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Narrator (Acting) 0:19
15 men on a dead man's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum death and the devil had done for the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Narrator 0:36
Who would ever believe that the first pirate was Christopher Columbus. Yet, after his explorations were over, he began to plunder ships for gold. At one time, he used bloodhounds to hunt down 300 Indians and sold them into slavery in Spain, some of the most vicious pirates ever to sail the seven seas. Once cruised the Carolina coast. Among them was gentleman pirate Steve Bonet, handsome but cowardly Calico Jack Rackham and Captain Edward low, a devoted husband but a ferocious brute toward his captives. And then there was that most wicked and fearsome pirate of all, the notorious Blackbeard. The Golden Age of Piracy lasted only about 30 years from 1689 until 1718, although throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, pirates flourished in every part of The world, many respectable men who had begun as privateers licensed to capture ships for their country in wartime, became pirating scoundrels of the worst sort after the war was over, the government of England was responsible for the Welcome pirates first received in the colony of Carolina, such unfair trade laws had been passed that Smuggling was not considered wrong. This tax free trade was so profitable, respectable citizens often turned to piracy, only to become ruthless cutthroats. Their cruel and greedy crews were the scum of the world's seaports and the gangsters of their day, the port city of Bristol, England was once home to hundreds of pirates. Over these docks swaggered the notorious Blackbeard, and it was here at Bristol that many a brutal fellow, hardened by serving on slave ships, chose piracy as the road to riches. Each pirate ship flew its own flag and usually flaunted the grim skull and crossbones, but it was not always black. Often the flag was black and red. Perhaps the name Jolly Roger may have come from the French words Jolie Rouge or pretty red. What an ironic name for so bloody a banner that struck terror into the hearts of honest seamen. Spanish galleons were an easy mark for the swifter pirate ships. Some contained fabulous wealth, silver and gold on the way from the mines of Mexico and Peru. But the Buccaneers captured English ships as well, and many were caught and hung other pirates who escaped the gallows set sail for North America, drawn by rumors of a friendly Carolina governor and the natural hiding places of secluded inlets and shallow sounds, scores of pirates lurked off the Carolinas in the early 1700s as many as 2000 pirates operated along the American coast. Their ships were usually ones they had captured and adapted to suit their needs. Deck houses were cut down level with the deck to present less of a target at sea, and along the side, they built up the gunnels to protect and conceal themselves. Their ships were swift and maneuverable. Even small, unarmed vessels were often plundered by pirates and abandoned. One of the best hunting grounds was near the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, where sloops from the Barbados were often captured in. Filled with sugar, rum and slaves, the pirates house at Savannah Georgia was a popular hangout for pirates from New England to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Today, it is a restaurant and museum. In one of these rooms, Captain Flint reportedly died, and some say they can still hear the ring of his raucous voice, cursing and singing. Does the spirit of old Flint still haunt this house over 200 years later, Captain Charles Vane was only one of the villainous rascals who discovered the prizes to be taken off Carolina but he did not restrict his piracy to the Carolinas. He boldly attacked vessels from New York and as far south as Florida, unafraid even of the guns of this old Spanish fort Castillo de San Marco here at Edenton. Governor Charles Eden was thought to be friendly with Blackbeard, and many believed he shared the pirates booty. Bags of sugar were found hidden in the barn of the governor's Secretary Tobias Knight gentlemen pirate Steve Bonet wore an elaborate powdered wig. He was viewed with contempt by Blackbeard, who burst out laughing at such a dandy. But the people of Charleston didn't laugh, for they feared and hated Bonet, captain of the revenge Captain George Lothar was about as fair a pirate as a pirate could be, for even pirates had their rules. He generally gave the first man to cite a prize the best pistols or small arms on the ship. Loth watches while his ship, the happy delivery is turned on its side to be cleaned and repaired. And then there was Captain Edward Lowe who captured several vessels off the Carolinas, buffeted by wind, he watches from ashore as his ship founders during a hurricane. A devoted husband and father. He was kind to the married man he captured, but otherwise described as a ferocious brute murdering his captives and seeming to have a special hatred for New England sailors. He was believed insane Captain Calico Jack Rackham, so called for the colorful clothes he wore, is best known for his romance with Lady pirate Anne Bonny after rackham's capture, and the morning, before he was hanged, he was allowed to visit Anne, only to hear her say, I'm sorry to see you here, but if you'd fought like a man, you need not be hanged like a dog. Anne Bonny, standing with a Ray's sword, is thought to be the first woman pirate. She grew up in Carolina, the daughter of a plantation owner and killed a house servant in one of her uncontrollable rages on rackham's crew. She met this English woman pirate, Mary read. Mary read, fell in love with a young sailor whom Rackham had captured and forced into piracy. When the sailor was challenged to a duel by another pirate, Mary fought it for him and ran the Challenger through with her sword, fighting furiously, pirates would swarm aboard another ship after first securing it to their own men fought in fierce hand to hand combat, and if the crew resisted strongly, they were murdered afterward. In Revenge, this prisoner is being forced to drink a full quart of rum or be shot for captured passengers were treated with little mercy, merchants, important men, women and children were thrust roughly aboard the pirate ship. Often the pirates entertained themselves barbarously while they jab with pointed weapons. This prisoner is being made to run around the mizzen mast. Prisoners who were wounded were often fed to the sharks. Mutiny among the pirates was not uncommon. They elected their captain and could hold him out whenever they pleased. If he objected, the crew might shoot him, throw him overboard and elect another captain. One pirate crew had 13 captains in less than a year. They did not hesitate to punish one of their members for breaking the crew's rules. One way was to leave the offender to die on a deserted island without food or water. This was called marooning and Daniel Defoe's book. Robinson Caruso was based on the story of a privateer marooned by his captain despite pirates capturing ships with a loss of lives and property. The early 1700s were years of turbulent growth for Charleston, South Carolina,

