Blackbeard's Death

Captain Edward Teach known as Blackbeard the Pirate was a most wicked man. He dressed in black from head to toe and claimed to be the devil himself. No one argued. He had no fewer than 18 wives and most of them met disastrous ends. Many had tried to kill this legendary pirate, no one had succeeded Blackbeard would boast that only the devil himself could kill him. As he walked on deck checking the rigging he thought about a rumor the crew had started on the way back from Bermuda. "There's one man too many aboard, a man no one knows," the crew would whisper. He had assembled the crew and demanded a description, but no one spoke up. "Yellow-bellied riffraff." Blackbeard despised they're cowardliness. As his thoughts drifted to his latest diabolic scheme....

A titanic shadow loomed across the deck. Blackbeard felt his body tense and his breathing deepen. Teach turned quickly to stare into two glaring eyes, embedded deep into a misshapen head. The creature's arms stretched out reaching for Blackbeard. Then it was gone.

Blackbeard's mind raced. Had the Devil finally come for him ? Well he'll have a time taking me. His thoughts were interrupted when one of his crewman came on deck.

Black Caesar, was one of Blackbeard's most trusted and courageous men. When Tech inquired if Caesar was scared of the extra crew member. Caesar simply replied, "No sir. If I see him first, he ain't gonna be extra. He gonna be gone!" Caesar replied handling his cutlass.

Neither, Blackbeard nor his bloody crew knew that the governor of Virginia had hired two sloop's to rid the coast of Blackbeard forever.

Under the command of Lieutenant Robert Maynard The Pearl and The Ranger arrived at Ocracoke Inlet off the North Carolina coast the morning of the 22. Maynard's heart raced when he saw the mast of The Adventure beyond the dunes.

On board The Adventure Teach's thoughts returned to what the crew had whispered about the extra man. "Some says he was dressed all in black with a face fearsome as the Devil himself." Teach's 1st officer would recount. "The Devil , ay. Tell'em they just met me roaming the deck at night, and they didn't know their own Captain." Teach laughed arrogantly. "But Captain, others saw horns 'a top his head and said his face and neck was drenched with blood-a horrid sight !" "Rot !" Blackbeard would screech with disgust.

Blackbeard's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of ships gliding through the water. A chase ensued. Blackbeard knew his meager crew would be no match for the two ships, still he stood his ground. The crew of The Adventure boarded The Ranger. Blackbeard and Maynard finally met face to face. They fired at each other with a pistol. Blackbeard missed but Maynard's bullet ripped through Blackbeard's body. Blackbeard ignored it and drew his cutlass. Maynard drew his and the battle continued. Blackbeard fought with such force that he broke Maynard's sword off at the hilt. Maynard stepped back drew his pistol and cocked it. Blackbeard lunged at Maynard ready to take the Lieutenant's life.

A British seaman came up from behind and slashed Blackbeard's throat. Maynard was saved. As Blackbeard's cutlass fell from the air he saw his attacker's face reflected on his cutlass. For the first time there was fear in Blackbeard's eyes. Reflected back at him was the hideous face of the apparition that had reached for him on the deck of The Adventure.

Captain Edward Teach (Blackbeard) died after surviving five pistol shots and 20 severe knife cuts.

North Carolina Ghosts and Legends by Nancy Roberts pp. 1-14.