![The Legend of Blackbeard]()
![Blackbeard]()
His name was Edward
Teach, but everyone knew him as Blackbeard. His name struck fear in the
hearts of sailors and the sight of his ship weakened even the bravest
captain. Blackbeard was one of the most notorious pirates to ever sail
the Atlantic.
![Treasure]()
He
knew North Carolina well, calling Ocracoke Island his home.
This was the early
years of the 1700's. America's east coast was dotted with small villages
and seaports, and almost all travel and trade was done by ship. Piracy
was rampant and passengers and sailors alike lived in constant fear of
being attacked, robbed, kidnapped or killed by
pirates.
![This was the early1700s...piracy was rampant]()
![Blackbeard]()
Blackbeard received his nickname because of his long,
thick dark beard. He was a giant of a man. They say that when he was
preparing to attack a ship, he would have an assortment of pistols
strapped to his chest - cocked and ready to fire. A broad cutlass and
various daggers were at his sides. But the most frightening weapon was
his appearance.
Just before
boarding the vessel that he was attacking, Blackbeard would take slow
burning fuse matches and, with bright red ribbon, tie them in his hair
and beard. When lit, these smoking matches gave him the appearance of
the Devil.
![He was a giant of a man...the most frightening weapon was his appearance]()
For many
years, Blackbeard roamed the East Coast and the Caribbean. He grew
rich and built homes at Ocracoke Village and Bath, North Carolina.
Tradition says that he had as many as 13 wives. Although colonists
complained about the pirate, the colonial government ignored them. It
is said that the Royal Governor, Charles Eden, and Blackbeard were
friends.
![Blackbeard's Ship]()
![On the morning of Nov. 22, 1718, Maynard spotted Blackbeard's ship]()
The residents
of North Carolina complained to Governor Spotswood of Virginia. He sent
a ship out from Hampton Roads, under the leadership of Lieutenant Robert
Maynard, to capture or kill the pirate. On the morning of November 22,
1718, Maynard spotted Blackbeard's ship in Ocracoke inlet. A terrific
battle ensued between the two ships. A cannonball from Blackbeard's boat
caused the Virginia vessel to become stranded on a sandbar.
Blackbeard raised his flag, lit the fuse matches and pulled along
side. The sailors and pirates began fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
Blackbeard and Maynard found themselves face to face and drew swords.
The pirate swung his cutlass and broke Lt. Maynard's sword in half. But
before he could run the young captain through, another sailor came from
behind the pirate, drew his sword and swung with all his might.
![Battle]()
![The sailors and pirates began fierce hand-to-hand fighting]()
![Blackbeard's Head]()
Blackbeard's grisly head fell to the deck.
After winning
the bloody battle, Maynard took the pirate's head and tied it to the
bowsprit so that, as they sailed home, all could see that Blackbeard was
dead. They took the pirate's body and threw it overboard. Legend says
that this headless body swam around the ship three times before sinking
into the Atlantic.
![Maynard took the pirate's head and tied it to the bowsprit]() With Blackbeard's death,
the end of piracy soon came to America. But to this day, they say that
on early autumn mornings at Ocracoke Island, you can still catch a
glimpse of Blackbeard's ship sailing through the inlet to once again do
battle.
![Ghost Ship]()
Listen to a Ghost Story
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Come one come all Mortals who are willing to stick their neck out for a vampire to feed upon. We will be willing to share our Dark Gift to you mortals if you pass our test.
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