Longarm

Could the reason that Moragan won his libel suit be that he was a wealthy, newly knighted hero and Exquemelin was a poor nobody and an admited bucauaneer. The law being what it was in those days being rich had it's advantages. No doubt that there were exagerations to make for better reading and selling, that stuff goes on even today. But just because Morgan won doesn't really mean some of the stuff he is accused of didn't happen. Money, power and friends in high places can make alot of things disappear.

Daniel, where did you find these documents if I might ask? Did they come from here in Charleston? There is a small document museum here that I pass just about every day and as of yet have not done the local tourist thing and gone in. I don't remember the name right off hand,I'll get back to you with name if you wish. I have had the pleasure of meeting the great-great grandson of William Rhett. Apparently his family is still in the area. Unfortunately he was very ill at the time and could not remember alot of the family stories at the time. But we both agreed that if Bonnet had not tried to escape he might have got off and not been hanged. After all he was a gentleman and had impressed alot of the local gentry who were willing to back him, before his escape attempt and the breaking of his word. I only got to talk for alittle while and I have no idea where his now. It's too bad because it sounds like his family played a big part in Charleston and South Carolina history.

Of course it has to be at worlds end because, the real villan here is the East India Company and their still in the west indies. And everyone knows the only way to bet the bad guy is to beat him on his home ground, so it's off to the east indies they go. Besides why hire Chow Yung Fat (I hope that's spelled right) to play a chineese pirate if your not going east. ON one of the old spoiler threads there is talk of filming a chineese junk. And I still say Jones's lost love will look like Elizabeth probaly some distant ancestor. Jack and Will will have to team up to save her. Will is going to defeat Davy Jones because if you remember Tia Dalma greeted him as a man of destiny. Jack much to his dismay will do the noble thing and send Elizabeth back into Wills loving arms. It's not just the Black Pearl that represents freedom it's Jack and you can't tie him down to any one woman.

Unless she is older than she looks I don't think it's the vodoo woman, but you know she knows who it was. I bet whoever it was she looked alot like our dear Elezabeth. Which would make for a very interesting meeting when they finally meet. The locket motif was also very prominate on the chest's lock. Another reason to believe the locket is the real key to Davy Jones.

Well by now most of us have seen the movie so there shouldn't be much to spoil. I was wondering am I the only one who believes the real heart of Davy Jones is that musical locket of his and not the heart in that chest? After all if the key for the chest was so important why didn't Jack's compass work when everyone tried to use it? Also the vodoo woman said the reason he cut out his heart was because he had no use for it. (Granted she said it a heavy accent and more poetic than that.) And why if the heart was so valuable would Jones bury it where he could only go once every ten years?

Who do you think are digging the circles?

I have recently finished reading Peter Earle's " The Pirate Wars" in which he talks about at least two incidences of walking the plank tho not in the GAOP. (page 222) The first was on July 18,1882 and first printed in the Jamaica Royal Gazzette. The second no date given but a few years after the first. Both acts were commited by Cuban pirates who Earl theorizes gave us alot of how we view pirates today. Dark, swarthy and massively moustachiod men who tortured victims for fun. If he is right these accounts of piracy in the late 1800's could very well have been the insperation of Pyle and his contemporaries in writing about the GOAP. It makes mores sense than believing that walking the plank came from pirates during Roman times. (even tho there are accounts of pirates offering to let their roman captives the oppertunity to walk ashore) Most people I talk to about pirates didn't know there were pirates back then, and still can't believe piracy is still going on today.

I still do from time to time but it never seems to be the same as when I was younger. (Maybe I really did burn more brain cells than I thought.) Man I had some good times getting high with my friends. Maybe it's because I'm older and hopefully a little more wiser that it has lost alot of it' appeal. I have no real problem if people want to smoke it or not. I would prefer if they didn't drive while high or expose young children to it before they are old enough to make their own informed decision on it. S if you want to do it and you can be a little responsible about it, go for it. Fire that baby up and pass it around. There was always something cool about sitting around and shareing a joint or a bowl with your friends. Besides isin't shareing suppose to be a good thing?

Lets see I have the entire series, The Golden Ocean, The Unknown Shore, A Sea Of Words, Harbors and High Seas, Patrick O'Brian's Navy, The World of Jack Aubrey and I just picked up yesterday Jack Aubrey's Commands. The only things I don't have are the cookbook and a couple of his very early attemps a writting Testimonies and a couple of others whose names escape me right at the moment. Does that qualify me as a fan?

