Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime Piracy

Cindy Vallar, Editor & Reviewer
P.O. Box 425, Keller, TX  76244-0425

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Suppose ye be wantin’ pirate adventures?  In this here modern time where pirates rarely prey in Atlantic and Caribbean waters, where ever can a pirate lass or laddie find fun-filled treasures?
 
 

2007 Adventures	2005 Adventures
Salem, Massachusetts Plymouth, Massachusetts Cape Cod, Massachusetts	Baltimore, Maryland Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Key West, Florida St. Augustine, Florida

2007 Pirate Adventures

'Tisn't the seaport 'twas once, but Salem has a rich maritime history and quite a few men set sail from here aboard privateers, and New England was once a favorite pirate haunt. Our first stop be the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Derby Street, which be run by the National Park Service. No charge to walk around Central and Derby Wharfs or to visit the Scale House or Public Stores behind the Custom House, but fer $5 a person ($3 if ye be a pirate apprentice or one what's retired from the sea), even pirates on tight budgets can join a guided tour of the Custom House, the Derby House, the Narbonne House, and the Friendship. Interested in privateerin'? Ye can also take a 45-minute Privateer Walkin' Tour. We visited the Custom House where Park Ranger Martin explained various items on display and provided us wi' several amusin' antecdotes about those who worked here. Park Ranger Alicia served as our guide on the Privateer Walkin' Tour and she be a wealth o' information on these legal pirates should ye have any questions that need answerin'.

Nay matter what ye decide to see, start at the Orientation Center and see To the Farthest Ports of the Rich East, a 17-minute film on the history of Salem. This be also where ye pay for the tours (one price for all -- a true piratical value) and make reservations for the tours ye be wantin' to take as each be only offered at certain bells (that's times fer ye landlubbers) durin' the day.

Ye be standing near the end of what remains of Central Wharf. Across the water be Derby Wharf, and the walkways ye be seein' give access to the Friendship when she be in port. Unfortunately, she was in drydock for her annual careenin' afore her big to-do at Lynn, Masschusetts in August o' 2007.

Central Wharf was the fourth largest in Salem at 795 feet long. Warehouses would ha' lined her length. When vessels put in here, their cargos were measured, weighed, and inspected. Once the duties were paid on such items as spices, coffee, tea, silks, India cotton, and ivory, the goods were released. Simon Forrester, a privateer durin' the American Revolution, owned the wharf from 1791-1817. One of the city's wealthiest shipowners, he wed Rachel Hathorne in 1776. If her name be familiar to ye, might be 'cause she was Nathaniel Hawthorne's aunt (more on him later).

The blue house once belonged to Simon Forrester and overlooks his wharf, but today it be owned by someone else, so ye can only be lookin' at it from the street. Simon came to America at the age o' 19 from Ireland, and by the time o' his 28th year, he was a cap'n. He managed this feat wi'out havin' any special connections in society. In 1776 he captured four British prizes, but after the war, he retired from privateerin' to become a merchant and shipowner. When he died, he was worth $1,500,000.

The brick house belonged to another revolutionary privateer, Elias Hasket Derby, who owned Derby Wharf. 'Tweren't called that back in his day (1793-1799). 'Twas called Long Wharf and later Union Wharf afore it became Derby Wharf. In 1785 one o' his ships sailed to China and when she returned and her wares were sold, he became Salem's first millionaire. His father, Richard Derby, was the family patriarch and Elias' brother was also a privateer. Elias, who had one blue eye and one green eye, wed Elizabeth Crowninshield and they had seven children. In 1780 Derby built a new house (Hawkes House) next door, but instead o' movin' into it, he used is as a warehouse to store the goods his privateers took. Between 1777 and 1782, his privateers captured 144 prizes. At the height of his career Elias Derby owned 50% of all Salem ships, 12% of all Massachusetts ships, and 5% of the merchantmen in the nation.

Durin' its heyday (1783-1815), Salem was the sixth largest port in America after Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston. This be the Custom House, which was built in 1819. 'Twas here that the U.S. Government issued permits, protection certificates, and ships' measurement certificates. (A protection certificate was akin to today's passport and 'twas to prevent a sailor from being pressed into naval service. Didn't always work, though.) Merchants paid the duties on their purchased cargoes here. The Custom House remained in use until 1938, but President Jefferson's trade embargo in the early 1800s and the buildin' o' larger ships that required deeper waters lessened Salem's importance as a port city.

