The Triangle
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 PIRATES OFF THE COAST Excerpted from Spectator Magazine
In 20 feet of murky water about 1.5 miles off Beaufort Inlet, within sight of
Atlantic Beach, lie the bones of a ship that most likely flew the flag of
Blackbeard the Pirate. Researchers say that they are about 95 percent certain
that the pile of ballast rock, piece of hull, three anchors, 21 cannons and
other artifacts are the remains of Queen Anne's Revenge, the flagship of
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. The ship ran aground and sank off
the inlet in June 1718.
Well know as the graveyard of the Atlantic, over 2000 wrecks dot the North
Carolina coast--including the USS Monitor and several German U-Boats--but this
one is the oldest. So far five cannons have been recovered, including two that
are 8-feet long and weigh 2500 pounds. Other items retrieved include pewter
plates, navigational instruments, wine bottles and iron barrel hoops, all
dating to the early 1700s. Ballast stones are being examined to see if they
can be traced to France where the ship was first floated.
While Blackbeard blazed an infamous trail, little is known about him except the
two-year streak of piracy before his death. Historians agree he was born in
England and was an imposing figure--tall, heavily built, with striking
features. He grew an extravagant beard that he twisted into tails and tied
with colorful ribbons. In battle he wore a double sling of pistols across his
chest, daggers and cutlass on his belt, and stuck a slow-burning hemp cord lit
at both ends under his hat, meant to make him look like the devil. Indeed,
many captains surrendered without a fight when they saw him boarding their
ship.
In Nov. 1718, the British Navy attacked Blackbeard off Ocracoke Island. He was
killed in a bloody battle and his head cut off as proof of his death.
Blackbeard myths started almost immediately. The most imaginative has his body
swimming around the inlet searching for its severed head. For daily dive
reports and info about the QAR excavation, visit the NC Archives and History
online.
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