Blackbeard's Last Fight

B lackbeard, born Edward Teach, earned his nickname because of his grisly, black hair. He sometimes made himself even more fearsome by attaching slow-burning fuses to his ratty locks, giving the impression he was about to explode. Among sailors and pirates Blackbeard was known as a killing machine.

Mr. Robert Hale (6M only for the brave and patient )


F
inally, the people of the coast of North Carolina could take
no more of his plundering. Governor Charles Eden would not stand
up to Blackbeard. It is rumored that the pirate even shared his
loot with the governor. His ruthless antics went unchecked--until
the governor of Virginia sent Lieutenant Robert Maynard to stop
his pillaging.

Blackbeard with sword

I n the predawn glow near the island of Ocracoke off the coast of North Carolina, on November 22, 1718, Blackbeard's Adventure came up alongside Maynard's sloop. Blackbeard and his men jumped aboard Maynard's ship. Amid the shouts, the cracking of pistol shots, the clanging of blades, and the cries of wounded men, Blackbeard met his enemy face to face. Maynard's first shot hit the pirate, but the pirate fought on. The two men swung their heavy swords at each other. No less than 25 shots had entered Blackbeard's body, but still he fought on.

F inally, as the black pirate was reaching for another pistol, Blackbeard's throat was slashed by the sword of one of Maynard's men. While in the act of cocking a pistol, he suddenly fell over dead upon the deck. Blackbeard had died just as violently as he had lived.

M aynard found some rather revealing items among Blackbeard's possessions on the boat. He found evidence that some government officials had been bribed to cooperate with Blackbeard, and even found a letter warning him of the impending attack by Maynard.

A fter searching the pirate's belongings, Maynard severed Blackbeard's head from his body. His men hung the grisly trophy from the bowsprit of their ship, and sailed toward home.

S o ended the legend of Blackbeard, "the most ferocious pirate of them all."

Small Swords Image
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