A general history of the pyrates : $b from their first rise and settlement in the island of Providence, to the present timeJohnson, Charles, active 1724-1731
History
A general history of the pyrates : $b from their first rise and settlement in the island of Providence, to the present time
Johnson, Charles, active 1724-1731
Pirates -- Early works to 1800
It must be observed, that in rummaging the Pyrate's Sloop, they found
several Letters and written Papers, which discovered the Correspondence
betwixt Governor _Eden_, the Secretary and Collector, and also some Traders
at _New-York_, and _Black-beard_. It is likely he had Regard enough for his
Friends, to have destroyed these Papers before the Action, in order to
hinder them from falling into such Hands, where the Discovery would be of
no Use, either to the Interest or Reputation of these fine Gentlemen, if it
had not been his fixed Resolution to have blown up together, when he found
no possibility of escaping.
When the Lieutenant came to _Bath-Town_, he made bold to seize in the
Governor's Store-House, the sixty Hogsheads of Sugar, and from honest Mr.
_Knight_, twenty; which it seems was their Dividend of the Plunder taken in
the _French_ Ship; the latter did not long survive this shameful Discovery,
for being apprehensive that he might be called to an Account for these
Trifles, fell sick with the Fright, and died in a few Days.
After the wounded Men were pretty well recover'd, the Lieutenant sailed
back to the Men of War in _James River_, in _Virginia_, with
_Black-beard_'s Head still hanging at the Bolt-sprit End, and fiveteen
Prisoners, thirteen of whom were hanged. It appearing upon Tryal, that one
of them, _viz._ _Samuel Odell_, was taken out of the trading Sloop, but the
Night before the Engagement. This poor Fellow was a little unlucky at his
first entering upon his new Trade, there appearing no less than 70 Wounds
upon him after the Action, notwithstanding which, he lived, and was cured
of them all. The other Person that escaped the Gallows, was one _Israel
Hands_, the Master of _Black-beard_'s Sloop, and formerly Captain of the
same, before the _Queen Ann's Revenge_ was lost in _Topsail_ Inlet.
The aforesaid _Hands_ happened not to be in the Fight, but was taken
afterwards ashore at _Bath-Town_, having been sometime before disabled by
_Black-beard_, in one of his savage Humours, after the following
Manner.--One Night drinking in his Cabin with _Hands_, the Pilot, and
another Man; _Black-beard_ without any Provocation privately draws out a
small Pair of Pistols, and cocks them under the Table, which being
perceived by the Man, he withdrew and went upon Deck, leaving _Hands_, the
Pilot, and the Captain together. When the Pistols were ready, he blew out
the Candle, and crossing his Hands, discharged them at his Company;
_Hands_, the Master, was shot thro' the Knee, and lam'd for Life; the other
Pistol did no Execution. --Being asked the meaning of this, he only
answered, by damning them, that _if he did not now and then kill one of
them, they would forget who he was._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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