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

ICNSA ybhAAS pOSSADAC w CIl1lduCC HIS
reputation as Terror of the Seas"
But, ashore, he was quite differ
ent person. He would shave off his
fearsome whiskers that gave him
the soubriquet Blackboard" and
pose as retired sea captain. He
was quite a ladies' man, according
to reports. In fact, he was probab-
ly the "marryingest" man of his
time, being credited with having
had at least Ia wives, each of
whom met an untimely and mys-
ferrous death.
After a few months on land
Blackboard, becoming fed up with
his pretense of responsibility
would once more gather a pirate
crew and go sailing again under
the black flag. Meanwhile the wife
he had so recently married would
mysteriously disappear.
Shaggy Hair
At sea the pirate captain always
allowed his bushy hair and thick
black beard to grow. The latter Of
ten reached below his waist, and
grew so high on his face that, with
his shaggy hair pulled down on
his forehead, little was visible ex-
cept his piercing black eyes. He
was very tall and broad-shoulder-
ed, and his ape-like arms account
for his success at welding cutlass
and dagger.
Before boarding a vessel about
to be captured by his crew Black
beard would wrap a long sash of
scarlet about his waist, passing an
end over one shoulder. In the
waistband he stuck three pistols.
Three more were slung in the
shoulder sash. Another was in the
giants left hand. Several short
knives were in his belt to the
right, and an extra cutlass in
scabbard hung at his left side.
He carried a naked cutlass in his
right hand, and clinched between
his teeth was a knife about two
feet long. AS skillful as any mod
ern-day sideshow knife-throwing
exhibitionist, he is said to have
been able to throw a knife of al
most any sisze or design and bury
it unerringly in the heart of a per-
son across the deck from him.
HaPhoT. R1ackado
One of Blackbeard's most motor
ious exploits was his blockade of
Charleston harbor, when he cap
tured the harbor's pilot boat and
every incoming ship. He also seiz-
ed an outgoing vessel with cargo
and passengers bound for London,
among whom was Samuel Wragg,
a member of the Council of the
Province.
Drunk with power and sense
of his own importance, Blackboard
demanded from the Charleston au-
thorities a supply of medical and
surgical supplies, sending them
word that every one of the captur-
ed passengers would be murdered
if the required supplies did not
reach him within two days.
When the supplies were deliver
ed to him Blackboard released thhe
prisoners as heahad promised; but
not until he had robbed them of
all their money, jewelry and other
desirable items, including $4,000 in
gold which Samuel Wragg wore
in money belt.
According to some accounts,
Blackbeard's last wife was Pru-
dence Luttrelle, age 16, whose IA
ther, a small planter near Bath,
had died some time previously.
Blackboard first paid court to the
widow Luttrelle, but lost interest
after seeing the youthful and
beautiful Patience. Unabashed by
this change of heart and disre-
garding the reluctance of her
daughter, the widow felt it would
be a good thing to have Prudence
married to this wealthy retired sea