Narrator 10:17
favorable conditions for rice growing brought barbadium planters with slaves to the area, and it was becoming as picturesque as the Barbados. Here between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, the city grew and prospered, and the waterways were in constant use when the port was bothered by the insolent Steve Bonet, a private citizen, Colonel William Rhett, used his own money to outfit two sloops and search for pirates. In September of 1718, Rhett headed boldly for the mouth of the Cape Fear River, where pirates had been reported as the sun rose, he sighted a pirate ship and sent cannonballs smashing through its hull. For some time, the pirates and South Carolinians fired at each other and shouted threats. Finally, the pirates raised the white flag of surrender. It was only then that Rhett discovered he had met and defeated the notorious steed bone. A

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the sentence for this former cultured gentleman turned pirate was death by hanging on the morning of December 10, 1718, he lived out his last days in terror and even wrote a pitiful note to Colonel rent, pleading his conversion to Christianity and begging for a new trial, but Governor Johnson said no with a cluster of flowers in his hand and shaking with fear, bone a mounted the gallows and was hanged. Of all the pirates, Blackbeard, terror of the Atlantic coast was probably the most vicious official records gave his name as Edward Teach and his birthplace, Bristol, England. The Black Beard which covered his face gave him a terrible and frightening look. Sometimes he would shoot one of his own crew members, just

Narrator (Acting) 12:36
so they won't forget who I am. Oh,

Narrator 12:44
North Carolina became blackbeard's headquarters. His favorite hideaway was okra Cook Inlet, and a house on the island was known as blackbeard's Castle, an inlet not far from the island is still called teaches whole for here he careened his ships to clean them. By now, North Carolina had a reputation for receiving pirates and Illegal traders. Pirate celebrations and parties went on all night long on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina merchants were in constant danger from Blackbeard, whose friendship with Governor Eden allowed him to rob ships freely. Finally, North Carolinians were forced to appeal to Governor Spotswood of Virginia for help. Spotswood was sympathetic, since Virginia cargo vessels were also being ransacked, determined to capture Blackbeard, he sent Lieutenant Robert Maynard sailing toward okra coke. As the sun rose, Maynard attacked the pirates,

Narrator (Acting) 13:57
you villains?

Narrator 13:59
Shouted, Blackbeard,

Narrator (Acting) 14:01
where do you come from?

Narrator 14:03
Running up the British flag, Maynard called back. You may see by our colors, we are no pirates at this Blackbeard fired staying below deck. Maynard's men waited for the pirates to board. When they did, the men came up from below, fighting wild with rage. Blackbeard went after Maynard, and the pair fought fiercely. The Virginian delivered a mighty slash of his sword just as Blackbird was cocking his pistol, and the pirate fell forward on the deck, dead with 25 wounds in his body, half of his crew lay dead around him, both remaining, some surrendered. Others leaped overboard in an effort to escape. Lieutenant Maynard lopped off blackbeard's head and hung it from the bowsprit of his ship a good. Easily warning to other pirates in blackbeard's belongings, Maynard found letters from New York merchants and even one from the secretary of the governor of North Carolina calling the pirate my friend. But the courts of Virginia were not so friendly. They convicted 13 of blackbeard's crew and hanged them. Crew members taken alive, told the story of a phantom pirate. On one of their last cruises, they had seen one man more than their number. This ghost pirate was above and below attacks, yet no man on the ship knew who he was or from whence he came. Then he disappeared. The men were convinced they had seen the devil himself.

Narrator 15:59
The night before he was killed, Blackbeard sat up and drank till morning with his men. One asked him, in case anything should happen tomorrow, would your wife know where your money is buried? Blackbeard replied,

Narrator (Acting) 16:15
nobody but the devil, and I know where it is, and the one of us who lived longest will have it all.

Narrator 16:27
Where did Blackbeard bury his fabulous treasure? Over the years, many have searched the islands off the Carolina coast, but the devil probably still has it. For no one has ever found the pirates gold. Blackbeard's death marked the end of the Age of Piracy. For never again were these Bucha years to operate so freely. Legends sometimes paints them as romantic adventurers, but in truth, they were men of such wickedness and savagery that the gallows was their justly deserved reward,

Narrator (Acting) 17:09
15 men on a dead man's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum death and the devil had done for the rest. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum and