2 Blackbeard CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES Nov. 22, 1963 E Governor Accepts Painting Gov. Terry Sanford, left, accepts from W. B. Patterson, district manager of American Oil Co., the original watercolor painting featuring Blackbeard and his buccaneers. the governor, on behalf of the state, in April 1962. A portion of the Reproduced on the cover page ef this section of today’s NEWS- TIMES is a portion of a painting, depicting Blackbeard, by the nealed artist, H. Charles McBar- Ton. Mr. McBarron, consultant to the Smithsonian Institute, Wash- ington, D. C., is a recognized au- thority on early American dress and military uniforms. He was commissioned to do the Blackbeard painting, one of a series of twelve dealing with American history, by the Ameri- can Oil Co. The painting appear- ed in the Aug. 24, 1962 issue of Life magazine and the Aug. 28 issue of Look magazine. The original watercolor paint- ing, now owned by the North Ca- rolina state art museum, was placed on exhibit in 11 major ci- ties of the United States during the past year. Purpose of the ex- hibit, according to the sponsor, American Oil, was to encourage Americans to travel and visit sites of their American heritage. Move than half a million persons wiewed the exhibit. The Blackbeard painting de- picts the infamous pirate and his uccaneers burying treasure on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It is also featured on 1963 Ameri- can Oil Co. calendars. Ilustrations are by... With the exception of the cover page, the illustrations for the play, Blackbeard, were done by Mrs. James H. McLain, More- haad City. Mrs. McLain’s name is Dovothy, but she is known by the nickname, Bunny. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., She studied art for two years at Auburn (Alabama Polytechnic in- atitute). She left school to be qaarried and she and her husband have two daughters, Nancy, 8, a third grade pupil at Camp Glenn school, and Carol, 5, who is in kindergarten. Since her marriage, Mrs. Mc- Lain has continued her art edu- cation. She took a course in in- terior decorating at the New York School of Interior Design, a caurse in portrait painting at Sy- racuse, and is now engaged in free lance commercial art work. She recently studied art under Mrs. Frank Carlson, Morehead City and is former fine arts chair- man, Morehead City Junior Wom- an’s club. She did the scenery for the 1963 Junior Woman’s club pro- duction, Gulls and Buoys. The McLains live at 211 Florida Ave., Mansfield Park. Mr. Mc- Lain is an electronics engineer, The Play Summarized For people who like their reading in capsule form, this is a brief summary of the play appearing on the pages which follow. The first act opens with Blackbeard on his flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, headed north from Charleston, S. C., to Ocracoke, an island off the North Carolina coast. (Ocracoke was at one time part of Carteret county, but Is now part of Hyde county.) Aboard the Revenge are prisoners captured at Char- Among them is Loretta Thaxton, a young girl leston. who was bound for England aboard the Silver Swan, a Ship captured by Blackbeard. Also a prisoner is Theo- dore Buckman, mate aboard the Swan. Blackbeard decides to hold Loretta for ransom. some reason, the pirate also takes a liking to Buckman. Buckman, because he is in love with Loretta, and hoping to protect her, ingratiates himself with Blackbeard and is made one of the pirate’s aides. While on the North Carolina coast, Blackbeard makes an agreement with Gov. Charles Eden, English governor at Bath, and Tobias Knight, the governor’s secretary. Eden and Knight agree to let Blackbeard dispose of his spoils, hi-jacked at sea, at Bath, if the pirate will divide with them his loot. While calling on. Governor Eden, Blackbeard meets Mrs. James H. McLain . . « illustrator engaged in marine radio repair and installation. He also owns and manages the Econ-O-Wash laundry, Morehead City. The Mc- Lains