If ye take the tour, ye'll see where Nathaniel Hawthorne worked for 3 1/2 hours a day. He lost his job once President Taylor took office. Did ye ken that he added the "w" to his name so as to distance himself from his ancestor who presided over the witch trials in Salem? If ye want to be learnin' more about the author, right down the road ye can visit the House of the Seven Gables. As fer learnin' more about witches, there be many such places in Salem to visit and several walkin' tours ye can take.

When a ship put into port, the Custom House officers loaded up their portable scales and gauges and went to the wharf to weigh and inspect the cargo. In the early 1800s, import duties on a cargo ranged from $25,000 to $90,000. On the backside of this buildin' ye be findin' the Public Stores, where unclaimed cargo was held until someone paid its duty. Items that were a necessity to life were taxed at a lower rate than commodities (like tea and coffee) that were considered luxuries. Import duties came to about 5% o' the value o' the cargo. By 1845 Customs had collected $5,000,000 just on imported pepper.

When ye be finished seein' the site, stop in at the West India Goods Store. Erected around 1800 by Captain Henry Prince, ye can still purchase all manner o' booty here in one o' the last o' the early shops in New England. Ye'll find spices, coffee, teas, porcelain, and many other treasures. If ye want to be tryin' an old-fashioned candy, I recommend Molasses Peppermint Drops.

After lunch on Pickering Wharf, we walked down to see the schooner Fame. She be a reproduction o' the 1812 privateer that ye can sail aboard. Dependin' on when ye come, the 1 hour 45 minute cruise be offered at varyin' times o' the day. The price of an excursion be $25 fer pirates in their prime, $20 fer retired pirates, and $15 fer pirate apprentices under 13. Fer those lookin' fer a wee bit of romance, ye may want to take a sunset cruise.

Beware! Pirates abound in Salem, an' their favorite gatherin' place be the New England Pirate Museum. When yer tour begins, ye enter a holdin' room where ye can meet the likes o' Dixie Bull, Sam Bellamy, Ned Low, and Rachel Ward! Ye can also feast yer eyes on a coin retrieved from the wreckage of Bellamy's Whydah, which sank durin' a fierce storm off Cape Cod.

Yer travels take ye to Salem in 1692 and to an 80-foot cave that notorious sea robbers frequented.

This here be the Blue Anchor Tavern, but ye'd do well not to imbibe in its spirits. Do ye ken the sayin', "Loose lips sink ships?" If so, then take heed, fer the tavern keeper keeps a sharp ear out fer information. If she likes what she hears, she invites ye to a room upstairs. The treasure she promises, though, be not what ye're expectin'. 'Tis a prison cell and once ye're in it, it won't be long afore ye be dancin' the hempin' jig!

Andrew, our guide, regaled us wi' all manner o' tales about New England's pirates. Where else can ye learn about William Fly, whose piratical career lasted one whole month, or Thomas Tew, a gifted storyteller who amassed a pirate's fortune and retired? On the pleadin' o' his mates, though, he returned to his thievin' ways and was killed while seekin' more gold. Or perhaps ye be wantin' to discover 'xactly how Joe Brodish kept disappearin' from his jail cell. Was it black magic? Or did he ken a secret no one else did?

Ye can also be visitin' the Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers. 'Tis a grand way to meet some of Salem's esteemed, as well as notorious, residents. For example, ye can see Jacob Crowninshield (1770-1808), who brought back the first live elephant on one o' his ships. He paid $450 for the beast, but sold it for $10,000. Ye could see the elephant for "one quarter of a dollar."

John Lambert, a pirate from Salem, and John Quelch were hanged in Boston in 1704.

When ye're finished meetin' the Salem residents o' yore, venture belowdeck where ye can try yer hand at gravestone rubbin' or knot tyin'. If ye be more artistically inclined, there be sand art and candle art. Otherwise, ye might want ta pose fer a picture, so those at home can see what a fine pirate cap'n ye are!

Our next stop be Plymouth. Ye might not think there be anythin' piratical about the Pilgrims and the Mayflower, but ye'd be wrong. French privateers captured the first ship transportin'  goods from the New World back to England, and a Turkish man-o'-war seized the second vessel. Begin yer journey either at Plimoth Plantation or the Mayflower II. Since me leanin's be toward the sea, we opted to visit the ship on a dreary, windy day -- what reminds me o' good ol' Irish weather.

This ship be not the true one what brung the colonists to the New World, but a replica built 50 years ago. In fact, we visited the day they celebrated the crossin' from England in 1957. While ye explore her decks and cabins, there be guides and 17th-century sailors and passengers to help ye journey back in time. View the exhibits at the dock, then step aboard this merchant ship, which be the same size as the original. Her keel be 58 feet long and her breadth be 25 feet. Ye can tour the round house where the navigator plotted her course, the great cabin where the master lived, the lower deck where the passengers slept, an' the steerage that housed the whipstaff. Ye can also be viewin' the guns she carried fer defense.

Not far from the vessel be Plimoth Plantation. Ye begin yer journey at the Visitor Center, where ye can dine on traditional fare or more modern food or see a film that explains the beginnin's of this settlement. From there ye travel to a Wampanoag Homesite, where the staff interprets the culture and history of the Native People from today's viewpoint. When we were there, they were makin' a canoe and stew, as well as plantin' new crops. Once ye leave the homesite, though, ye are steppin' back in time to 1627 (that's 7 years after they landed). None of the colonists ye meet ken anythin' what's happened since then, so don't be askin' them modern-day questions. Fer example, ye can't be askin' them about the Great Fire of London, 'cause it hasn't happened yet! They be more than willin' to talk about their daily lives and events, tho' ye might be wantin' to study some Shakespeare so 'tis a wee bit easier to understand them.

Ye can't be visitin' the Massachusetts coast wi'out journeyin' to Cape Cod. Our first stop was Provinceton to see the Expedition Whydah Sea Lab and Learning Center, but fate had other ideas. Circumstances beyond our control and theirs prevented us from tourin' the exhibits, but they be havin' a tourin' exhibit that may be comin' to a museum near ye soon.

If ye be likin' lighthouses (like me own mum), ye might want to visit the nearby Cape Cod/Highland Lighthouse in North Truro. Ye can also be seein' a variety of maritime exhibits at the Truro Historical Society Museum. This be where Miles Standish and his men stayed on their second night ashore while seekin' a good site to settle. Henry David Thoreau stayed in the house that is now the museum.

Ye can't be visitin' the cape wi'out stoppin' in Sandwich to enjoy the Heritage Museums & Gardens. Dependin' on when ye go, ye might see bloomin' daffodils, tulips, azaleas, dogwood, rhododendrons, lilacs, mountain laurel, daylilies, hydrangea, and lavender. If ye likes antique cars, ye be wantin' to tour the J. K. Lilly III Automobile Collection housed in a round, stone Shaker barn. Ye can even sit in a 1913 Model T. If history be more to yer likin', the American History Museum houses military miniatures, firearms, antique toys, Native Peoples' artifacts, and the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame. These exhibits be in a replica of the revolutionary fort in New York known as "The Temple," where George Washington and his army wintered in 1783. While there, the general awarded the first three Purple Hearts. If ye visit on one o' their special days, ye might also get to tour the Old East Windmill, which was built in 1800.

Ye might be askin' just what all this has to do wi' pirates. Nothin' so far, but 'tis akin to huntin' fer buried treasure. At the far end of the gardens there be a museum o' American folk art where ye'll find weathervanes, baskets, scrimshaw, and paintin's. Ye can also ride an authentic hand-carved carousel built by Charles Looff nearly a century ago. This be where they also house special exhibits and the one ye don't want to be missin' is:

Logo compliments of Jennifer Y. Madden,
Director of Collections & Exhibitions

This be a treat fer all ages and once inside ye'll explore the Golden Age of Piracy (1660-1730) and New England's role with the pirates. In 1696 Edmund Randolph, an official for the Crown, wrote, "New England...[is the] chief emporium for the traffic in pirate plunder." So this be a natural place to learn about the pirates, those who bought stolen booty, and those who hunted and judged them. Not far from Sandwich be the town of Barnstable, where the survivin' pirates of Sam Bellamy's Whydah were jailed until taken to Boston fer trial. Another pirate that stayed there be the infamous Rachel Ward.

Ship Life teaches ye about livin' on a vessel. There be cat-o'-nine tails, bar shot, boardin' weapons, cutlasses, musketoons and blunderbusses to see. Those wi' a fair kenning of pirates may want to take the Fact vs. Fiction Quiz. Ye can also see whether ye have what it takes to be a pirate captain, or whether ye just be a new recruit. Or perhaps ye'd prefer to explore the treasure chest to see what mysteries lie wi'in.

If ye'd rather listen to pirate songs and sea chanteys, they offer a good selection. Or perhaps ye're more interested in eavesdroppin' on' Cap'n Quelch's trial or hear Reverend Cotton Mather speak out against the evils o' piracy. Decide fer yerself the outcome o' three pirate trials -- see if ye reach the same conclusion as the juries.

There also be pirate art, especially those by the master of realistic pirates, Howard Pyle. Young pirates in trainin' can dress like a pirate and defend the deck o' a pirate ship wi' a swivel gun, while the older pirates view a 1734 copy of Cap'n Johnson's General History of the Pirates and the 1678 Dutch edition of Alexandre Exquemelin's The Buccaneers of America. Fer the young lasses, there be autographed pictures from film pirates, includin' the ever popular Cap'n Jack Sparrow. Or view clips from pirate films and cartoons o'er the years. Pirates o' all ages will enjoy this bountiful treasure! And best o' all, ye can visit "A Short and Merry Life" through October 2008.

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2005 Pirate Adventures

Our travels begin in the port city of Baltimore, Fells Point to be exact, where the sleekest and fastest schooners ever built could be found for the price of a mere $40,000 (fully outfitted o’ course). These here Baltimore Clippers made quite a dent in England’s purse durin’ the War o’ 1812. One Thomas Kemp designed and built one o’ the best by the name o’ Chasseur. (That’s French for hunter.) Her cap’n was a man by the name o’ Thomas Boyle, and while rovin’ the English Channel, he and his crew took 14 prizes worth more than $220,000.
 

Chasseur: the Pride of Baltimore

George R. Roberts Gunner aboard Chasseur

After the war, fewer and fewer of these mighty fine ships were built. Altho’ Baltimore remained an important port, she didna build another Baltimore Clipper until 1977. She took her name from the nickname o’ the Chausseur, the Pride of Baltimore. Me partner, Tom, and I mourned her loss and those that went with her when she sank during a squall in 1986. Today a new schooner, Pride of Baltimore II, carries on her tradition as Mary-land’s Goodwill Ambassador.

For those o’ ye wantin’ to ken more about the heyday o’ the privateers and the buildin’ o’ the schooners, ye should visit the Fells Point Maritime Museum. ‘Tis a grand place to begin learning about the legitimate pirates, those what carried licenses called Letters of Marque.

Fells Point Maritime Museum
1724 Thames Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 732-0278
Open Thursday-Monday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

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Before ye go thinkin’ that a pirate’s life is all work, I’m here to wipe that idea right out o’ yer head. Whene’er we visit a pirate haven, like Port Royal in Jamaica, some of me brethren enjoy the rum. ‘Tis fine for those that likes Cap’n Morgan. Me? I’d rather be playin’ miniature golf! I’m not a grand player, ye understand, but on rare occasions I do make a hole-in-one. Most places par is 36. I be averagin’ 49, whilst Tom gets 45.  either of us will be enterin’ the national tournies anytime soon, but playing is lots o’ fun with a wee bit of exercise, too.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has seven miniature golf courses, and those are just the ones that cater to pirates! Most o’ the places have two separate courses to try yer swing. Should ye be wantin’ to join the rest o’ us pirates for fun, here are the places ye want to try first. After these, there’s a host o’ others to sate yer appetite, but ye won’t be findin’ any pirates there – just dragons, dinosaurs, and other creatures amidst exotic locales.
 
 

	SpyGlass Adventure Golf 3801 North Kings Highway, (843) 626-9309 If ye be faint o’ heart, steer clear o' this Treasure Island adventure. ‘Tis divided into two courses – Treasure Island and Long John Silver’s Mine. There’s plenty o’ action and lots o’ special effects, like cannons firin’ and blasts o’ water where the shots land. Beware o’ the most challengin’ holes. Ye board a ship to hit yer ball, then have to go to another deck to finish sinkin’ the ball!
	Shipwreck Island Adventure Golf 3301 South Ocean Boulevard, (843) 913-5330 This one has naught to do with pirates, but those who fish will enjoy the displays of a shark and other fish, includin’ a Warsaw grouper and a blue marlin. On one course ye wind yer way through a volcano. There’s also a totterin’ shipwreck atop a waterfall. Watch out for the S curves, tunnels, waves, logs, and turtle-shell obstacles that appear at various holes just to make ye miss yer hole-in-one! Pirate lassies will savor the honeysuckle arbor, especially if the day be hot. Ye may want to ken ahead o’ time that Shipwreck Island be located directly in the flight path o’ the airport, so bring that cotton ye stuff in yer ears during gunnery practice to protect yer hearin’.
	Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf 21st Avenue North on Highway 17 Business, (843) 913-7851 Now this here’s one o’ me favorites! Me mate’s, too, as Tom had 4 holes-in-one on Hook’s Challenge. If ye be needin’ practice getting’ the ball in the hole, the kind owners have a place for ye to do just that before ye venture down the paths to the Lost Boys or Hook’s Challenge. For those not familiar wi’ Peter Pan never fear. Ye can read quotes from the book as ye traverse bridges, waterfalls, and tunnels that take ye into a skull mountain or Captain Hook’s jailhouse. Dinna be surprised if ye spot a mermaid or gator, and if’n yer lucky, a live lizard. Keep a sharp eye out for Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Tinkerbell! When yer done, don’t forget to visit the gift shop where ye’ll be finding lots of treasure for young and old pirates alike.
	Buccaneer Bay Miniature Golf 5894 South Kings Highway These two courses remind me o’ the old-fashioned courses. Nothin’ fancy, but ye still have fun. Watch out for live ducks, bridges, waterfalls, cannon, and long-imprisoned pirates as ye go up, down, and around the various holes. Ye should ken up front that this place closes early by pirate standards (6:00 pm), and they prefer gold to the new plastic money most o’ us be carryin’.
	Treasure Island Golf 4801 North Kings Highway, (843) 449-4754 This here’s the place to visit if ye are a die-hard Treasure Island fan and like to climb mountains. Shaped like the island where Flint buried his treasure, ye’ll find waterfalls, bridges, and palm trees on yer way up Spy Glass Hill. Watch out for Skeleton Island and Ben Gunn’s Cave. If ye dinna ken the tale of Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins, never ye fear. Ye can read passages from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island while ye play.
	Mutiny Bay Golf Caribbean Adventure 301 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, (843) 249-7844 This here is where I golfed me best score – 39! Every time I play I land at least one hole-in-one. As ye pass through the entrance to the fortress where ye pays yer tax, be on the watch for treasure and captured pirates. Once ye gets iron and shot, ye venture out to the lagoon where the MS Fortune be wagin’ a battle, apparently fer many a year. The pirates are naught but skeletons in rags, but the firin’ o’ guns still echoes o’er the lagoon. Ye’ve two paths to choose from: Barbados and Port Royal. One course teaches true pirate lingo to those who dinna ken it. The other introduces them to notorious pirates ye should’ve learned about in school, but didn’t.
	Pirate’s Watch Adventure Golf 1500 South Kings Highway, 448-8600 This here is another o’ me favorites! While ye play, ye are completely surrounded by water. Blackbeard’s Stronghold is a wee bit more o’ a challenge than Captain Hook’s Retreat. There are signs to teach ye about famous pirates like Captain Kidd, Red Legs Greaves, and Black Bart. I dinna ken why, but they be givin’ pirate lasses an advantage at each hole. Ye play one hole aboard a pirate ship complete with cannon, so be sure to take a spin at the wheel and ring the ship’s bell. Keep a wary eye out for the graves of Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard, Captain England, Calico Jack, and Anne Bonny. If yer lucky enough to reach the top of the fortress, dinna forget to cast yer eyes on the Atlantic Ocean. The West Indies Trading Company may look innocent, but ‘tis actually a secret tunnel. Before ye leave, dinna forget to have yer picture taken at the stocks! Ye can also feed the ducks and catfish.

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One hundred eighty-three years after Commodore David Porter’s squadron made certain  that all pirates vamoosed from the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, I’m proud to say we are once again ensconced on Key West. Ye must pay homage to Pat Croce for this fabulous feat, and no matter how long it takes ye or how far ye must travel to get there, ye must visit the new Pirate Soul Museum. ‘Tis pirate heaven filled with lots of treasure to tempt even the least likely o’ pirates.

Before ye venture down the rowdy streets of Port Royal, have someone trustworthy take a picture o’ ye in the stocks. Read the banners that tell what me life is like and find out what be true about pirates and what be myth. Once inside ol’ Port Royal ye can fire a flintlock pistol or peek into a house of pleasure and meet the bonny lasses and scurvy dogs who frequent such places. Among the 500 artifacts ye’ll be seeing are a first edition o’ Alexander Exquemelin’s The Buccaneers of America, Captain Kidd’s journal o’ his last voyage, Thomas Tew’s treasure chest, Blackbeard’s blunderbuss, a 1696 “Wanted” poster fer Henry Every, dishes from Port Royal before she sank beneath the waves, and dinna forget the pirate gold, cannonballs, weaponry, surgeon’s kit, rare books, old maps, clothing, and proclamations from back when pirates plagued the seas. (That be the Golden Age of Piracy – 1690 to 1730 – fer those who dinna ken their history.)

There be interactive displays and audio-animatronics to heighten yer voyage. In Rogue’s Tavern ye can scavenge for six artifacts belonging to such pirates as Anne Bonny. One of me favorite exhibits is where Blackbeard hails ye. Now if ye be picturin’ him wi’ smokin’ fuses tied in his hair and him wieldin’ a cutlass and wearin’ a brace o’ pistols, ye’re in fer quite a surprise. Here ‘tis just Blackbeard’s head talkin’ to ye. As he’s fond o’ sayin’, he just has a bit of a sore throat!

While ye walk the deck of a ship, hear the guns roar and feel the timbers tremble. Ye can see the battle unfold on the sails. Then, if ye be darin’ and cheeky enough, venture below deck to the cargo hold o’ the ship. Sealed in the dark with earphones fastened to yer head, ye’ll be findin’ yerself in the midst of close-quarter fighting wi’ the pirates. Ye’ll swear the scurvy dogs be at your shoulder, threatening you with pistol and cutlass!

Before ye set sail from the museum, ye must meet Pirate Soul’s very own pirate, Cap’n Johnny O’. If yer lucky, he’ll allow ye to have yer picture taken wi’ him in front of an authentic Jolly Roger! ‘Tis one o’ only two that exists, and dates back to 1850. (If ye be wantin’ to see the other Jolly Roger, ye must sail to Finland.) At present the cap’n pays homage to another pirate – that o’ the infamous Cap’n Jack Sparrow – in his manners and dress, but ‘tis only temporary. Before long, he will adopt his own style of dress and piratical manner to become the bravest and boldest of pirate captains.

Ye canna leave this pirate haven until ye visit the Pirate Soul Shoppe. What self-respectin’ pirate would dare pass up the chance to snare some treasure? There be shirts and scarves, flags and weapons, keychains, and far more booty than will fit in the largest chest found amongst pirates. Eventually, if ye’re in need o’ sustenance – that be food and drink to landlubbers – the Rum Barrel Tavern, slated to open December 20th next door, will serve food and drink to pirates of all ages.

The Pirate Soul Museum, Shoppe & Tavern
524-528 Front Street
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 292-1113
Open daily 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

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We all ken that the best pirate treasure comes from those generous Spaniards who ship gold and silver and gems aboard the great galleons. As any pirate will tell ye, ye’ve a better chance to succeed if ye ken yer enemy. I suggest sailing into St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in America. Founded in 1565, it didn’t take long afore our brethren happened on the city. The first to strike, in 1568, was Sir Francis Drake, although if ye be askin’ the Spanish, Drake was no knight. They called him El Draque, the dragon! To them, he was a pirate and a heretic. With twenty ships and 2000 men, Drake razed the fort and town. A decade later another band of cutthroats, led by Robert Searles, sailed into Matanzas Bay under cover o’ darkness and sacked the city. Not long after work began on a stone fort, Castillo de San Marcos, to protect the city. It took twenty-three years to build and cost more than 138,000 pesos.

Ye won’t be findin’ pirates strollin’ the streets of the city now unless ye happen to visit when we be gatherin’ to restage the raids o’ Drake and Searles. That dinna mean we aren’t there, though. As the sun is settin’, board the Schooner Freedom to hear ghostly tales o’ the Matanzas. Cap’n Andrew Wiggins, himself a ghost who was cruelly hanged after reformin’ and livin’ an honest life, taunts and amuses those who dare to cruise the waters with him tellin’ stories, singin’ chanteys, and organizin’ contests. The captain be a fine storyteller, with just the right mix of scurvy pirate and captivatin’ raconteur.
 
 

Schooner Freedom City Marina St. Augustine, Florida (904) 810-1010 Sails three times each day

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