The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-19

the SOUND by Vessels OF lighter draw than
his fleet
STORIES HANDED DOWN.
In and around Elizabeth City there
are those who remember stories hand
ed down by grandparents. telling of the
black flag fleet once harbored here.
To this day the grim home of the old
pirate stills stands as the only monument.
other than the historical mention OF his
name in the text books of our institu.
tons Within two miles of Elizabeth
City. n. c.. and about twenty-five miles
from the Virginia line. Is the former
capitol of piracy. The old house is of
excellent workmanship. the materials for
Its construction having been CON
veycd hitler, acros the Atlantic
Ocean from the shores of Eng
land To-day the old home is occupied
by quiet. we'll to do farmer, MIR
Frank Temple, who has surrounded the
place with well cultivated farm. and,
within doors. In the dwelling which once
lent Its spacious rooms and halls to a
ribald mob. there dwells to-day a timid
woman, and three small children, the
family Of Mr.. Temple.
Visitors are numerous at the old house
and the family resident therein. have
been forced for the sake of privacy, to
refuse admittance to the majority of call
ers. However. your correspondent was
treated with utmost courtesy, and the
camera used to good effect MS the ac-
companyins illustrations will give cyi-
sdence.
f The former home OF the pirate stands
two stories high, with deep basement
walled IN by" rocks, which have given
way to time, exposing the basement to
view from the outside, as the photogra nh
shows ThonSSh ~ hui,
OF a castle, the house reminds one of the
traditional castles OF the Rhine.
Within twenty feet of the house flows
me Pasquotank River, and an indenta-
ZION IN the banks of the river, formed by,
nature, or, perhaps. by men, affords a
pretty bay, said to have been the landing
pace or the pirates boats, which were
mus hidden from the river view by the
ress surrounding Though nearly two
huhored years must certainly have
elapsed since this house was erected Il
is yet practically intact and has even
reen repaired and placed in habitable
condition since the view produced here
was taken, As it now stands the remod-
elea mouse would appear not over fifty
years of age Time has done little 10
or! the walls OF glazed English brick.
alt,a .ioors nave given way. though heart
ctdar was placed on the rafters. This
gives proof of the age of the building.
ana Is good illustration of the perfect
ness of the English brick of two centuries
ago, IN Its once dilapidated condition
the flooring broke, and n resident of the
house, 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.
me feature of the Blackboard home
which gives the stranger the greatest
delight is It's magnificent antiquity. The
walls and doors are of the most ex-
qulslte hand-carved paneling The man
tells are models OF art and skilled work.
manshlp. and must have cost an enor-
nous amount. Such house in colonial
days could only have been erected by
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
snd makes 2ne shudder at this cavern
which like ti.e cave of Sinbad, the sailor.
has been aforetime occupied by dead
men, or men left to starve, amid the
Wreak of bones and rotting flesh therein
In the attic, above the second story
may be see.. blood stains on the floor
Dull splashes and spattered drops of
blood are discernible, though the accom-
panying Illustration of fireplace In the
attic, which was used as death cham
Der. or execution room. does not we'll
show the marks, which may be observed
chiefly in the vicinity OF this. fireplace,
Another feature OF the great old fire.
place Is that 1t is the entrance to q secret
way into the basement. In the rear of
the brick is an opening, which goes down
into tile basement and into this opening,
the bricks being first removed. the bodies