William Brand

Professor Death was in fine form and left but few witnesses, those who remained being hand chosen by the same. The lamentations could still be heard as we left Fort de Chartres. I still cannot explain the sudden and seemingly irrational argument that started the matter, but I shall certainly never forget it.

I have uploaded images from the first full day on site. I took the time to photograph the fort itself from as many angles, directions and unique perspectives as I could find, so that people planning to attend in the future would be able to see the lay of the land. http://picasaweb.google.com/williamtpace/FortDeChartresJune42010#

A long day sorting pictures and only these three to show tonight. Some bad news in the sorting. A number of my pictures were corrupted. I think they're from the tug-a-war the first day. Still, here's the crew before the flag.

Wait...wait. I should rephrase. We advertise for the fort, as we want to help the park as long as we may. We just don't tell any other groups about camping.

We keep the event a secret. No more advertising!

After the tent burning? You'll be lucky to be allowed back in the state without armed escort.

Quoting from Fayma. "This year’s event will focus on a period correct time-line approach. We will not be limited to just portraying the Golden Age but piracy from the Buccaneer era all the way through the early 19th Century and Florida's Pirate history as well." There were over 130 pirates, but not all of them were camping. Lily and I discussed that very thing this morning and it looks like we have some wiggle room this year.

I will be posting images tomorrow of all the fine trappings, trespasses, tug-a-wars, tinkerings and travels that we experienced. For now, I am home safe and sound. I arrived on time in Salt Lake City and spent the day hiking the mountains and picnicking with the family, followed by shopping and a night out at the movies. More to follow tomorrow. My great thanks to all that were there and to everyone for making the event what it was. And a special nod to Janet and John for hard work and hosting me at the event.

I arrived without incident, though my luggage was delayed for up to an hour. That had me a little nervous, what with so many one of a kind items tucked into my suit case. Of course the flag came with me all of the way and garnered a few inquisitive looks. I'm at Janet and John's house now, uploading some files from home for printing tomorrow. John is making hard tack. The weather is warm and stormy. Both cameras arrived safely and I'm prepared to shoot the whole event. Time permitting. See you all there.

It fits comfortably inside one of these.

The flag is complete and packed up for the trip. That one goes in my carry on.

We may put it up as an awning, strung up as a shade or covering. If you have the room, then bring extra poles. If we don't use them for the flag, we'll use them for musket stands or we'll pioneer some other use.

Two turkeys. Wow, but don't forget... No end of food in sight. We may be feeding whole other camps.

I am so glad to hear that the Friends of the fort are in charge of the event this year. Especially since that will mean working directly through you at the fort. good luck with all of your efforts. The bus was a great addition.

I sent the updated camp layout to the fort. I have mailed the ship's bell to the event. The flag is still being sewn. Ack. We have less than a week.

Suggestion. Period camping. Find a good historical spot (and close to the sea) and you'll attract more than a few crews.

Thanks for the update, and send our good wishes on to Bo.

A bic lighter with a picture of a drinking glass on it, a rainbow pencil with the caption 'FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO", and a broken blade fashioned into a sailor's knife. That picture speaks volumes and I want that knife.

"Sah! Come in out of the rain!" William turned to those sailors of the main deck sheltered under the canvas awning at the the three doors aft which opened upon the galley, passageway and surgery. Then he looked down at his own clothes, all but wet through despite the heavy gear. "Gentlemen, I am annointed. I could not be made more wet in the drink." Still they urged him to some hot drink and respite. William refused, content to walk the deck with Jim as Mister Youngblood spat long and loud orders at his gunnery crews. "What bloody ditch rat was heee tha' failed this knot?" the Master Gunner yelled into the face of the nearest sailor. "Better t' tie yerselves t' a cannon ere it go o'er, or I'll send ya o'er after it!" "Pete is in fine form for Pete." Jim said, searching his pockets for a pipe and finding one. "You won't get that lit out here." William observed as he looked straight up into the rain. "Ahoy the Maintop!" A head peered over in a heavy hat and coat, just a shadow against more shadows. "Find me the Spaniards!" William ordered up. The position of the Navarra was shouted down again and they went to a point on the rail where Mister Badger was already peering at a glass. He was muttering there the same phrase over and over. "Damned sloppy." He just managed to slip in a 'Sahs' before passing the glass and returning to his muttered mantra. They each took a turn looking and shaking theirs head, for the Navarra was as slovenly handled as she had ever been. Still they noted the Lucy in her course and how neat and trim she bore herself under the maintenance of better hands and heads. "We'll lose a day back in this." Badger muttered and Jim and William agreed in silence. Then they returned to their observations, passing the time under a hail of rain and Pete's obscenities.

Very nice. You need a good walking stick to brush aside your inferiors.

