William Brand

I'm on chat all of the time. Some people come on and don't say anything and they think there is no one there and they leave before I can say hello, but I am on all of the time.

July 21, 1704 - Abaord the Watch Dog The rank and file of men and women disappeared aft to receive shares and each one in turn came out again onto the weather decks with a pay day smile. Most of them had the gold already tucked away on their persons, but some took to showing off what all had received equally. Even William carried his share with him, though his take of other fortunes made it small by comparison. Ever since rising that day he had dwelt on the ways he might spend such a some. While most of the crew dreamed on drink and debaucheries ashore, William thought of land, boats and even some old grudges. There were many ways he might spend such a sum, least among these, on improvements to the 'Dog. After a time his thoughts drifted to the acquisition of an additional ship. They would be much more formidable in the coming months if they were shadowed by a smaller craft. A watchdog for the Watch Dog. They would be a small force to be reckoned with, for few merchants or warships would tangle with two vessels at once, no matter the size. William pondered on sloops and cutters for the next thirty minutes until the first bell of afternoon watch was struck. Then the watches traded over and most of the watch not on duty retired to the rails with food and drink to talk of spending. First bell of Afternoon Watch

I found it at Borders. There were at least five copies on the shelf, and there still are five copies on the shelf.

July 21, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Eight bells of the Forenoon Watch As the eighth bell tolled, William invited Dorian aside for a conference at the larboard rail. "There is the matter of Lady Ana." he began, and the Quartermaster nodded, for he had wondered when the Captain would broach the matter. "My mind is of two camps. To bury her at sea from whence she escaped seems a cruel irony, but to make a kirkyard on La Blanquilla may strike some aboard as tempting fate. What think you, Mister Lasseter?" The Quartermaster went to rub a mustache that wasn't there, and William noted the habit. Even gone these many days, it was sometimes hard to drop the tics of personality we pick up over the course of time. "Th' lads shouldn't mind either way, I should think." he paused, then added."But, what if someone should come a digging...?" William raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they would lay her death at my door? Label me a murderer?" Dorian shrugged. He was merely thinking aloud since William had asked him to. "Quite probably." William said with a smile, since murder was already well established on his list of offenses. Still, his decision was pragmatic in the end and it was as much a house keeping choice as a frugal one. "The Island is too small to be peopled by graves. When we depart La Blanquilla on the morrow we'll bury her in that great trench off the Western reef. Only the resurrection will find her there."

It isn't crazy or odd. Unless I too am odd. I keep a Ship's log for the Watch Dog in longhand.

Safety before all else.

Sehr nett, Herr Porter.

July 21, 1704 - Off the La Blanquilla coast Just prior to eight bells of the Forenoon Watch William, summoned by the hour and the young Godfrey, arrived just as the able seamen were taking in the sail. He wandered the gun deck a moment, watching the crew about their work, glad to see Jonas McCormick and Bill Flint both gathering sail at the Main Topgallant Yard. He doubted more than two words would pass between them in the next few days, but for now, a working cordiality existed, if only in stalemate. La Blanquilla stretched out beyond the ship and it was painfully brilliant in the mid day sun. The white sand threw back all of Sol's light and many a man at the rail shielded his eyes. Soon the sailors from below would come blinking into the sun like so many wardens up from the dungeons of the berth deck. William made his way after to be clear of the traffic when the eighth bell tolled.

