The Guns of Vandemere

From the book
"Blackbeard's Cup and Stories of the Outer Banks"
by Charles Harry Whedbee

THREE APPARENTLY UNRELATED PHENOMENA in and over the waters of eastern North Carolina continue to puzzle and mystify scientists. They have done so for scores of years. Scientists see no connection between these occurrences and have no explanations for them other than a few unsubstantiated theories.

Phenomenon Number ONE. Several times each summer, always during daylight hours but never on Sundays, there occurs a series of loud noises that sound exactly like cannon firing. Heard from Vandemere southward, the noise rattles the windows of houses and causes newcomers to call the sheriff's office and even the Coast Guard to inquire as to the source. It is not thunder. It is not blasting of any kind. It is described by veteran sailors of World War II as sounding exactly like the noise from the firing of naval cannon. Even as far south as fort Fisher, people hear the noise and feel the tremors. It has been going on so long that they have even nicknamed it. They call it the "Seneca Guns."

A well-known geologist, Victor Zullo, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been quoted as saying that he believes it to be gunfire from navy ships offshore. This, in spite of the fact that the navy not only denies such firing but also the presence of any gunboat in the area at the of most of the explosions. Dr. Zullo apparently believes that the navy, for reasons of it's own, just does not want to confirm such firings.

Several knowledgeable people contend that it is the sound of the continental shelf breaking off at its edge and falling down into the deeps offshore. Geologists tell us that this simply cannot be true. The continental shelf has been thoroughly explored by divers in this area and they have found that it is a gently sloping underwater plain with no edge to break off.

Still others maintain that the noise is that of jet planes breaking the sound barrier, There is no way that this can be true, The noise has been recurring now for almost two hundred years, since a time when there were no airplanes, much less the ability to break the sound barrier, The rumbling roar continues intermittently for only about one hour and then ceases altogether. Generations of coastal people have noticed it and taken it for granted as just another fact of life.

PHENOMENON NUMBER TWO. This mystery revolves around the charming little town of Vandemere, which was for many years entirely dependent on the seafood that came from the adjacent waters. It was a fishing village and a very productive one. To this day fishing and clamming and crabbing and oystering and scalloping are favorite occupations of many of its people. They were bred to the water and to following the water and to following the water and they still love it. The unexplained noise which sounds like naval gunfire is clearly heard in Vandemere, and when it begins, the older natives and some of the young ones begin frenzied preparations for an easy harvest.
"Crab walk!" they exclaim to their neighbors. Or they shout, "Time of Jubilee!" or " Fish Walk!" They then rush sown to the shoreline with buckets and baskets and even shopping bags along with rakes and shovels and even tongs. For they know that when the noise starts, for some reason unknown to them, the shallow waters next to the shore become alive with seafood. First the small fish and minnows seem to be making a grunion like rush for the dry shore. Then the larger fish follow and thrash about in the shallows . The crabs come scuttling into ankle-deep water, and even the scallops sometimes jet onto the shallow waters like tiny torpedoes. Only for one hour does this strange "crab walk" last. During that hour, however, the alert harvesters reap baskets and boxes and hampers of the sea's bounty. Then the noise comes to an abrupt halt and the harvest ceases. The "Time of Jubilee" is, indeed, a time of unparalleled abundance. Delicious seafood almost for the asking!

Lack of oxygen, say the scientists. The sea creatures are driven to shallow water in a desperate search for the oxygen they must have to live. Like goldfish rising to the surface of a home aquarium when the water gets too stale, But why only around Vandemere? Why only when the cannon like noise is present, only to stop abruptly when the noise ceases? But mist residents of the region don't worry about scientific reasoning. They are just grateful for the bounty and are glad to welcome the "Time of Jubilee."

PHENOMENON NUMBER THREE. Some ten miles south of Vandemere (but a little farther than that if you go by boat down the Bay River, out around Maw Point Shoal, and then up the broad Neuse River), lies the equally charming waterfront community of Oriental. Much more extensively developed, it still has its roots in colonial Carolina and the waterborne traffic of that day and age. Sleek yachts and expensive waterfront homes now grace the town but, here and there, you can still catch a whiff of history and feel that you are going back in time to a more leisurely day.
There are modern farms nearby, too, and one of these is located quite near the town. It is rich and productive land and the portion of it that lies between Smith Creek and Green Creek fronting the Neuse River is particularly beautiful. It has not yet felt the hand of the developer, and most of it is just like the Almighty made it. It is here that out third phenomenon occurs.

