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Show Blackbeard Takes to Piracy IN 1716 a certain Captain Teach, who had served an apprenticeship In lawlessness as a privateer, out-of Jamaica, "went on account." He was put in command of a sloop by the pirate, pi-rate, Benjamin Hornigold, and the two leaders set out from Providence for the American coast. In the West Indies In-dies they took their first prizes, then continued on to the coast of Virginia, where they captured a tine French vessel ves-sel engaged in the Guinea trade. On . this Teach mounted 40 guns and renamed re-named It the Queen Anne's Kevenge. His first capture was a big ship named the Great Allen, which he plundered plun-dered and burned. Attacked by II. M. S. Scarborough, the pirate drove off the man-of-war after a sharp engagement engage-ment anil continued on his way. His next victim was the sloop of the pirate pi-rate leader, MaJ. Stede Bonnet, whom Teach, In a high-handed manner, deprived de-prived of his vessel and put one of Ills own men in command. Blackboard's captures were numberless. number-less. One of them was a ship bearing the curious name of the Protestant Caesar which Teach burned, not because be-cause of her name but because she was from Boston where a number of pirates had lately been hanged. He now turned to the Carolina coast, which had Jnst been suffering from ravages of Capt. Charles Vane. lie capped the climax by sailing his fleet he had three ships by this time citslile the port of Charleston, S. 0., and capturing every vessel that tried to enter or leave port. On one of these were several prominent citizens citi-zens of the colony, whom Blackbeard held as hostages. Then he sent word to the governor of South Carolina that he was In need of medicines, and unless un-less they "were sent forthwith, everyone every-one of bis prisoners would he killed. There was some delay In acceding to his demands, and the pirate set about to put his threat into execution. Fortunately, For-tunately, however, the medicine chest arrived in time to save their lives. Despite his many successes. Teach's life was n.it a Led of roses. He had unruly men for his crews, anil lie had to rule thorn with an Iron hand. I There has been preserved from his journal (he was a somewhat literary ' pirate, too. it seems!) the following entries: "171S Such a Day. rtum all out Our Company somewhat sober A d d Confusion amongst us! Kogues H-pIotting great Talk of Separation Sep-aration so I look'd Sharp for a Prize. 171S Such a Day. Took one with n Great deal of Liquor on Board; so kept the Company hot. d d hot. then all Things went well again." . Siu-h a day. Indeed I And these onij two of many In his infamous career |