BILLY BONES

I went to a pyrate party in Seattle last month, in a little bar called the TNT. I had heard that next door, there was a bar with jazz in it, so out of curiosity, I and a few other pirate-types walked over. Well, they had a cover charge, but the owner said we could come in for free since we were in our pyrate garb. He took me to the back, where the band was, and low and behold, there was the interior of a pirate ship! The captain's quarters formed part of the building! It was really well done, but seemed really out of place in this jazz club. Turns out, the place used to be the Benbow Inn. Ever since then, I thought how cool it would be to buy the place and restore the Inn. The current owner's a pretty nice guy and the jazz was great, so I'd hate to move him, but would it ever be cool to open it as a pirate bar again!!!

Oh, as as far as the cutlass, find something you like, as long as it was made in or before your time period. You can look at photos of known Confederate cutlasses, and never find two alike. They were not standardized! More than likely, a U.S. naval cutlass will be the most appropriate. True, the Confederacy manufactured some cutlasses, and those are the only ones you're going to find photos of, because it stands to reason that a Confederate used them. Like any Confederate sailor or soldier, you're going to use the easiest cutlass to aquire, which is the Federal (Union) cutlass. You don't see alot of photos of those identified as Confederate-used, because it would be hard to prove. I'm willing to bet that well over half the cutlasses used by Confederate sailors were captured Federal cutlasses. Remember, before the war, all sailors had the Federal cutlass. Why would they change their cutlass to a Confederate manufactured one? I've done alot of research on this, as I was propmaster for "The Hunley"," Ironclads", etc.

If the Confederacy preferred .44 revolvers, then go with a Colt Army. Don't pick a Navy simply because it's a navy. That just means it's .36 cal. Besides, the Navy frame and cylinder were not designed for a .44, and weakens the entire revolver. Why worry so much? Stick with a Colt if you're worried about authenticity. No one can say that's wrong. Another suggestion would be a Belgian, or English percission pistol. I wouldn't get a Lemat. The odds of you having one (as a common sailor) are slim, besides the fact that they were primarily a horseman's weapon, and were used by officers for the most part. Sure, they're cool, but if I was a sailor, I wouldn't want a bulky revolver with a huge holster on my side.

A bag o' spilled coins, a broadsheet from a pyrate trial, stuff like that. See ya soon, mate

Bess, ya make me old heart skip a beat! sigh.....'Course I mean no harm, lady. Don't want me heart to skip more beats than is necessary.

It's called "The Rebel Private", about a soldier in the 5th Texas I believe. Not for publication yet, but it may be starring Orlando Bloom.

Silverton, Oregon

Dirty Billy's a great guy. I've worked with him many times, and he always came through. Flint, feel better soon, even though your men are after me map! Billy Bones

Deacon, All I know for sure is Galveston. I do know that we'll be closer to the Houston area at some point, but not sure when. I can drive anywhere though. I used to do a little western reenacting back when I was younger. Anyway, I'll know more later, or you can name a place, and I'll be there.

I read Blackbeard and Other Pirates of the Atlantic Coast by Nancy Roberts, and I also found it to be the worst book on pirates I'd ever read. Blackbeard's last words were changed (Damn to darn) and Tew reaches for his revolver and his binoculars. I actually didn't read beyond that. If yer gonna write about pirates, you might try crackin' a book on weapons and accoutrements appropriate for the time period. She wrote books on ghosts before that. Seems to me she also got pretty literary and made up situations and dialogue that were pretty bogus.

Wish I could make it!

Happy b-day, Capt. I'll drink a toast to ya!

I've been hired for a film in the SE Texas area, and should be there in late March and for at least a couple of months beyond that. Do you have any events or anything coming up? If you do, I'd like to participate, or at least meet up for a couple o' rums. Thanks.

OK, according to a book I just read, one David Jones was the first mate on a pirate ship in 1630. He was a master at scuttling ships, and if the captain didn't want to keep it, Davy Jones scuttled it. Now this was a kid's picture book, but all the other info was pretty much on the money. No mention of the pirate ship's name, the captain's name, or any other documentation.???

Merry, I'm glad to be celebratin' the anniversary of yer birth. darlin'. You keep the pub interestin' and fun. I'd give ya somethin' lovely, if we were in the same port, but instead, I'll toast ya, and wish you the best birthday one can have! XOXO, Bill

Thanks for lettin' me hang out with you all. Handsome? Debonair? Better get yer deadlights checked, Nigel. I enjoyed meself....wish I could have said goodbye ta Slow..Sloe...well, Gin. I'm sorry I missed the Goddess singin'. I musta bin drinkin' rum next door at the time. Aw well, next time maybe. Regards, B.B. P.S. Any pics?

Maggie, have a great birthday! You're a sweetie!

Ties. Don't wear 'em, but I have a few.

Happy Birthday, me dove. Mine was 5 days ago. We'll toast ourselves at the TNT tomorrow.

Wartooth..I live in Silverton. ....RENO? Dreamie...That ya are, love. Wish I could meet ya this weekend, but another time, no doubt.

Sashes were worn to protect your clothing from belts and other equipment. Of course, in the military style, colors were used to designate rank. I wear my belt over my sash.

oops, ya be under 21 years of age. My mistake, love.

Darlin' Maggie, I for one, had computer problems. These infernal machines shall never catch on. See ya the 21st, I hope.

Thank ya shipmates! I be one o' the oldest pyrates ta sail these waters, I'm sure. And I've never seen Execution Dock! A round for everyone on me, if I might be permitted.

Hey guys, since I am a propmaster, I bet I can answer the double-sided as opposed to the single-sided question. Probably it was the director's call. I don't know when the Isle scenes were filmed, but I'm sure the director didn't want to see the backside of the coin, especially in the chest. Too confusing for the audience. It would appear that the coins were different. Somewhere during filming, the propmaster switched all the coins to double-sided to correct this. Happens all the time!. When a coin is shown by itself, it doesn't matter. The audience can see both sides when it's spinning, and realize it's the same coin. If you saw 800 coins together in a chest, and especially when Jack's handling them, no matter which way they fell, they'd be heads up! No confusion!