Evil Vs. Evil

Evil vs. Evil

It’s late March, 1718. You find yourself the captain of a merchant ship delivering rum from England to the North Carolina. While calmly sailing in the middle of the Atlantic you come across a ship bearing your countries flag. The men on deck hail you down. Dutifully, you alter your course to aid and assist. Little do you know what terror lies in store for you and your comrades. As you approach, what you believe your fellow comrades’ ship, you observe your countries flag taken down and a new flag sails in the breeze. A pirate flag! Not just any pirate flag, but the flag of the most feared pirate in the world. Blackbeard! He wants your cargo, the ships hull filled with rum. His men hurl hooks tied to ropes onto your ship and they force you to their starboard. Once along side, you see a tall, large man with a long black beard that almost covers his face. The evil one, Blackbeard himself, stands proudly on his ship. Wicks laced with gun powder weave throughout his hair and smolder from under his hat which seem to add to his evil spirit. Confidently he strolls aboard your ship. One of your crew members foolishly reaches for his sword, and without hesitation Blackbeard draws his pistol and shoots the man right between the eyes. The man falls to the deck, blood begins to pool beneath him. Brain matter splatters on your fellow crew members. Every man stands in fear, frozen. “What do I do”, you think to yourself? Admirably you feel the need to defend your ship and your men. You decide to retreat to your captains’ quarters where you keep your musket. As you open the door to your ever

familiar cabin, you become instantly startled. A rather large round man with a long devilish scar

on his cheek stands there in the middle of your room, pointing a submachine gun in your face. You can’t believe your eyes. It’s Al Capone! He wants to steal the bounty too! As he smiles and shoots, you rise up from your bed in a cold sweat, panicked. Confused of your whereabouts for a moment you look around and feel a sense of relief. What a horrifying nightmare!

Al Capone and Blackbeard proved both notorious murderous criminals and both have many similar criminal styles, however; Blackbeard became the toughest and most frightening criminal of all times and deserves more notoriety. He fought gallantly till his death while shot and stabbed. His reign only lasted a few years, but his murderous and lawless trade will live in infamy.

Blackbeard, a very tall lean fellow also known as Edward Teach, cultivated his career of terror while crewing aboard Captain Benjamin Hornigolds’ pirate ship. Hornigold, grew as Blackbeards mentor, saw his strength and his ability to lead and appointed Blackbeard captain of a pirate sister ship which of course they captured during their reign of pillaging and plundering together. The two became the most feared pirates of their day. Soon Blackbeard became the superior pirate and ventured on his own.

Blackbeard, tough and frightening, flaunted his presence outwardly by dressing as terrifying as he could, which further instilled fear into the hearts of his enemies. He covered himself with bandoleers of pistols, wore several swords, and even displayed lit smoking wicks covered with gun powder weaved into his hair which protruded from under his hat like Pippy Longstockings pig tails. His black hat, long black beard, and large black boots complimented his bright red overcoat in which he proudly displayed. His mere presence persuaded surrender without shots fired. He reeked of fear both visually and expressively!

Blackbeard took a cargo ship loaded with wealthy passenger’s hostage, which sailed out of

Charleston. He demanded medical supplies from the local towns’ people. If the demanded supplies did not meet the given deadline, the hostages would face a gruesome hanging. As the clock ticked the hostages grew terrified. Minutes before the deadline the bounty of supplies became available to Blackbeard and his men. Blackbeard also seemed to have some sort of morals or pirate code. No documentation exists that he ever killed anyone who didn’t try to kill him which leads me to believe he wouldn’t have killed the hostages. Perhaps he would leave that up to his men or perhaps a bluff.

Blackbeard stole rum, jewels, sugar, cloth, ships instruments, and had Governors