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