attend St. Peter’s Metho- dist church, where Mrs. McLain teaches a kindergarten class in Sunday school. and decides to wed Belinda Gran- ville, a girl in her early teens. After they marry, Blackbeard leaves her at Bath and sails south to the West Indies, capturing prizes. Still aboard the Revenge as prisoners are Loretta and Buckman. Blackbeard does not put in at Charleston and ask for ransom for Loretta as he at one time planned. Instead, he keeps her aboard as a servant, much to the dislike of the crew. Loretta and Buckman,, on the very few occasions they can get together, plan to escape, but realize their chances against the pirate horde are virtually futile. They return to North Carolina and while at Ocracoke in Novem- ber 1718, Blackbeard is beseiged by Lt. Robert Maynard and two British sloops. They are sent by the governor of Virginia to put the pirate out of commission. The governor took this action at the request of leading citizens of the Carolina coast who had suffered from the pirates’ raids, and knew they could get no help from Blackbeard’s accomplice, their own Governor Eden. Lieutenant Maynard kills Black- beard and sets Loretta and Buck- man free. As they leave the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Black- beard’s ghost appears, as even it does today, they say, on the dark of the moon, in the murky waters off Ocracoke where the nefarious sea bandit met his death. The picture was accepted by painting appears on the cover page. For Characters (In Order Miguel Blackbeard Stede Bonnet Sailor Theodore Buckman Captain Grayson Rolfson Loretta Thaxton Israel Hands Ben Tombo Tobias Knight Governor Eden Watercolor x of Appearance) Madame Granville Belinda Granville Berto Artist at Work Fiddlers Wedding guests First French crewman Second French crewman Governor Spotswood The Rev. Matthew Stithwyck George Tommelson Michael Mayhew John Howland Lt. Robert Maynard H. Charles McBarron, eminent artist and historian, was com: missioned by American Oil Co. to do the Blackbeard painting. If was used in an advertising series in magazines. About the playwright... Blackbeard, Raider of the Ca- rolina Seas, was written by Ruth Peeling, Morehead City. Miss Peeling, a member of the Carteret Community theatre, wrote the historical drama, Bon- nie Blue Sweetheart, which was produced by the theatre in More- head City high school in June 1959 and June 1960. Bonnie Blue Sweetheart was based on the life of Emeline Pi- gott, a native of Carteret county, who served as a spy for Confe- derate troops during the war be- tween the states. Plans have tentatively been Miss Ruth Peeling - +.» Writes second drama made for production of Blacks beard by the theatre in 1964. Blackbeard was written in ob. servance of North Carolina’s 300th anniversary, which falls thig year. The state Carolina Tercen= tenary committee suggested tha Tar Heels emphasize in the yeate long observance the period bes tween the granting of the Caro lina charter, 1663, to colonial times. Time of the play is the early 18th century, Miss Peeling is a 1946 graduate of Syracuse university school of journalism and Florida State unis versity, 1953, where she received her master’s degree in journal ism. She was managing -ditor of the Syracuse university -newspaper, The Daily Orange, reveived the Sigma Delta Chi award ‘for scho« larship, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, national scholastic honoraries. Miss Peeling, editor of .THE NEWS-TIMES, is currently a member of the board of the North Carolina Editorial Writers cone ference. In 1959 she won first prize in a statewide competition, sponsored by the Greensboro Writers club, for a children’s story. Miss Peeling is a past presix dent of the Carteret Community theatre and is a recipient of the theatre’s best director and ser. vice awards. She is president of the Carteret Business and» Pro fessional Women’s club and member of St. Timothy Lutheran church, Havelock. | ae Nov. 22, 1963 CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES By Ruth Peeling A Drama Based on 18th Century North Carolina History Act One Scene One Time: July 1718. Place: Blackbeard’s cabin aboard his sloop, Queen Anne’s Revenge. Setting: Lights in the theatre dim. Choral speaking groups, one of men and one of women, are backstage. Sound of storm at sea is heard in total darkness. Wave, wind and water sounds subside. Over them the choruses speak. Men’s Chorus: The dark waves roar like a million beasts. A small ship bounces in their jaws. Women’s Chorus: And the winds shrill screaming through the shrouds. Men’s Chorus: ’Tis a hellish night... is the devil abroad? Aye, Blackbeard . . . seagoing robber of the Spanish main. (Storm sounds rise again. Curtain parts to reveal Blackbeard’s cabin. Before curtain opens, stagehand sets overhead lantern, center stage, swinging, to convey feeling of rocking ship. Heavy oak table is in center of cabin, under lamp. Around it are three captain’s chairs. At upper left are three narrow windows set close together, with panes of heavy, oiled paper. Up right center is bunk. At its head is a wooden cupboard or wine chest. At right, dark cur- tains blow in and out. Down right is a heavy sea chest and lying against it, asleep, is a member of the crew, in sweaty sailor garb.) Blackbeard: (offstage) : Curse the bloody capes of Carolina. (He enters left with lantern. As he does, ship gives lurch that sends him reeling up left. He regains footing, shakes a fist and looks upward.) Fire and damnation! A dozen farm-wenches could handle this ship better than you—you bunch of lily-livered scum. (Sailor against chest stirs, giving a couple snorts and twitches. . Blackbeard hears noise over subsiding storm and peers around. Two short snorts of snor- ing come again from sailor. Blackbeard draws sabre and moves around front of table toward sound. He recognizes sailor, gives him boot.) Miguel! Miguel (jumping up): Aye, aye, there’s not a Spaniard in sight. It’s been a long watch, but I would have spotted a laden ship I would have. Yes sir! Blackbeard (makes motion as though to backhand Miguel across the mouth): Belay your blubbering, you fool. What do you do here besides sleep and smell up my quarters? Miguel: You sent me to fetch your cutlass for sharpening. While searching for that beautiful piece of Castilian steel, I come upon some Madeira, not your best of course, and I took but one seep. Like the keese of a beautiful woman, just one seep can drive one mad unless he. Blackbeard: I need not a lesson in love-making or drinking you thieving pig. (Goes to curtained recess, reaches in and re- turns with broad cutlass which he throws on table.) Never keep weapons and wine where Spanish lovers of the pope can get their sticky fingers on them. Miguel (eager to be gone, snatches up cutlass): You are the soul of wisdom, senor. Miguel will hone this blade so that it will Part a head from a neck With one swift fleck! (Miguel swings blade, backs off, aims for the door and smiles.) You did not know I was a poet, did you . Blackbeard (takes step toward him): Get out! You misbe- gotten son of a. (Miguel dances out door. Sounds of storm have faded away. Blackbeard replaces pistol at belt. Removes coat to reveal brace of pistols on shoulder holster. He tosses coat on bunk as he moves to cupboard, takes bottle of rum from it, pulls cork with his teeth, spits it out on floor and takes long draught from bottle. He strides to table, sets bottle on table and.sits in chair behind table.) Blackbeard (bellows): Bonnet! (He picks up bottle and takes another long swig as chorus speaks.) Men’s Chorus: Like a storm Blackbeard rages, from isles of the Caribbean to the Carolinas. This was Edward Teach, once a lad of Bristol, England, who longed to sail the sea. Women’s Chorus: At age 27, a rowdy robber, Blackbeard sought to make his winnings larger. Copyright Ruth Peeling 1963. To the New World he went on venture- some foray And in the Barbados joined with Stede Bonnet. Blackbeard (roars): Bonnet! Bonnet (enters calmly): Ah ha, my captain, you are in good voice tonight. Blackbeard (gruff but not angry with Bonnet’s tone): Tie your tongue. - How are things above? Bonnet: The mainsail is split, the jib... (reaches for Black- beard’s bottle.) Blackbeard (snatches bottle): Fetch your own... what else? Bonnet (moving to cupboard): Things aren’t good. This storm was a ripper. There’s a list to starboard. Blackbeard: Hell’s fire. Any milksop knows that. What else? Bonnet (returning to table and pouring rum into mug) : Perk- inson’s out cold. Cracked his skull against a bulkhead. Morton... Blackbeard: Men are easy to come by. The ship, Bonnet, the ship! What’s your estimate of our position? Bonnet: I’m not the navigator. (Drinks from mug.) Blackbeard: You’re not much of anything, you cocky rooster. Bonnet: Please be advised, Captain Teach. I am not here of my own choosing. Blackbeard: It suits me to have you here. If you’d stayed on that garden patch in the Barbados, I wouldn’t have ye clut- tering up my quarters. Bonnet (haughtily): That “garden patch” was 2,000 acres of sugar cane. Blackbeard shouts, ‘““What do you do here besides sleep and smell up my quarters?” 4 Blackbeard 3 4 Blackbeard CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES Nov. 22, 1963 Blackbeard (takes swig from bottle): Gentleman farmer turned buccaneer. (Laughs uproariously.) That day y’sailed across my bow, run up y’er colors, then strutted the deck in fancy weskit and wig... only to become my prisoner! (Blackbeard can go no farther, convulsed with the ludicrous recollection. Bonnet, miffed finally at being the subject of Blackbeard’s merriment, calmly takes another draught from his mug, sets it down on the table, rises and starts out the door.) I’m not through with you yet. What’s our position? Bonnet (turns): I’d say about 175 knots from Charleston, due east of Cape Fear. Blackbeard: Ye would, would ye? (Pauses).-Bonnet, I hope you know more about growin’ sugat than you do seamanship. My silver-handled pistol against your emerald ring that we’re due east of Topsail inlet and on a northwest course will raise Ocracoke in six hours with a fair wind. Bonnet: My dear captain. You won my emerald ring on our last navigation wager. With the ship in the shape she is, - you'll do well to see Ocracoke in two days, fair wind or foul. Blackbeard (getting drunker): Tell Berto to set a north- west course. Make what repairs we can and quit flappin’ y’er tongue. (Bonnet turns to leave) And Bonnet ... how many prisoners aboard ... besides you? (Chuckles.) Bonnet (turns): Five, counting the woman, Blackbeard: Too many. Prisoners are useless. Lessen they can pay their way. (Rises, chuckles). Luck was with us at Char- leston, There she was, ship in full sail, comin’ over the bar, bound for England. (Pokes Bonnet in ribs and laughs). But she didn’t get very far, wot? Bonnet: Neither did her 3,000 pounds in gold, my share of which I have yet to see. Blackbeard (ignoring Bonnet’s complaint): Four ships in two days and eight more bottled up in Charleston harbor. Stick by me, Bonnet, m’boy, and you'll be a rich man. Bonnet: You’re a blackhearted braggard, Teach. Blackbeard: Also the richest bucko in the Americas, also the best sea fighter, and also getting a bellyful of you. How you made out at raiding ships will puzzle me ’til doomsday. Lucky I came along when I did or the fish and crabs would have been iN | 4 aN eaten hee RR oe OSS ‘ WY CUA Pere + -earpec Me ay la ap bor’ : “at 4 fat on you long ago. (Bonnet turns to leave.) Bonnet! Tell Rolfson to bring me the prisoners. Bonnet: The Charleston prisoners? f Blackbeard (snarls): -What others are there 2 Bonnet: The woman too? Blackbeard (smiling slyly): Most particularly the woman, (Bonnet leaves. Blackbeard returns to his chair, drinking and glowering, occasionally smiling evilly. The chorus speaks.) Men’s Chorus: Blackbeard enjoyed his rum, ho-ho, and his whiskey ... Women’s Chorus: AND his