capnwilliam

Anda fine suit to show off, it is! :) Capt. William

You mates have lots of great ideas, and obviously a lot of great skills as well! :) Our Crew of the Revenge did our first public pirate demo at Fort Gaines (Dauphin Island, Alabama, near Mobile) last month. Capt. Cobbs likes to shoot his blunderbuss and pistol, and explain to the folks what he's doing. His mate Nancy and mine Jan the Pyrate Queen did a period cooking demo; only problem was that the visitors didn't really make the connection that they were part of our crew. I took the part of Quartermaster, and explained the vessel, cannon, and plunder: tried to dispel the myth that pirates booty was usually doubloons and gems. The problem there was that they obviously weren't interested in the mundane things that pirates normally did plunder. They loved the cannon, though (it's actually a 1/4 scale model Civil War tube on a naval carriage), and asked many intelligent questions about it. We also had the kids (adults too, if they wanted) sign Articles, and they got to keep it: we told them to report back tomorrow, for we sailed! We also gave them a "pirate coin" as an advance, and some other fun stuff like hooks and eye patches. All said, we tried to strike a balance between entertaining and educating them. I was pleased with the results for a first time effort, and I'm seldom pleased with anything! Next time around, the Pyrate Queen will talk about navigation, the Sea Wolf will take the QM role, Bosun Carmina will be the sail maker, and I will be the gunner. Capt. William

Do you think you can get my group listed in Pirate Crews? Capt. William

HarborMaster, how does the Ketland compare with the Sea Service? I have a Sea Service from Loyalist Arms, and yes, it is heavy! :) I'll probably get something smaller to stick in my belt, and save the Sea Service for a show and tell at events. Capt. William

Cap'n Mac, that's some really beautiful stuff! :) WERE cat-o-nine tails conventionally made from rope? Capt. William

There's a great QAR exhibit at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort. :) Capt. William

I came to realize the same thing a few days ago myself, while re-reading THE CONFEDERATE PRIVATEERS. It helped me answer the question in my own mind WHY pirates signed articles: it wasn't any piratical innovation, it was what all seamen - whether pirates, privateers, or merchants' - were used to doing. Capt. William

Or would it. The USS COLE incident is not a good analogy. That was a clever suicidal sneak attack. These Somalians thought they could shoot it out with a US warship that already had the drop on them. Capt. William

They have guts. No brains, though. Capt. William

Me crew and me weathered Katrina quite well; our homeship suffered only minor roof damage. Some 80% of the East Bank of New Orleans is destroyed, though. Capt. William

Tea for me also. But rum, later! BTW: I'm on a low carbohydrate diet, and was delighted to learn that there are NO carbs in distilled liquor: and very few in beer! Capt. William

Very pretty knives. Does he include sheaths, do you know? That letter opener might do well as a naval dirk, I believe. Capt. William

I've eaten them. and I concur: hard to chew, but very tasty! Capt. William

Will do. Silkie! And they tell me that once-slummy old Main Street has been yuppified? If that don't beat all! Capt. William

No, it's on the National Geographic Channel. Capt. William

I'll have to stop by, if'n I ever visit my home town again; originally from Roxborough. Capt. William

We don't get the National Geographic channel. I wonder if they will sell it on video / DVD? Capt. William

Maybe a fire starter? Capt. William

Which one? Capt. William

Most Americans are very Puritanical. The so-called "party animals" are generally the most so. Note the way they play HARD; look for any EXCUSE for a party; what I really love is the way they find it necessary to go through long-winded explanations as to why they got drunk: "well, you see, we'd been working so hard on this project for the past several weeks, and we NEEDED to unwind...". Reminds me of the time someone asked me if I was going to a particular celebration. I answered, "no". Upon being asked why not, I replied, "because I don't want to." Next question: "I feel guilty when I get invited to things and don't go. Don't you?" My response: "no." Can you spot the Puritan in that story? Capt. William

Can't help ye there. shipmate: but here's something more local and sooner. In late April - early May, Lake Charles, LA generally hosts something called Buccaneer Days: a pastiche of Lafitte's time on Galveston. Fun, albeit totally silly and unhistorical. Includes a motor-launch attack by the pirates and a futile attempt by the town militia to drive them away. The pirates always win! Jan and I went there in 2003. Capt. William

Well mate, you might be able to do-in a Norseman that-a-way: but any PIRATE worth his salt would have a blast o' round ball in yer gut, and yer own skull cleaved wi' his cutlass, afore yer great sword left its scabbard! Capt. William :)

Aye, Shipmate, we had a great time there! The visitors really enjoyed getting to sign and take home souvenir Pirate Articles: not to mention coins, compasses, eye patches, and little pirate flags, courtesy of our Mobile wenches, Carmina and the Sea Wolf. The Pyrate Queen was there, along with Capt. Cobbs, and his lady Abigail. I was very impressed with the questions the visitors asked: especially about ship's gunnery, a topic that seemed to fascinate them. Next event there will be Civil War era: The Battle of Mobile Bay, when Capt. Coxetter of the Confederate privateer JEFFERSON DAVIS makes his debut. And then again on November 11, the pirates of the 1724 REVENGE will return! Capt. William

THAT worked, GOF! :) Capt. William

I've not been able to reach yer site, shipmate. Capt. William