The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-06-07

made Of a polish. SM W 04y
ed human skull 6LAc kBEARD
The skull of Blackboard, the pirate.
Nor was Blackbeard's head less fan
tastic in life than 1t Is In death. He
wore an immense beard, jet black.
braided and tied into a dozen fantastic
Strands. And each strand was fasten-
ed with a gaudy ribbon. To add to his
ferociously ludicrous appearance he
had all his teeth blackened and filed
to sharp point. But though in dress
and shape he looked like comic op-
era brigand. there the comic opera ell
ement ended. He was q shrewd BUSH
ness mana pirate for revenbe only"
Blackbeards real name was Edward
Teach Tor "Thatch'). He was born In
England in the last part Of the seven.
teenth century, and is said to have
shipped as youth aboard privateer
vessel bound for the West Indies dur
ing the war OF the Spanish Success
sion," Priyateering in those days was
not very different from piracy. 1t was
almost as profitable and it had the ad.
vantage of being strictly legal.
The blackguard with the feWest scru-
pies, least conscience and greatest
store of brutal courage, craftiness and
ferocity was certain of quick promo
ton among the sea rangers--unless he
was first killed. And Blackboard had
all these qualities. He had also
daredevil manner, which coupled with
his'edd dress and odder face) led many
people to believe him insane. But he
seems never to have been too roaring
crazy to keep an eye on every ''busi-
ness chance that came his way.
In 1713 peace was declared and the
privateers found themselves out of
work. This did not trouble Black
beard. From priyateering to piracy was
the shortest kind OF step. He turned
pirate. Far a year or so nothing was
heard from him by the outside world
But in 1916 he all at once became IA.
mous-or infamous. In his armed
sloop Queen Anee's Revenge TAT the
head of q murderous crew that feared
nothing but himseH) he began ravag-
ing the Spanish Main. ,
Then, leaving that happy hunting
ground to the freebooter folk, Black
beard headed northward and secured
the Virginia and Carolina coasts, fight
ing, capturing, pillaging, burning. For
two years he kept this up, eluding cap
ture and making his name terror to
planters and sailors alike.
Then, in June, 1918, Queen Anne's
Revenge was wrecked off the North
Caroliua coast. Blackboard, instead OF
fighting on land or waiting to be cap.
tured, surrendered himself and 80 Of
his best men to Gov. Charles Eden OF
North Carolina The pirate, in spite
OF his eccentricities, was a shrewd
Judge or human nature. He had good
reason to know what manner of man
Eden was. He went to the governor,
secured from him a royal pardon and
calmly proposed business partner.
ship. 1t was arranged between them
that Blackboard was to go back to his
pleasant piratical labors and that Eden
lin return for fair percentage or the
plunder) should protect him from legal
interference.
This was safe and profitable ar,
rangement for both. For few months
it prospered finely, But such state
Of affairs aroused sharp comment from
the planters on whose rich estates
Blackboard was now levying a heavy
toll One local legislator, Edward Mos
ley, complained publicly that while
Eden could easily raise an armed force
to arrest honest men, he did not seem
able to do anything toward capturing
Blackboard. Eden punished this plain
specs by fining Mosley $500 and by
prohibiting him from holding Office for
three years.
But the peoples discomfort could not
be so easily silenced. The colonlsts,
unable to stir their own governor into
action, appealed to Gov. Spotswood OF
Virginia. Spotswood was a very DIFF.
ferent sort from the profit-loving Eden,
lie promptly fitted up two ships and,
with Lieut.. Robert Maynard In com.
mand, send them against the pirates.
The Virginian force found Blackboard
in Pamlico bay on November 18. 1918.
A fierce battle ensued. Blackboard
knew what defeat would mean to him,
so he ordered one Of his men to stand
by the powder magazine with light
ed match and to blow up friends and
enemies alike at a signal from him.
But the signal was not given. For In
the thick of the turmoil Blackboard
and Maynard met on deck in a hand-to.
hand fight II was a duel whose fame
lived long In Virginla--this deadly
sword clash between a dapper young
otiicer and a giant pirate. At length
skil In workmanship prevailed
against mere savage strength. and a
blow Of Maynards cutlass stretched
Blackboard dead on his own deck. The
career of Americas most picturesque
sea rover was at an end. The suryiy.
ors OF the crew surrendered. Thirteen
OF them were hanged. And coast dwell.
ers and marines alike breathed easier.