What is Horningold's history? I know he was a privateer during the Queen Anne's war. He was the mentor of Blackbeard as well as many others. He became a pirate hunter after accepting a pardon from Woodes Rodgers. But I have found little on the man himself, what did he look like, how old was he during parts of his career? stuff like that.

Art is a must unusual and elusive creature because it truly is in the eye of the beholder. I used to work in Washington, DC so I was able to go to the Smithsonian museums whenever I liked. I was always suprised at what sompeople thought was great art or at least art worthy enough to be placed in such renowned collection. I often wondered if I were to leave this in someones yard at night would they love it or accuse me of littering or worse. But I also found that the some of the pieces that I liked best my friends would go eh no big deal. Art and beauty can be found anywhere you just have to look for and enjoy it.

Maybe if more people could find away to spend christmas like Bonnie, and Hawkyns or some of the other ways mentioned here fewer people would dislike the holidays so much. I hate being called a Scrooge or a Grinch whenever I express my feelings on the suject. And how many times have us Scrooges and Grinches have to listen to those same holiday elves complain about how much work they have to do and how little time they have to do it in. Calling me names will not improve my attitude, or get me to help out. Tonight we're going to take my future grand-daughter to see the feastival of lights at James Island County Park. This is a three and half mile drive thru some of the most amazing displays of lights I've ever seen. She is only four years old and driving thru all those lights with the top down should be something special. And if we're real lucky maybe her twin brothers will be born tonight so that she can have a early christmas present as well. They're due anyday now and I know her mom is sure ready for them, man is she beat. Now I know most of you are thinking What were you complainingt about christmas for with all that going for you? Maybe your right, but it still doesn't relieve alot of the stress and pressures and negative crap that comes with this time of year. I am secretely hopeing that by seeing chritsmas through their eyes I can regain some of that christmas spirit that everyone thinks I should have. I do wish all of you and yours a Merry Christmas, and I hope it finds you safe and warm and celebrating on your own terms and in your own way.

(Stumbles back on soap box, removes hat placing over heart, bows and begins to sing.) Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Go stuff it up your branches! Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Go stuff it up your branches! I knows it's right, You know it's true. You don't like me, I don't like you! So Christmas tree, Oh Christmas Tree. Go stuff it up your branches! (Bows, returns hat to head, stumbles off of soap box in search of more drink.)

This may all be an assumption on my part but, if Hornigold wouldn't take English ships and was once out voted on taking a Ducth ship with an English captian, wouldn't patriotism have him fly an English flag only?

