackboard home
which gives the stranger the greatest de
hight, is its magnificent antiquity. The
walls and doors are of the most exquisite
hand-carved paneling. The mantels are
models of art and skilled workmanship
and must have cost an enormous
amount. Such a house in colonial days
could only have been erected by a wealthy,
very wealthy man. AS one gazes, here
and there, a secret door is disclosed, which
leads far down into the darkness of the
basement beneath, and makes enc shud-
der at tins cavern. which like the cave
of Slnbad, the sailor, has been aforetime
occupied by dead men, or men left to
starve, amid the wreck of bones and rot
ting flesh therein. In the attic above the
second story, may be seen blood stains on
the floor. The great old fireplace is the
entrance to secret way into
the basement. In the rear of the
| brick is an opening, which goes down
into the basement and into this opening
the bricks being first removed the bodies
OF murdered captives We're TIN own into
the moat below, which swept them out
| into the water of the river and sound be-
yond.
The rooms are alleged to have
been used in holding those vino were
seized or kidnapped and held for ransom
T. 81 haE
IN which such deeds were numerous, espe-
clally among INSCRIPTIONS traders and sea
captains. The basement must have been
the chfef Jail, as the barred windows will
show to what good advantage it might
thus have been used. Altogether this
basement reminds one of the old closets in
which Blue Beard of the many sacri-
feed wives, kept his disobedient and be-
headed ladies under the magic key.
Blackboard is thought to have been the
proud possessor of a natural beard of a
gross and startling type. As a matter of
tact, Teach adorned the horsehair, which
represented a fiendish and unnatural
| growth of nature, as a means of spreading,
terror among those who fell into hiJ
hands. This beard was tied in red rib
bon bows, and had the desired effect of
tldISlOIulluS Il man lDJO Mucous con-
ceptlon OF an incarnate demon
| In the County Court OF Pasquctank
county, N. c., today there are recorded
certain deeds granting titles to one
Teach, acknowledged to be the same
man who occupied land there as Black
beard. The titles to the estate, in the
course of years. numbering nearly two
centuries, have been frequently. sub
divided as to make it impossible to locate
q title to the place of the house, which
has been written of here, though deeds
conveying lands, with 'appurtenancccs
thereunto belonging" give sufficient proof
as to who lived in the house of English
brick. Aside from such proof, this relic
OF colonial times is an evidence of its for
mer owner and occupant. To those who
seek the abiding place of blackboard in
America, the present home Of Mr. Tenn
pie has been accepted as the seat of early
piracy.
In Elizabeth City and Pasquotank coun-
ty today there are residents of good fam
lily and cultured citizenship who carry the
old Teach name, and in whose veins
runs the blood of the tiger sailor.
A WILD CAREER.
From the coast OF Cape Henry to the
banks of Wilmington, N. c., there are
numerous stories of Teach and his wild
career Many have thought to locate a
part of the treasure which is alleged to
have been secreted along the coast of
the tldewater section. Deep holes in the
river banks and excavations in swamp
lands or old caves are to be seen in many
places, each one a reminder of a disap-
pointed seeker after Blackbeards for
tunes. Undoubtedly the bulk of the pi-
rates gold is somewhere in hiding to this
day His premature death prevented his
making a disclosure of its whereabouts,
and the wise old pirate was known to
have made few if any confidants, as even
his lieutenants were recognized thieves,
and he knew his men far too well to trust
them with such a secret.
With its hidden passageWays and
strange basement, there will always be
belief that somewhere, in or around the
old home, is hidden the Spanish gold of
Teach. Each new occupant of the house