When Cayman was a lair for pirates!
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from October 1984.
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In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht brought peace to these warring countries, putting an end to legitimate privateering, and from then on the pirates had the field (or the sea) to themselves.
All of them, privateers and pirates alike, used the Cayman Islands as a safe harbour for careening their ships, for taking on water and provisions, especially turtle meat, and for concealing their booty. The islands, being very low-lying, were difficult to see from any distance, and thus made an excellent hiding-place.
Foremost among the privateers was the Welshman, Sir Henry Morgan born in 1635, who was kidnapped and sold into indentured servitude in Barbados. At the expiration of his time there, he went to Jamaica and embarked upon a long and successful buccaneering career, attacking Spanish, French and Dutch shipping.
He and his followers made extensive use of the Cayman Islands in order to hide out and plan their raids. In 1674, he was knighted and appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica, in official acknowledgement of his exploits on behalf of the British Crown. Colourful Brute
Of the pirates who frequented the Caymans in the 18th century, probably the most notorious was Edward Thatch (or Teach), known as Blackbeard. His career was short-less than two years - but colourful, for he was a showman as well as a real brute.
He cultivated a long beard, twisted with ribbons, carried three brace of pistols, and had a habit of sticking lighted matches under the brim of his hat to strike terror into the hearts of the beholders. He had a more unpleasant habit of shooting at his own crewmen for sport; his gunner, Israel Hands, whom he lamed for life in this manner, was later immortalized in Stevenson's "Treasure Island."
Other noted pirates in Cayman waters were Thomas Anstis-whose vessel, Morning Star, was wrecked on the rocks at East End - John Fenn, George Lowther and Edward Low. The latter pair joined forces at West Bay, where they had both put in for water.
In 1730, another famous pirate, Neal Walker, plundered some 16,000 silver pieces of eight and a large quantity of gold from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Genoese which had foundered on the shoals of Pedro Bank, off Jamaica.
He divided his loot between his hide-outs at East End in Grand Cayman and Black River in Jamaica. The same year, he made off with a cargo of excellent French wines and brandies from a Spanish brig which was stranded on Little Cayman.
Little Cayman boasts a spot known as "Bloody Bay." The story goes that six pirate ships were anchored in Cont'd. on page A8 South Hole Sound, where they were discovered and trapped by the British. Carrying their loot, the pirates left their ships and started marching across the island, hoping to join up with a seventh pirate ship which was anchored at the present Bloody Bay on the north shore. Gold Never Found The British landed troops and caught up with them, killing or capturing all the pirates. It was said that the whole bay was red with pirate blood - hence the name. All seven ships were destroyed, but the gold was never found!
Every district of Grand Cayman has its stories and relics of pirate days. East End is especially rich in legends, many of which have been recorded by Mrs Doris Levy, the unofficial historian of that district.
During the 17th century, guns were massed on the port side of Gun Bluff to ward off the approach of buccaneers; the guns were still there until about 1966, Mrs Levy recalls.
"Sparrow Hawk," a narrow strip of ironshore connecting two bays in the area between Gun Bay and East End, was a seat of piracy during the 17th century. The pirates built "ranches" (shelters) along the coast in case bad weather should suddenly prevent them from returning to their brigs. The shelters were made of canvas, well greased with turtle fat.
The last memento of the pirates in Mrs Levy's memory was an anchor and chain off Sparrow Hawk, used by pirates as a marker to direct them to their booty. The great hurricane in 1932 either carried it away or buried it.
After their acts of piracy, the buccaneers came to "Small Island", as they called Cayman, to bury some of their gold and pieces of eight. They cast lots among themselves, it is told, and he on whom the lot fell hid the plunder and was killed and buried by it as a ghostly guardian, giving rise to many tales of "duppies" reported by local folks.
Up until about 1958, it was still possible to trace the pirates' paths in some places before the bush swallowed Cont'd. on page A9
