We’ve long had a fascination with pirates, be they real or fictional. Well do we remember being transfixed by Long John Silver, the peg-legged, parrot-toting villain of Treasure Island. Or listening spellbound to the tick-tock, tick-tock of a crocodile chasing the infamous Captain Hook. But perhaps the most famous of all is the real-life Blackbeard, born Edward Teach, a man of fearsome appearance with a personality to match. It’s said that he stuffed lit fuses under his hat to frighten his enemies. Or maybe he was just battling nits. At any rate, in 1718, Blackbeard commandeered a French merchant vessel, armed her to the gills and then set about blockading the port of Charles Towne, much to the dismay of the city populace. This and stories of other blackguards form the basis of Carol Ezell-Gilson’s Pirate Tour—a fun morning outing for all who attended (see photo below).
Submitted By
Carol Bane