Spiking - A man's hand was nailed to the main mast and he was given a knife whereby he might cut his hand lose. He also had the choice of pulling his hand over the large nail head. Either way his hand was destroyed and his lively hood with it. Over the Barrel - The most common method of punishment aboard ship was flogging. The unfortunate sailor was tied to a grating, mast or over the barrel of a deck cannon. Keelhauling - The guilty party would be stripped of clothing and a rope would be passed under the ship from port to starboard. The man's hands would then be secured to the rope . Often his legs would also be bound together to prevent him from swimming. He was never weighted down in any way, for this may prevent him from hitting the bottom of the ship. He would then be tossed overboard and a selected group of men would then attempt to the pull the man out of the water, by passing him under the boat and out the other side. Of course the captain would select the men but it rarely mattered how many people hauled the man out. If the man was pulled slowly he would most likely drown. The shock of the cold ocean combined with the wake of the moving ship was usually more than enough to cause the strongest man to fill his lungs with sea water. If the man was pulled quickly, he would undoubtably hit the bottom of the ship, which was covered with razor sharp barnacles. In the end he most likely bled to death from the injuries incurred or suffered a slow painful death from infection. There was also the possibility that the rope would snap while rubbing against the keel. And then to make matters worse, if the man did actually survive, the Captain could always accuse the crew of doing the punishment incorrectly and order it done again! With such a cruel punishment facing one's possible future it becomes readily understandable why a crew might mutiny under a cruel Captain. (More to come-- such as when Keelhauling was finally stricken from Royal Navy Law) Toe The Line - The space between each pair of deck planks in a wooden ship was filled with a packing material called "oakum" and then sealed with a mixture of pitch and tar. The result was a series of parallel lines a half-foot or so apart, running the length of the deck. Once a week, as a rule, usually on Sunday, a ship's company was ordered to assemble into their divisions. To ensure a neat alignment of each row, the sailors were directed to stand with their toes just touching a particular seam. Another use for these seams was punitive. A miscreant might be required to stand with their toes just touching a designated seam for a length of time as punishment for some minor infraction of discipline. From these two uses of deck seams comes our cautionary word to "toe the line." Shot Drill - This particular punishment was the norm at Garden Island Naval Prison around the turn of the century. RN sailors were made to carry a 32 pound "shot" - or cannon ball - around a circle, and at a designated point put it down. Then they were to pick it up again and carry it once more for the measured distance. When news of this reached the Sydney newspapers there was somewhat of an outcry, although it did not seem to have much effect. Mastheading - Often the punishment of midshipmen, who as nearly "officers and gentlemen" were not subject to the physical punishment of the sailors. The delinquent middie was sent to the "crows nest" on the top of the main part of a mast; that is, below the topmast, which was a short mast lashed to the lower mast. There the young gentleman would sit, far above the deck and often above the sea as the ship rolled. He could be there for some hours, as his superior dictated, and might miss meals too. Lesser punishments... Cleaning the heads - "Heads" was the name given to that part of sailing ships forward of the forecastle and around the beak which was used by the crew as their lavatory. Although the sea washed the heads clean as the ship pitched, the heads still needed a regular scrub-down with a broom. Spitting on the deck might mean carrying a spittoon around. Dirty clothing could mean a sailor was condemned to carry it for a certain time lashed to an oar.

Smart and simple. I like this outfit.

A slow smile spread across William's face. He wasn't sure what to say at first, for his was a mixture of very old memories and one reservation. In truth, William owned a very plain pipe. He kept it with his luggage and it saw little or no use. William himself almost never smoked, reserving the act for more courtly appearances. It was a social affectation that he called upon once in a blue moon. It had proved to be such an oddity in his youth that the Janissaries had taken to calling him Dumansýz Alev. Smokeless fire. His red hair, much brighter in his youth, had lent itself to this friendly bit of ribbing on their part, for while all other Ottomans sat about in a fog of Tobacco fumes, William would sit close by, untouched by any additional atmosphere. Still, the Meerschaum was well made, and as an intricate piece of work, William found it most favorable. He also didn't have the heart to refuse a gift that defied the articles of the ship as much the conventions of his own lifestyle. It was too genuinely offered, and he was twice reminded of life among the Ottomans, for gifts genuinely given were never refused in the East. William set the pipe between his teeth almost at the same moment that Dorian hefted his. William could see that the Quartermaster found it very much to his liking, but even he bore a tinge of something that might have been reservation. "I like it very much." William said around the pipe set between his teeth. "How does it sit?" "It looks very good, Sah." Eric offered, and Mister Pew nodded appreciatively. Dorian, being both a man of ledgers and a man of tact, hesitated to say aught, but the smile on his face was genuine. He liked the pipe very much and he puzzled over a way to maintain it without taking even the smallest plunder from the others. William presented the solution, by quoting from the articles aloud. "Every person aboard to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes for the replacement articles and arms." A wide smile spread across the Quartermaster's face. "We are at th' top of th' list." "Aye." William said nodding, as Dorian too placed his pipe in his teeth. "Thank you, Mister Pew. The gift is a grand one."

