The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-12
A REAL PIRATE.
Some Interesting History and Exploits
 of the Famous "Blackbeard."

From the New York American.
 All the world has heard of Black beard" the English sailor, who, after having been highly respected officer in his majesty's navy, turned pirate and raised the black flag against every thing afloat.
 This notorious sea robber, whose real name was Teach, I believe, took his pseudonym from the fact that he wore a very heavy black beard, which he was in the habit of doing up in two large braids and tying them up behind his ears. He was man of gigantic proportions and of surpassing strength. His heart was as cruel as that of a tiger Every now and then, when there was nothing else in sight, he would shoot one or two of his own men-just to keep his practice up!
 Tn the early years of the eighteenth century Blackboard patroled the waters of Europe, but it finally became too hot for him there, and he struck out for the coasts of North America. How we'll he piled his trade in the new field is evidenced by the fact that from Nova Scotia to Florida he succeeded in making his name a mortal terror.
 In a captured ship of forty guns he entered Charleston harbor and held the town up for large ransom. From Charleston he passed into the waters of North Carolina, plundering and slay- ing right and left, and in their distress the. "Tar Heels" being able to get no aid from their own governor, Eden, ap- pealed to Governor Spotswood of Vir- ginia to relieve them of the terrible pirate, who was making their lives a living hell.
 Spotswood did not listen to the ap- peal in vain. Looking about for some one to put quietus on Blackboard he found the person he wanted in one Robert Maynard, young officer on his majesty's ship Pearl, which happened to be lying at the time in Chesapeake bay.
 Manning a couple of small craft with some sixty resolute men, Maynard set out early in November, 1718, in search of Blackboard, and on the 21st of the same month found him at Ocracoke inlet North Carolina. Blackboard did not know what fear was; young May nard was as full of fight as hungry wildcat, and the ball opened at once. The dancing was to the tune of "no quarter!' For over three hours May hard and his sixty men fought the pirate and his fifty associates.
 Blackboard sprang to the rail of his. ship, and, seizing a bottle of whisky. drank from 1t and shouted: "Damna- ton seize my soul if I give you any quarter or take any from you!"
 q neither ask for nor will I grant you any quarter" roared back May nard
 In the shallow waters of the Carolina sound the pirates ship grounded, and Maynard made for her, intending to board her in the final death grapple, but as the two vessels came together Blackboard anticipated his intended movement and jumped aboard of him with sixteen of his followers. Maynard had but thirteen men left by this time. but with these he tackled the sixteen pirates and their desperate leader.
 Crossing swords with Blackboard, Maynard succeeded in dealing him death thrust in the throat, and in the meantime his men had killed or wound ed all of Blackbeard's followers.
 With the sea robbers head swinging by it's long black hair from the bow. spirit of his little craft, Maynard sailed back to Virginia to receive the con gratulations of the governor and the loving thanks of all dwellers along the American seaboard