The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-05-03
ASREAIPIRAITE:

hIllE.,lh lllEk
Some Interesting History and Exploits
o. the Famous Black beard.s
From the New York American.
IAN theEworld has heard d. .'Black
beard the English sailor who after
having been a highly respected officer
In his matesty's navy, turned pirate
and raised the black flag against ey.
erything ahoat.
This notorious sea robber, whose
real name was Teach, ! believe, took
bis pseulonym from the fact that he
wore a very; heavy black beard, which
he was in the habit Of doing up In
two lnrge braids and tying them up
behind his ears. He was a man OF
gigantic proportions and OF surprising
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!
In the early years Of the eighteenth
century Blackboard patrolled the wat.
ers Of Europe, but 1t finally became
too hot for him there and he struck
out for the coasts Of. North America.
How well he piled his trade in the
new field Is evidenced by the fact that
from Nova Scotia TO Florida he sue.
ceeded In making his name mortal
terror. ij IF. a'r s5
In Il capture Of forty guns he en-.
tered Charleston harbor and held the
town up for large ransom. From
Charleston he passed into the waters
OF North Carolina, plunderIng and
Staying right and left, and in their
distress the Tar Heels" being able
to get no aid from their own govern,
ment. Eden. appealed 10 Gov. Spets.
wood, Of Virginia, 10 relieve them Of
the terrible pirate, who was making
their lives n living hell.
Spotswood did not listen TO the ap.
peal In vain. Looking about for some
one TO put quietus upon Blackboard
he found the person he wanted in one
Robert Maynard, a young officer on
his majesty's ship, Pearl, which hap.
pened TO be lying at the time in Chesa.
rcake Bay. 5t
Manning a couple OF small craft
with some sixty resOlute men, May.
nard set ont early in November, Ills,
In search Of Blackboard, and on the
2lst Of the same month found him at
octacoke Inlet, North Carolina. Black.
beard did not know what fear was;
young Maynard was as full Of fight
US hungry wildcat, and the ball op.
ened at once. The dancing was to the
tune Of mo quarter!" For over three
hours Maynard and his sixty men
fought the pirate and his fifty asso.
ciates.
Blackboard sprang TO the rail OF his
ship, and selling bottle Of whlskey,
drank from It and shouted: "Damna.
ton seize my soul II give you any
quarter or take any from YOU"
{ Il neither ask for nor will I grant
you any quarter" roared back May
nard.
In the shallow waters Of the Caro-
lima Sound the pirates ship grounded,
and Maynard made for her, intending
TO board her in the final death crap;
pie, bat as the twoivessels Came to.
gelher Blackboard anticipated his In.
tended 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 deuling him a |
death thrust in the throat, and In the
meantime his men had killed or
wounded all Of Black6eari'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 10 Virginia to receive the con.
gratulations of the governor and the
loving thanks Of the people along the !
American seaboard. rH