capnwilliam

Aye, most strange, most strange indeed. Has anyone hear an update on this matter? Capt. William

Nice...thank you for the link. "John Singleton Copley's Watson and the Shark was inspired by an event that took place in Havana, Cuba, in 1749. Fourteen-year-old Brook Watson, an orphan serving as a crew member on a trading ship, was attacked by a shark while swimming alone in the harbor. His shipmates, who had been waiting on board to escort their captain ashore, launched a valiant rescue effort. John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778. National Gallery of Art, Ferdinand Lammot Belin Fund 1963.6.1" So, a painting done nearly 30 years after the incident by an artist who wasn't there constitutes evidence that one of the rescuers - apparently a deck officer - wore shoes. Ergo, able seamen of the era ordinarily wore shoes? So, if a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge told me when I was in college that his rifle had jammed during the battle, and I pained a picture of him trying to clear his rifle - which I made an M-16 in the painting - that is evidence that the U.S. Army carried M-16s during the battle of the Bulge? Capt. William

Weapons of Mass Destruction: never existed. By definition they never existed, because if they did, we'd identify them. Are they nuclear bombs? Intercontinental ballistic missiles? Chemical weapons? A pair of six-shot revolvers, maybe? "Weapons of mass destruction" = "Saturday Night Specials". Clever term. Devoid of meaning. Saddam Hussein was a dictator. Most of the nations of the world are ruled by a dictator. So what did we oust him in particular? Saddam Hussein was not religious. By ousting him we opened the country up to the Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq, and destroyed the counterweight to the Islamic fundamentalists in Iran. And, it's Islamic fundamentalism that we're worried about? Capt. William

Are you planning on fixing up a sailboat you already own? Or on acquiring one? If the latter, remember that the money you spend on a boat will always be just a "down payment." They don't call a boat "a hole in the water that you pour money into", for no reason! Capt. William

I have seen portraits of elaborately garbed common seamen in the Mariner's Mirror. These did not, despite being historical references, convince me that ordinary deck hands of the Elizabeth period actually dressed that way. Artists of every era have taken artistic license to make their subjects more colorful and interesting. I can't imagine how shod feet could get the purchase on lines that bare feet could. As for seamen complaining about the quantity and quality of issued shoes: this would not prove that they wore shoes every day. Wouldn't they want to have a nice pair to wear when in port? If our shod rescuer is a deck officer, then by definition he isn't a deck hand, and wouldn't be tasked with climbing the rigging. And if he saw someone in the water being threatened by sharks: well, I dare say he wouldn't delay rescue attempts by stopping to remove his shoes first! I agree with you about bare feet and injury: I never even walk around my own living room barefoot! But many people don't share this fear, or aren't as clumsy as I am! Capt. William

Jim, I want to do a drawing or full blown painting from that picture. Talk to Callahan and get me permission and yours as well. It needs to be painted. You do look authentic, mate: no doubt there! Capt. William

Aye mate, it looks nice, but I'm too old and too lazy to tote around all that metal and wood and leather! Capt. William

Aye, tis a pretty painting, to be sure: but do you recall think a workaday sailor regularly wore such pretty shoes? While out in a little boat like that? His shoes would be soaked through, in short order. Capt. William

um sorry, the debate on that one goes the other way IIRC. They would have worn shoes unless they absolutely positively couldn't get any. Something 'bout the lines being tough on the feet and such. What about their feet getting toughened by the work? I've done stage hand work. I once worked with a guy whose hands were so calloused from handling rope that he could haul on it all day (raising stage curtains and such: his usual work duty), it could tear through his grip: not a blister. My hands would have been bleeding within an hour. Capt. William

Does anyone know if they plan to ever do a sequel to this, my now-all-time-favorite movie? Capt. William

Pirate captains wore shoes. Pirate crewmen went barefoot aboard ship, and wore shoes, if they had them, when they went ashore. There, that ends the debate! Capt. William

Reading Treasure Island as I boy when we'd go to the seashore in Ocean City, New Jersey: and imagining that I was THERE...rather than just...here. Capt. William

One bit of advice would be to take with the proverbial grain of sea salt, anything ye see on the History Channel. I've seen Sir Henry Morgan's buccaneers in the1600's armed with percussion muskets from the 1800's. Also, Thomas Jefferson sporting a goatee. For documentation, you can rely only on primary, period sources: period drawings or paintings or narratives; or on secondary sources that rely directly on them. (And sometimes, even these things represent artistic license, faulty memory, etc.) Capt. William

Oh, thank you!! It was excellent meeting you! My husband and I both admired and were intrigued by your vast historical knowledge. You definitely were a deciding factor in "Was it worth the trip?"! You wife was also delightful! Why, thank ye fer yer compliments, PirateSSE! And you certainly were a delightful audience! Capt. William

Why not next year, shipmate? We'd love to have ye aboard for 2008. Capt. William

If you wanted to port in New Orleans instead of Florida, you'd be most welcome to sign aboard Jean Lafitte's Baratarian cannon crew. After all, I know that both of you know now how to shoot a cannon! Capt. William

All shipmates who attended PirateCon: I'm curious to hear your comments about it. Capt. William

Well, PyrateCon 2007 falls into the annals of history, and they're already starting to plan for PyrateCon 2008. I reckon most attendees are home or on their way home. We all owe a big thanks to Admiral Rudy, Bosun Carmina, and the Sea Wolf for all their hard work! I was delighted to see that Carmina and Dave Smith were presented with awards for their herculean efforts. And delighted I was to meet the many pirates in attendance: especially Blackbead, and Piratesse: two of the nicest pirates I've ever crossed paths with! Capt. William

They are quite lovely! Capt. William

ARE they doing a picture about Lafffite? Capt. William

Hurricane speaks true! The two pirate wenches testified brilliantly in their own behalf (and surprised I was to learn after the trial that they were largely ad libbing!) The prosecutor and the judge - old wine-besotted bloke that he was - did a great job also! It's been mentioned before, but tis still true: it was a lot of fun putting flesh and blood faces on the words and avatars we see on the list. Many of our mates told old Capt. William they liked his ramblin' about naval gunnery: which made me old heart feel good! It's been a boatload o' fun these past two days, with vendors and lectures and demos, parties and movies: and yes, I understand that it's definite for New Orleans for 2008, as well: that it's already been booked for the Bourbon Orleans: a better establishment than the Holiday Inn, sez I: a bigger venue, and right IN (the HI's merely "near") the French Quarter! So, RumbaRue, we will hold you to your promise for next year! Capt. William

Rumba, I understand that it's already booked again for here in New Orleans for 2008! Capt. William

What is a phurba? Capt. William

Aye mates, just finished my paper on "Cannon Crews", Pyrate Queen Jan just finished hers on "The Baratarians": we're almost ready to get under way! Capt. William

No one could say it better! Capt. William