Charles Ellms
The Pirates Own Book: Authentic Narratives of the Exploits & Executions of the Most Notorious Buccaneers
(Illustrated Edition)
Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2017 OK Publishing
ISBN 978-80-272-3086-0
Table of Contents
Adventures and Exploits of Captain Avery
The Remarkable History of the Joassamee Pirates of the Persian Gulf
The Barbarous Conduct and Romantic Death of the Joassamee Chief, Rahmah-Ben-Jabir
The Life of Lafitte, the Famous Pirate of the Gulf of Mexico
History of the Adventures, Capture and Execution of the Spanish Pirates
The Life of Benito De Soto the Pirate of the Morning Star
The Adventures of Captain Robert Kidd
The Bloody Career and Execution of Vincent Benavides a Pirate on the West Coast of South America
Authentic History of the Malay Pirates of the Indian Ocean
The Adventures of Captain Condent
The Life of Captain Edward Low
Life and Adventures of Captain Edward England
History of the Ladrone Pirates
The Life, Career and Death of Captain Thomas White
The Life, Atrocities, and Bloody Death of Black Beard
The Exploits, Arrest, and Execution of Captain Charles Vane
The Adventures and Execution of Captain John Rackam
The Life and Exploits of Anne Bonney
The Adventures and Heroism of Mary Read
The Adventures, Trial and Execution of Captain Gow
Preface
In the mind of the mariner, there is a superstitious horror connected with the name of Pirate; and there are few subjects that interest and excite the curiosity of mankind generally, more than the desperate exploits, foul doings, and diabolical career of these monsters in human form. A piratical crew is generally formed of the desperadoes and runagates of every clime and nation. The pirate, from the perilous nature of his occupation, when not cruising on the ocean, the great highway of nations, selects the most lonely isles of the sea for his retreat, or secretes himself near the shores of rivers, bays and lagoons of thickly wooded and uninhabited countries, so that if pursued he can escape to the woods and mountain glens of the interior. The islands of the Indian Ocean, and the east and west coasts of Africa, as well as the West Indies, have been their haunts for centuries; and vessels navigating the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, are often captured by them, the passengers and crew murdered, the money and most valuable part of the cargo plundered, the vessel destroyed, thus obliterating all trace of their unhappy fate, and leaving friends and relatives to mourn their loss from the inclemencies of the elements, when they were butchered in cold blood by their fellow men, who by practically adopting the maxim that "dead men tell no tales," enable themselves to pursue their diabolical career with impunity. The pirate is truly fond of women and wine, and when not engaged in robbing, keeps maddened with intoxicating liquors, and passes his time in debauchery, singing old songs with chorusses like
"Drain, drain the bowl, each fearless soul,
Let the world wag as it will:
Let the heavens growl, let the devil howl,
Drain, drain the deep bowl and fill."
Thus his hours of relaxation are passed in wild and extravagant frolics amongst the lofty forests of palms and spicy groves of the Torrid Zone, and amidst the aromatic and beautiful flowering vegetable productions of that region. He has fruits delicious to taste, and as companions, the unsophisticated daughters of Africa and the Indies. It would be supposed that his wild career would be one of delight.
But the apprehension and foreboding of the