Precisely at midnight every twenty-second day of November and at no other time there appears, near a huge gnarled oak on the banks of the Neuse, a ghostly light that sways and dances on the riverside Back and forth, back and froth it goes, but it always disappears when approached. There is a sound of soft sobbing usually associated with it's appearance but, after one brief hour, it vanishes and is not seen again for a year. Swamp gas, say the scientists. But in November? And vanishing when it is approached? And not seen again for exactly one year? And swamp gas making a soft., sobbing sound? The longtime resident locals just don't believe it. That light has been there every year for a long, long time and, frankly, they have grown quite ford of it. It is theirs ! It is their own unique happening.

The ancients, the really old locals, the "been heres" as distinguished from the "come heres," believe that the strange happenings are indeed related . They think they are the recurring parts of a single drama that was played out many years ago. Understandably, they are very reluctant to talk about it except among themselves and then only in quiet, hushed tones. A new resident or a stranger has very little chance of ever hearing the tale and a newcomer, none at all.

The stage they set is in the early 1700's when sir Edward Moseley over in Edenton was already calling for freedom from tyranny of the English crown, when the contra forces were plotting to have the colony taken away from the Lords Proprietors and made an official crown colony like Virginia and south Carolina so that a break could be made more easily.
Edward Teach, alias Edward Drummond, Alias Edward Thatch, alias Blackbeard the pirate, was in his heyday and the so-called golden age of piracy was in full blast in coastal Carolina. The pirate was an exceptional fellow, to say the very least. He would probably have been a success in any line of endeavor he chose. as a pirate, he was a tremendous success, if any thief can be called a success. He was a very able seaman and navigator, an absolutely fearless combatant in hand-to-hand battle, and a superb organizer and leader of men. All this in a walk of life in which it was supremely difficult to impose organization and discipline.

More, he was many years ahead of his time in the use of psychology. He created an image of himself by his dress and his deeds and his imposing physical stature that struck terror in the hearts of his victims or would-be mutineers. He was a consummate actor with the utmost confidence in himself, Cruel he was, yes, and a bawdy and rough and ruthless, but there was a side to his character that was as amazing as it was contradictory. He was a pushover for a pretty woman.

There must have been a gentler side to him than he revealed to his crews because women found him attractive and almost irresistible. Of a very tall and extremely muscular build, his chest, neck, and head were covered with a mass of jet-black hair, the color of his usual costume. He must have cut quite a figure when he was sparking the ladies.

The records show that he married at least fourteen times with never a divorce and never a widowerhood. His last "official" marriage was to one Mary Ormond, of Bath Town, who was at the time about sixteen years old. The ceremony was performed by his friend Governor Eden in Bath late in the year 1718 . Most of the other marriages were performed by his first mate, on board his own pirate vessel. The nuptials were the butt of many jokes by his pirate crew, who used to claim that they never knew whether they were going to a wedding or a hanging. He fell in and out of love almost with the changing of the tide. Apparently he was completely and sincerely in love with the current object of his affection each and every time he got "married." Usually it was love'em, marry'em, put'em back ashore, and leave'em.
After Teach had audaciously captured and blockaded the port city of Charleston, he decided to come ashore, avail himself of the king's pardon then offered, and enjoy the vast riches he had accumulated in his pirating career. This he did, purchasing a house in Bath Town and settling back to enjoy peace and tranquility.

Remember, pirates were not held in low esteem then, particularly when they were ashore. Blackbeard (or Mr. Teach) was a very popular figure. There is no record of his ever committing a robbery ashore. He kept a very small sloop, which he sailed alone. This vessel, which was fitted out more like a luxurious yacht than a pirate craft, he sailed about the sounds and estuaries of eastern North Carolina. He visited the homes of the settlers there, always finding a welcome wherever he went. He was famous everywhere. He could behave as politely in someone's home as he could violently when boarding a victim's ship. In private homes he is said to have always conducted himself as a gentleman. Teach was generous to his hosts and always left them better off financially than they had been when he arrived. On many occasions he behaved like a one-man welfare department, and most of the people grew to love him and admire him as well as respect and fear him. He was one of a kind.