I'm collecting and sifting materials for our use. This gives us a history to refer to as players to the public and it creates materials for period style publications, as discussed in many threads prior to this one. I've posted some of this before in other threads, but I've been fine tuning it with references to the Pub to create our historical fiction materials and to chronicle our discussions as a crew on the Pub. I did a brief, historical write-up on the Mercury years back as a possible template for her past. It involved the finding of the Mercury under another name after she had been swept ashore in a storm or battle by a previous crew. It also explained her alteration from a Bermuda Sloop to a Brig-Sloop. I don't recall the dates specifically, but as Captain Jim officially proposed the careening crew on December 11 of 2006, we could say that the crew found the sloop on December 11, 1716. As the name Mercury was accepted as the sloop's name on January 29, 2007, we could say that was the day she was reborn as a completed Brig-Sloop in 1717. This time frame would have given the crew a month and a half to make the repairs and alter the rigging of the damaged ship. It would have also given them sufficient time for to cannibalize their own ship for timber, line, canvas, ship's stores and great guns. This also gives us a narrative timeline to place our characters soundly between 1716 and 1720, plus any history of those pirates who knew each other before. So tentative timeline...December 1715 to 1720 (all dates below coinciding with their respective dates in Pub discussions, i.e. 1715 for 2005, and 1720 for 2010) December 1715 The Whole Company takes the Speedwell on the high seas. (based on the original proposal by the attendees of the Fort Zachary Taylor Pirate Fest to base the careening encampment in 1715, and the name Speedwell, as it was the first name seriously considered for the sloop) Early December 1716 Mutterings about the Speedwell's condition begin to pass among the crew before and abaft the mast. The aged ship shows a great need for replacement or careening. (This is in conjunction with the many unrecorded conversations while at Pirates in Paradise about starting a careening crew for the following year's event) December 8, 1716 Patrick Hand raises the public proposal that the crew put to shore to establish a careening camp and to mend their aging ship. William Brand is once again nominated for Quartermaster of the Whole Company. This nomination is seconded by Jim warren and passed to the crew for a vote and the preparations for a careening camp begin. (Posted 08 December, "Pyrate Camp") December 9, 1716 The crew of the Speedwell put in at the Keys despite the presence of soldiers in the area. Having paid off the Governor to look the other way, the pirates take advantage of their 'paid alliance' and spend the evening ashore. Patrick Hand tears up the local tavern in a drunken rage and is arrested by the local militia. I great disturbance ensues and even the ship is threatened offshore, but the animosity is put down by agreement between the Governor and the Captain. The Speedwell crew is urged to put to sea in an effort to ease the local tension. (This is based on a proposed re-enactment scenario by Patrick Hand, Posted 09 December 2006 - 01:11 PM, "PIP 2007!!") December 11, 1716 Jim Warren sights the Bay of St. Joseph and a damaged sloop is discovered run aground there. (Posted 08 December 2006 - 07:45 PM, "Pyrate Camp") December 13, 1716 The Whole Company investigates the damaged remains of the Bermuda Sloop and decides to abandon their own well worn craft in favor of the newer vessel, due to her lighter, quality construction and favorable line. They anchor offshore, using their ship in defense of the newer sloop while careened. (Coinciding with Jim Warren's thread on the Pub called "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp", first posted to on the 13th of December in 2006) December 14, 1716 Work begins on what will become the Mercury. She is properly beached and careened. Line and tackle are set for the removal of her remaining rigging. Men are sent inland to make a survey of materials, to discover fresh water and food, and to assess any possible threats to the Whole Company. Recruitment from the local population begins. (This is based on the review of our First Year Goal to increase the attendance at Pirates in Paradise, Posted 14 December 2006 - 09:59 AM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp") December 14-29 1716 A loose tarp and canvas encampment springs up along the treeline over time as more and more goods and tools are brought ashore. Clothes are swapped, mended and traded among fellow pirates. (After the discussion in "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp" and the posts made between December 14th and December 19th) December 30, 1716 Having been discovered by tradesmen, craftsmen and other locals ashore, the Whole Company begins a cautious, but open trade with the townspeople of the area. (This date specifically coincides with the discussion on the Pub about having women in the crew at PIP - Posted 30 December 2006 - 12:47 AM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp"). January 9, 1717 Patrick Hand, pirate son of a printer, suggests that a new name be chosen for the discovered sloop, offering the transfer of the name Speedwell from their previous vessel. This becomes but the first of many names to be considered. (Posted 09 January 2007 - 11:14 AM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp") January 10, 1717 The longboat is renamed the Gullah by Harry Smid. (Posted 10 January 2007 - 12:08 PM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp") January 11, 1717 Patrick Hand proposes that the whole history of the Company (and the soon to be named sloop) be kept and recorded from that day forward. (This coincides with Patrick's desire to see a booklet published with the ship's history, for use by the public at Fort Zachary Taylor, Posted 11 January 2007 - 12:18 PM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp") January 19, 1717 William Brand broaches the subject of changing the ship's rigging. The crew considers alteration of the rigging from one mast to two. This is debated by the Whole Company over the course of many days and they eventually decide upon a brig-sloop rigging. (Posted 19 January 2007 - 05:07 PM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp") January 28, 1717 Dorian Lasseter suggests that the name of the new ship should be Mercury. This name quickly eclipses the popular choices of Morning Star and Solstice. (Posted 28 January 2007 - 07:53 PM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp". Strangely enough, Ol Man of the Sea made a comment two days earlier where he finished his post by saying, "We must be gettin' warm cause Mercury's risin'", but never officially recommended Mercury as a proposed name.) January 29, 1717 'Mercury' is accepted as the name of the sloop by majority and she is launched upon her career of infamy and fortune. (Posted 29 January 2007 - 08:56 AM, "Creating the 1720 Careening Camp") An inventory of the ship's stores and requirements is made by all hands. Line and canvas are assessed. All barrels, bales, Hogsheads, boxes, crates, casks and containers are tallied and stored. (Posted 29 January 2007 - 09:50 AM, "The Mercury, 1720 Careening Camp")

I shall certainly try to record what we can. It may mean purchasing some additional software. Between us we'll record as much as possible.

ipyrate ...or as oderless would say...eyepyrate.

I've cleared all the cards, charged three batteries and packed the telephoto lens. I should also have video at my fingertips and we might try skype and a hidden live feed.

We took a little in when it was pinned and the center seem lost a little, but I think it's about six feet by ten. I'll measure the whole thing upon completion. I plan to run it up a flag pole when it's done to see if it will carry in a decent breeze.