The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-10-31
captain.
Impatient

and unmlndful OF the young glrrs
wishes, burst into the Luttrelle
home one night, accompanied by |
the Colonial Governor Of North
Carolina. Two pages were brought
along as witnesses, which was per-
formed by the Governor, was also
supplied the responses for the re-
sisting girl.
At Blackbeard's Plum Point
mansion a great wedding feast
was held. White and silent at her
end of the table, the bride refused
all food and drink, though the
feast lasted all night. Toward
dawn six seamen brought in a
great iron chest.
"Bride, ahoy!" shouted Black
beard, smashing bottle of wine on
the lid. "This is the brides chest,
and it's coming back full of treas
ure. The greatest treasure that
ever filled sea chest. Sink me 40
fathoms if not!"
Contrary to his custom, Black
beard took his young bride on the
voyage which began that day in
his ship, the Revenge, and lasted
10 months. Members of the crew
later told how the bride was chain
ed in little cabin next to Black
boards own. Not once was she
seen on deck throughout the long
voyage. After one visit to the cab
in Blackboard came away with a
deep knife cut from his left Shout
der to a point just over his heart.
Members of the crew had been
detailed to carry wood to the pris-
oner, but the day before they
reached home port these ministra-
tons were ordered stopped. Black
beard again visited his wife; after
that she was seen no more by any
member of the crew.
Great Chest
The first night in port the Re-
venge was anchored off Plum
Point. About midnight a working
party with shovels went ashore,
headed by Blackboard, grim and
silent. Six men bore the weight of
a great iron chest.
By the light of lanterns they dug
deep pit and lowered the big
DO xinto it. Then they shoveled in
the soil, and returned in silence to
the vessel through the misty dawn.
The chest contained all that was
mortal of Prudence Luttrelle
Teach.
Blackboard met his own fate not
long afterward, on November %,
1718, while preparing to sail on
another pirating expedition. He
was overtaken at Ocracoke Inlet
by two sloops sent out by the Gov
ernor of Virginia upon information
supplied by a former member of
the pirate crew, who Blackboard
had alienated through cruel treat
ment.
Soldiers
Unaware of their true character,
Blackboard attacked one of the ap-
preaching vessels. Boarding it in
his usual dramatic manner, he
found it filled with soldiers under
command of Lieutenant Maynard
of the British Navy.
In a hand-to-hand encounter
with the pirate captain, Maynard
lost his cutlass at critical mo-
ment. With a grea slash the giant
struck it out of the lieutenant's
hand. Then, though almost blinded
with blood that was streaming
from wound in his head. Black
beard advanced to finish off his
gallant foe.
Jumping backward, Maynard
drew pistol and cooked it. But
he would never have had time to
fire it had not one of his men, see
ing his plight, leaped toward
Blackboard and slit the Terror's
throat from ear to ear.
Blackboard fell dying to the
deck. His body bore five pistol
balls, and 20 cuts and stab wounds
The pirates head was severed
and stuck up on the bowsprit Of