ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Sandra and I were heading south on I-95. I was on my way to the S.D. Lee Institute, and she was looking forward to a couple of days to read, nap, and eat – three of her favorite pastimes.
Since the institute was slated for St. Augustine, Fla., this year, we decided to be in America’s oldest city a day early and take in some of the sights. We planned to make one visit for sure: St. Augustine’s Pirate Museum. The museum boasts 800 authentic pirate artifacts. How could an ECU partisan miss that port of call?
We had programmed our GPS, Ms. Gups is her given name, to take us to the museum first. Since we would arrive in St.Aug hours before we could check into our motel, a stop at the museum seemed sensible. The folks in St.Aug have an understanding of a tourist’s most important need – a place to park. A huge pay-to-park lot sat just across the street from the museum, and $6 bought four hours.
The PirateMuseum, brainchild of pirate researcher Pat Croce, provides a sensible pathway through the maze of artifacts that covers a couple of hundred years of pillaging on the high seas. North Carolina’s own Blackbeard holds a prominent place in the museum.
But even more interesting than pirate personalities are the navigation tools, period books, logs, and medical supplies on display. One display features a mannequin performing a medical procedure on a brother mannequin, pirate style. The victim, I mean patient, is biting down on a belt to endure the pain. A flask of some potent potable stands close by. The formula was clear: A swig of whiskey, a bite on the belt … and hold still.
The museum also offers dozens of buccaneer weapons from cutlass to blunderbuss, flintlock pistol to rail-mounted rifle. Of course, the museum prominently displays a number of cannon taken from pirate ships.
One of the most interesting artifacts in the collection is the only authentic pirate treasure chest still in existence. The chest once belonged to 17th century pirate Capt. Thomas Tew. The 400-year-old chest features exquisite carvings and a hidden locking mechanism, a marvel of human creativity. The empty chest weighs 150 pounds.
Tew, born in Newport, R.I., was one of the first pirates to sail the “Pirate Round.” He took his ship around the Cape of Good Hopeinto the Indian Oceanand plundered ships of the Great Mogul of India.
Tew and his 40-man crew attacked and overcame a heavily armed ship belonging to the Indian Mogul. By the time he and his men divided the spoil, each man carried away the equivalent of $3.5 million in treasure. When Tew returned to Rhode Island, he was celebrated as a hero. He entertained the people of his home town by displaying his treasures and telling tales of how he acquired the booty.
Another important artifact is one of the three remaining Jolly Roger flags. The particular flag displayed at the museum dates from the mid-19th century and is the largest of the original Jolly Rogers.
Other interesting artifacts include one of the world’s first “Wanted” posters, the 1699 journal of Capt. Kidd’s last voyage, and a mock-up of Rogues Tavern, where many-a pirate stopped in for a drink … and maybe a fight. Several portraits of Sir Francis Drake adorn the tavern.
Interested in a pirate pistol or cutlass? The gift shop sells both authentic weapons and handsomely made replicas.
We spent several hours stepping back into history and learning the roots of pirate lore.
Since I was wearing an ECU sweatshirt, the lassies in the gift shop took to calling me “Papa Pirate.”
Arrrgh!
Papa Pirate is a columnist for The Free Press. You can reach him at mparker16@suddenlink.net or in care of this newspaper.