(Steping up on brightly decorated soap box, clears throat with swig of rum and begins.) This will be a very long rant.Ffeel free to pass thru without reading it. I feel I have no choice but to do it here so as not to hurt the feelings of the people I truely love who may misunderstand whatever it is I'm trying to say. (More rum) One of the biggest problems with christmas is the insincerity and hypocrisy that comes with it. This has been covered earlier, the feelin obligated to spend quality time with family and people we spend most of the year avoiding or hanging out with because we have little or nothing tin common. These times are always tense and uncomfortable for all involved. The conversations are awkward and shallow because everyone is trying to avoid upseting someone else or talking about a touchy subject that caused the strain in the first place. Greetings and wellwishes become hollow and meaningless. Don't get me wrong, not everyone has this. RumbaRue and Rummy are sincere when they talk about their feelings towards christmas and for that I envy them. Buying presents or receiving them shouldn't be a chore and something that should be dreaded but, to often it becomes just that. Buying something should come from the heart, because you really wish to show your affection and appreciation for someone not, because a time of year or retailer tells you to. (Takes another swig from bottle. Ranting is dry work!) I don't think I'm the only one and maybe some of you have the same problem but, as I got older my pesents have been mainly socks, underwear and at least one butt-ugly shirt or sweater that if you possibly knew me, would know that there is noway I would ever get this for myself. I know I shouldn't complain and I should be glad I'm getting anything at all. I really do like getting presents don't get me wrong, I really do. But, when the reason for giving me socks, underwear and butt-ugly shirts and sweaters is "Because we don't know what you like." or "Your hard to buy for." come on! Don't know what I like. Hello! I had a pirate wedding, I have swords hanging on my wall, I have a bookcase full of books on piracey, sailing ships and history. I have a small collection of games, puzzles and toys (Playmobil has great pirate stuff.) based on piracey. It's not a demand for pirate related gifts just a good start on figuring out what I might like. Socks, underwear, and butt-ugly shirts and sweaters kinda feel like a cop out to me and the only reason you bought them for me is because you felt obligated to get me something. If you were sincere in your gift of socks underwear and butt-ugly shirts and sweaters, I apologise for sounding ungrateful. (More rum, checks level of bottle to see how much longer rant can go on.) AS others have said christmas has become more work than fun. Why is it when someone else decides it's time to put up the tree and decorate I get "You do it!" or "When are you going to do it?" Because I don't want to? When the reasons for someone else are "I don't like climbing up an down the ladder." and "Stringing the lights are hard." and "Setting up the tree in the stand and getting it straight is to difficult." and the ever popular "Don't have time." How may I ask does this now become My responsebility? If you do decide to do something and it doesn't come out the way you think it should don't tell me to "FIX IT!". Christmas should be fun for everyone not work for a few. If you don't like spending the holiday in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up DON"T. Just because custom dictates that is they way it should be doesn't mean thats the way it is. IF you really don't enjoy it don't punish yourself or feel quilty about find some other way to handle situation so that you can enjoy the holidays too, you deserve it as much as anyone else. (Checking the bottle after another long pull decides to wrap it up, to the great relief of the listeners.) For my last main reason I think christmas blows, all the polictly correct crap that comes with it now adays. Is it a christmas tree or a holiday tree? Should schoolkids be allowed to sing Silent Night or because of the religious overtones only be allowed to sing Jingle Bell's? I don't know if Foxe has the same thing where he is but here in the good Ol'USofA there are chuches canceling services because christmas falls on a sunday this year. When asked why? one of the answers was (and get this) because people want and should spend christmas with their families. What is that all about? The one day that validates their very existance and their shutting down. When they spend the rest of the year promoting family values and togetherness to the point of overkill, especially in politics, their not holding serviceses because of christmas. When Santa Clause and presents take away from the Christ child and the whole reason for celebration we close church. COME ON, that is just to wrong! Well I've said my peace. (Drains the last of the bottle, and to the thunderous applause of those wishing he would shut-up, steps down from his brightly decorated soap box, making very sure he grinds the bow under his boot as he does so)

Those look amazing. I hope you'll post pictures of them being fired.

Man I hate waiting!

I know that there have been other threads about Oak Island in this and other forums. I know also that there are many web-sites dedicated to the same. I also know because I've watched them there have many documentaries and stories on the money pit by the history channel, the discovery channel ect. What I don't remember right at this moment, were the photographs and film of platforms and coconut fibers the real thing or were they simulations of what was supposed to be found? Other things I don't know or understand, what keeps grown adults coming back to the original pit. As a kid my friends and I would dig in hopes of finding something or building a secrete underground fort but thats not enough for grown-ups to throw in their hard earned chash and in some cases their lives. What is being used to convince them? And, am I the only one who worries that should there be something down there, that random core drilling may destroy whatevere is down there? Just letting the water in is going to damage somethings like parchment beyond repair. The whole idea of digging other pits is to hopefully hit a secret vault, if any, without setting off anymore boobie-traps. To drill random holes seems counter productive to me.

Man I hate to see that. I can't imagin the ammount of force it would take to snap the mast like that. I was lucky enough about a year ago when she was done here to be able to go out on her. It was only for about an hour or so and we never left the harbor but it was enough to get me hooked. I hope to see her again soon.

This is a great link! How did you find it? And are there others like it covering different events and time periods?

And that's the truth.

Thanks Captain Jim. I was just able to catch the last thrity minutes, it look great. With luck the history channel will repete it again soon. They usually do.

You may want to visit The Spirit Of South Carolina a ship being built at the Charleston Maritime Center. She is based on a pilot schooner built in 1879. They should be in the process of planking her hull about now. When finished she'll be used as a teaching ship for high school and college students to learn about sailing and South Carolina's maritime history. It's not hard to find, it's only a block away from where you catch the Fort Sumpter ferry and the new aquarium.

A few years back I watched a cannon drill here at Charlestown Landing where they used several layers of pantyhose to make the cartridge. When asked why I was told that it burns completly when fired with no residue or discharge, and it was very cheap and easy to find. When the cannon was fired over the pond only fire and smoke came out, nothing hit the water. The man giving the demo was also one of the park rangers, so he had the saftey of the park in mind.