Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-11-05
EXPOSITION LOCATED
ON ROMATIC GROUND
Jean Lafitts and Blackboard, the PR.
atss haunted Site Of Tsr.Sensen~ia
Exposition at Jamestown.

Norfoik, Va, Nov. 2.-The site
chosen for the jamestown Ter-Cen.
tennial Exposition is replete with
data of a romantic character. In
those latter days IL has been the
scene Of agricultural industry. Truck
farming being extensively purssed in
the ~vicinage a substantial profit
from that source has been poured
steadily into the pockets of the hus-
bandmen for the past quarter of a
century.
But antedating that period there vas
a use made Of the locality through
the exercise of an avocation which
has now disappeared. except, per
haps along the remote shores and
inland recesses of Oriental waters.
Piracy lived. flourished and stored
up the proceeds of It's daring enter
prise on the shores OF Hampton
Roads and the identical site of the
exposition grounds is the verified
scene of Bordeaux Manor. the home
OF Jean Lafitte. afteer he had amass-
ed a fortune In mercantile pursuits
In Philadelphia, whittier he retired
from bis tumultous life on the wave.
But Jean Lafitte was not the only
one of that ilk who made this point
of juting land the place Of his hahi'
tation. Preceding him In time and
surprising him in bloodthirsty effort
was the fierce buccaneer Black.
beard. This marauder OF the sea
towed his booty into Lynnhaven bay,
a short distance away. and made the
shore line his base Of operations. 1t
is quite possible that the parsonage
known to the coast of his locality un-
der the name of Blackboard is the
same one known to the islands OF
the caribbean sea by the name OF
Bluebeard. where, on the island OF
st. Thomas. he constituted for him.
self a castle of mediaval warlike pro-
portions. This castle Is still pointed
out to the tourist as the most re-
markable piece Of architecture on
the island.
Blackboard would size up admira-
bly, to the role of the hero Captain
Heidegger in Fenimore Coopers tale
of the Water Witch. His long flow
ing beard was woven into three piats
and these were tied at the end by
varicolored ribbons. Calm, discreet
and insinuating In manner he snc-
ceeded In forming friendships with
people of prominence from whom
the real character Of his enterprises
was carefully concealed. His habi-
tat on the shore Of Lynnhaven bay,
lear the exposition grounds, was a
fortified place but being remote from
the centers of population, none OF
the acouaintances thus formed we're
invited thither. The governor oil
North Carolina was his staunchest
friend. but the authorities of virgil
mia became suspicious. particularly
on his coming to the shore with
huge French vessel laden with su-
gar.
What was at first a suspicion De-
came gradually a conviction ana
then decisive action was taken. Cap
tain Maynard was dispatched to cap
ture him and one of the bloodiest en-
counters of record took place. Cap
tain Maynard slew Blackboard in a
hand to hand fight. and, placing his
head at the prov of his vessel. sail
ed ND Hampton Roads to the seat OF
government.
1t is not improbable that this very
Blackboard was the prototype o.
Fenimore Cooper's Captain Heidegt
e In dress a dandy even to h
limitation of fobbery, in intercourse
polite. serene and conciliatihg, in en-
terprise daring. reckless and success
full. These are the characteristics OF
Fenimore Cooper's hero. The locat'
ing of the latter's point Of vantage
was on the Trewsbury river n the
nearby shore of Staten Island. There
are so many point Of resemblance
-.- .ha lrnr-- and