Patrick Godfrey made his way forward, wending his way among the many sailors at work. When he arrived before the Captain, he was forced to clear his throat twice before being acknowledged. William turned from Morgan to Godfrey, acknowledging him with a raised brow. "Th' Master-atArms would like an audience wi' you in th' Armoury, Captain." William nodded, "Very well. Tell him I shall arrive presently." Godfrey ran off at once and William drained the last of his cup before making his way aft. He was joined by a grinning Quartermaster, and William again raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as Dorian fell in behind him and they went down the companionway. They arrived together to find the Master-at-Arms and Sergeant-at-Arms conversing over a small box.

So is the event for re-enactors or tourists primarily? There is no distinction. Pirates, Re-enactors, Townsfolk, Children and Tourists all attend the events. They are held all over Key West. Even the Christmas parade contains pirates.

Aye, but the fact that the festival has suffered since the move has been laid before us before this. It is understood that the fort may not be the most suitable place for the some of the festival events, but as some of the festival is at the fort, we should tender our remarks with encouragement. A few misplaced words can make all the difference between lacing our expectations with pessimism instead of pragmatism.

It's still a half empty glass, Mate.

"...the festival is losing its luster." Pardon me for saying so, but this phraseology could be seen by some as counter productive.

A very smart outfit, Amanjiria. Very nice indeed.

A warm welcome, lass. I'll have a lime.

Firewood is provided along with a few designated fire pits. We are incouraged to cook over them if we wish. Callenish Gunner is bringing a shower, but their are cold water showers on the beach as well. Potable water is available inside the fort and at the campsites and restrooms. There are public restrooms within the park, but just outside of the fort. A very short walk. I do not believe there is a place for ice anywhere near the fort, but I will find out. They may have a place to keep ice. Yes, alcohol is permitted after park hours.

If a vile act list doesn't include the Batavia atrocities, then how can it be truly vile?

July 21, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog After five bells of the Forenoon Watch Ajayi and Patrick Hand knelt side by side, scrubbing the gun deck. Patrick whiled away the time talking. He had a knack for talking, and even Ajayi, who could only catch a few words at best, seemed as good an audience for Patrick's many tales as anyone. Patrick was in the midst of regaling him with a story about the Carolinas, and in truth, Ajayi didn't mind, for he recognized the need to hear this new language often. It would never come to him fully unless he was immersed in it night and day. Marchande and Smyth joined them on the deck for the ship's daily maintenance, and after a time, nearly half of the crew was at the task of scrubbing. Before long a song went up about Spanish gold and French liquor. Each time the chorus came around the volume went up. It was a bawdy piece, but even the women aboard joined the singers. Moral was high. A little work remained to do before Martinique, but already the spending on other shores had begun. Ajayi took all this in from his place among the laborers. Song was something he understood, and even fortune to a degree, but the variation of the languages and personalities was a lot to absorb. He wondered many times during the morning how he might ever understand this 'English' when it visited his ears in so many forms. Still, when the chorus came around, even he parroted the words sung by all of the others.

I may be bringing drums to the festival.

Please contact the Fort and inquire after Harry or Shea and see what can be done to assist the festival.

July 21, 1704 - The Watch Dog Nearing La Blanquilla at five bells of the Forenoon Watch The deck was awash with men and women about their many duties, all the same as before, but for the difference of their new found mood and the gold which fueled their imaginations. William and Mister Morgan shared a rum ration on the forecastle deck, talking at length of Colchester and London, two towns which William never thought to see again in his lifetime, unless it was to be a very short lifetime once he touched those shores. Morgan showed a great fondness for the place and William wondered, not for the first time, how many of the crew would be enemies of England before year's end. Their fraternization with the French and Spanish was not the best way to maintain agreeable terms with the English. Miss Smith arrived at the Captain's elbow with a polite cough. "Beg pardon, Cap'n, but I found an unclaimed coin on the Ward Room floor." William raised both eyebrows. "And you did not keep it?", he said, smiling as he both complimented her for her honesty and chided her in jest for not maintaining the misplaced treasure. "Steal one, lose many." she returned. "Aye. See the coin to Mister Lasseter. He'll find the parent of that fair orphan."

What's the 17th century equivalent of duct tape? Hemp