ladies. Men’s Chorus: ’Tis said that he had 13 wives. Women’s Chorus (shocked): Thirteen wives? q Men’s Chorus: Aye. tf Women’s Chorus All at once? Men’s Chorus: Aye. He wed them one by one, port by port... Rolfson (offstage left): Move along. Lift y’er clods. (Door flies open. Sailor in dark outfit is shoved through door. His hand¢ are bound behind him, his head has a bloody white rag around it.) Git! Git! Move lively when ye’r goin’ to see the captain! (Another sailor, Ted Buckman, coat hanging open showing white shirt with blood stains, comes through door.. His tousled dark hair hangs over his fore- head, hands are tied in front. He’s followed by grey-haired man, Captain Grayson, in dark coat, trousers, gold buttons, captain’s cap. Coat hangs open; his hands are tied behind him, Rolfson follows, pulling after him Loretta in a conservative-colored but expensive gown, with rip on left sleeve. She jerks her right arm away from Rolfson as she gets on stage and stands with others, up left.) Blackbeard (scowls as he watches, speaks after all have en- tered): Welcome aboard Queen Anne’s Revenge. Come here, the lot of ye. (The prisoners reluctantly move forward slightly.) Rolfson: Jump! Cap’n Teach is speakin’ to ye. (He herds the prisoners forward to the left of the table where Teach is seated.) Ted (sneering): CAPTAIN Teach. (Captain Grayson casts Ted a reproving glance but Blackbeard seems not to have heard.) , . i At 2g Za way | | ; Hew SOC OITA tN, Loe RIAA Ge } | ah ‘ | i A 00 a ll, weed VOY it A } HY | HWA | SSS SS Blackbeard appraises the value of his captive, Loretta Thaxton, in his cabin aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Blackbeard: I count four. Where’s the fifth? Rolfson: He’s poorly. Out of his head with the fever. { Blackbeard: Fever? Rolfson: Yes Sir. [ Blackbeard: You know my orders about sick prisoners. Rolfson: Yes sir. Blackbeard: Move! You son of a turtle. (Rolfsen exits.) Captain Grayson (intervening): Captain Teach... Blackbeard (rising from table and approaching prisoners as Rolfson leaves): Speak when ye’re spoken to, Grayson. (Blackbeard walks in front of ‘prisoners, by sailor, Grayson, Ted and Lo- retta. Grayson stares straight ahead, sailor hangs head, Ted watches Black- beard. Loretta stares ahead, but her eyes follow Blackbeard as he moves to her left, then in back of line. As he walks slowly behind them air is rent by man’s seream and large muffled splash. Grayson stiffens, sailor looks fear- fully over his shoulder, Loretta buries her head: in her hands.) Ted (through clenched teeth): Blackbeard, you’ll pay for that! Blackbeard (coming in front of prisoners again): Did some- one speak? (Silence). The sharks are hungry critters. And so am 1... so am I, (He walks in front of Loretta, surveys her from head to toe, reaches out and rips dress back off her left shoulder. She turns away from him and cringes halfway to her knees. He looks down and notes marking in back of dress.) Loretta: Ted! Ted (steps forward and helps Loretta as best he can with hands tied): Keep your filthy bloody claws off of her! Blackbeard (roars with laughter, returns to table and takes another long draught from bottle): The lady wears a dress made in London. Woman, where were ye bound for? (Rolfson re-enters and stands up left, having shoved the sick prisoner over- board.) Loretta: Boston. Blackbeard (slamming bottle down on table and picking up papers in front of him): You lie. The Silver Swan, Malachi Grayson, captain—and Theodore Buckman, mate, was bound for Bristol. (Blackbeard strides over in front of her, papers clenched in his hand, glowering.) Loretta (biting lips): Maybe so. I...Iam confused. Blackbeard (returning to table): Do all your clothes come from England? Loretta: My...my father is a merchant (she glances right, but too late to see that Grayson is shaking his head and frowning at her.) Blackbeard: A merchant eh? A rich Charleston merchant. Loretta: Oh no! Just a... just a little merchant. Blackbeard (smashing