One beautiful sunlit afternoon the pirate was conning his boat out of the broad reaches of Pamlico Sound and into the mouth of the mighty Neuse River on an aimless, particular reason, he turned out of the Neuse and into the mouth of Bay River. On he sailed northwestward with a fair wind, then turned westward, just enjoying the passing scene and the responsiveness of his sailboat. Turning into shallower water just off what is now known as Windmill Point, he was about to bring the boat about and head back for the Neuse when, in the shallows near the shore, he spied the most beautiful woman he thought he had ever seen in his life. She was knee-deep in the water and a large bucket floated near her side. In her hand she held a clam rake with which she gently probed the sandy bottom. Her full skirt was tucked up almost to her waist out of reach of the water. To the restless pirate she presented about the prettiest picture he could imagine.

Easing his small boat up close to her, he dropped his sail, lowered his small anchor, and simply gazed at her in frank admiration. She was very young and very beautiful, with dark red hair and blue eyes that could almost look right through you. She rested her chin on her rake handle and stared back at the handsome figure in the boat. "And who might you be, my pretty child?" asked Blackbeard.
"Why, I be Martha Piver," replied the girl, "and I be clamming and soft-crabbing as well for my father, Moses Piver. I know who you be, mister" she continued. "You be the famous Mr. Blackbeard and I hope you come in peace. My father be a peaceful man."

Roaring with laughter, the pirate assured her that he did, indeed, come in peace, that it was not his custom to do battle with womenfolk.

The upshot of this chance meeting was that Teach was invited to the Piver home. As was the custom in those days he was invited to stay the night. He accepted and this pleased Moses Piver and his wife, who considered themselves quite honored to have such a famous guest. As usual during such visits, Teach behaved like the complete gentleman. He left the following morning, promising to return for a longer visit.

Return he did, time after time, to seek the company of the beautiful, red-haired young woman. Often they sailed about the region in the luxurious, small sloop and Blackbeard would regale her with tales of his exploits and deeds of darring-do. There was no doubt that they were madly in love with each other. The pirate even took her up the Neuse River to a spot he knew where, he confided to her, he had buried a large hoard of gold and silver plate, as well as many jewels. The site was beneath the branches of a strong, young, oak tree very near the river. They picnicked under that tree many times and Teach promised her that, as soon as he could conclude some business in Bath and up in Edenton, he would return for her and they would be married. He would return for her and they would be married. He would build her a fine home at that very spot, he said, so that she could be near her parents. that home between Smith Creek and Green Creek on the Neuse River would be their permanent home and he would go pirating no more. Half the gold and silver and all the jewels would be hers. he vowed , as a wedding gift.
When he returned to claim her, he promised, he would be sailing his fighting ship. She would know of his coming because he would have his crew firing all his cannon, one by one, in a salute to their happiness. Claiming supernatural powers. he also promised that when she heard that cannon fire, all the creatures of the water world would come and play about her feet in the shallow water where he had first seen her and they would be hers and her family's to choose from as they wished. Extravagant promises, but they were very young and very much in love.

Well, Edward Teach sailed away and Martha Piver never saw him again. Much later she heard about his marriage in Bath to Mary Ormond and, still later, about his return to piracy and his beheading at Ocracoke on November 22, 1718. she never recovered from the double shock. Her young mind just could not grasp the perfidy of the man whom she had loved and trusted, nor the horror of the violence of his death. She convinced herself that all this must be false and that he would one day come back to claim her as he had promised. She did not live long after that but passed away peacefully in her bed one night as she lay sleeping, no doubt dreaming of the return of her lover. Her body is buried in the cemetery near Vandemere.

Many old-timers maintain that her spirit did not die. They say that it is this spirit or ghost who plays and dances around that now huge oak on the Neuse water-front between Green and Smith creeks near Oriental where, during her short life, Martha Piver had laughed and danced and dreamed of a life with her reformed pirate. That very oak has been called Balckbeard's Oak for generations. It is shown today on some maritime charts by that name. The guns, the ancients say, are the guns of the pirate seeking to return to his love, and the crab walk to "Time of Jubilee" is the fulfillment of his promise.
Somebody must believe this legend because many people have on many different occasions secretly tried to dig up the buried pirate treasure. The marks of their diggings are there. So far as is known, not one of these surreptitious and unwelcome visitors has ever found the treasure. If he has, he certainly has kept it a secret.
 
 
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