empty bottle on edge of table, strides fin front of her): You lying wench. You’re Loretta Thaxton. Your family is one of the wealthiest on the seaboard. Your father’s a trader, merchant, ship’s chandler ... Loretta (angered): All right! And he’ll have a fleet of ships after you so fast you’ll wish you had never laid eyes on me! Blackbeard (roaring with laughter): Hear that Rolfson? '(Rolfson enjoys the joke). Get Bonnet. Rolfson (moves toward door): Bonnet! (He calls “Bonnet” again offstage.) Blackbeard: Miss Loretta should bring a right healthy sum jn ransom, eh Captain Grayson? Spe Grayson: Captain Teach...J1... Blackbeard: Captain Teach, SIR... Grayson: Captain Teach, sir, I beg of you. Miss Loretta ‘was put in my personal care for her trip to England. Her father is not well. To learn that Miss Loretta has fallen into, well... Blackbeard: Say it, man. Grayson: To learn that Miss Loretta is no longer en route to England could kill him. a Blackbeard: Miss Loretta and you are the welcome guests of Blackbeard, highly respected buccaneer. Your friend, Thax- ton, will get his daughter back when he coughs up enough pounds to make it interesting to me to put into Charleston next time jwe’re in those waters. (Bonnet enters.) Bonnet, we’ve got a doxey here worth good English money. Bonnet (moving right, glances disinterestedly at prisoners) : { prefer Spanish gold. Blackbeard: Pounds will buy rum and shot. Nov. 22, 1963 CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES Bonnet: What do we do with the others? Carry them along for company? Blackbeard: They eat too much. Bonnet (surveying Loretta): What makes you think the Pir as Wworta S02 Blackbeard: A thousand pounds? Bonnet: Or even 500? Blackbeard (walks by prisoners to Loretta): She’s worth it all right. (He cups her chin in his hand, looks at her lecher- ously. She stares at him defiantly). On second thought, maybe J don’t want any ransom at all. (Ted leaps at Blackbeard and brings his bound hands down on Blackbeard’s arm, knocking his hand away from Loretta’s face. Bonnet bounds forward with cutlass he has grabbed from table and poses tip at Ted’s throat.) Blackbeard (surprised, angered, takes cutlass from Bonnet, picks up another from table, tosses it to Ted): Stow it, Bonnet! (Ted catches cutlass, even though hands are bound. Grayson, sailor and ‘Loretta draw back, leaving Blackbeard and Ted downstage.) Free his hands, Bonnet. (Bonnet whips ropes quickly from Ted’s wrists. Blackbeard engages him in duel. Ted fights well, mainly defensively, warding off the swathlike swipes of the cutlass Blackbeard swings on him. Blackbeard laughs, taunts, enjoying what he considers to be a playful duel. Ted beats him back at one point, when with a sudden motion, Blackbeard knocks Ted’s weapon from his hand and it clatters to the floor. Loretta screams. Ted dives for the cutlass but Blackbeard is on him like a cat. Ted is stopped mid-way in his motion to retrieve his weapon by Blackbeard’s blade at the side of his neck.) Blackbeard (smiles): Enough? Ted (panting, nods): Enough. (Ted rises, leans against the table.) Blackbeard (moving down right to Bonnet so prisoners can’t hear): The upstart fights well. Bonnet: He’s extra baggage. Blackbeard: We can use him. Besides, he likes the girl and this could furnish me with amusement from time to time. Bonnet: What of the other two? Blackbeard: South of Ocracoke there’s an island. We'll put them ashore. Bonnet: I don’t like it. Blackbeard: I’m putting ashore others, too, who are giving me reason to doubt their worth. Maybe you should be among them. (Turns from Bonnet). Rolfson! (Rolfson enters). Take Grayson and the sailor below. Bonnet, take the girl to the star~ board cabin. ‘(Rolfson herds Grayson and sailor out door. Bonnet makes sweeping bow before Loretta and gestures toward door. Loretta sweeps by him and out door.) Blackbeard (to Ted who is still standing in front of table): Theodore Buckman; eh? How long were you on the Silver Swan?, Ted: