December 15, 1934
THE STATE
Page Seven
Anne ISonney— Woman Pirate
IMAGINE a wild-haired
woman, pistol* in the
belt of her pirate** garb
and a dagger in her teeth,
brandishing a gleaming cut¬
is** and clambering onto
tho deck of a bnrkentinc at
the head of a fierce band
of sea-robbers.
Such was North Carolina's most
notorious woman; — blood-thirsty and
cruel a* any corsair who ravaged the
roast of North America in the early
days of tin- eighteenth century. She
was the woman pirate. Anno Honney.
A prolific but inattentive mother,
unfaithful to her husband, yet an in¬
trepid and resolute fighter, she handled
pistol and cutlass as well as a man.
When her vessel was finally defeated
by an English naval sloop, Anne Ilon-
ney, with two others, was tho last to
leave the bloody deck, while her crew
sought shelter from the enemy's dead¬
ly cannon fire in the ship’s hold.
Cursing them for their cowardice, the
enraged woman fired her pistols, kill¬
ing one and wounding another "f her
own men.
Came to North Carolina as a Child
Anno came to this state, — which was
nt that time part of the province of
Carolina,— as a child. She was l«orn
III Cork, Ireland, probably ill the six¬
teen-nineties. Her father was an at¬
torney wlm was highly respected until,
alns! Anno was born,— the daughter
of his servant girl. Ho immediately
e|o|>ed to America, leaving bis affec¬
tionate and lawful wife. Little Anne
was brought along.
The father became
я
successful mer¬
chant and bought a plantation which
is thought to have boon in tho Cape
bear region of North Carolina, and
there the little girl grew up. When
her mother died, Anne *U|>erin tended
her father's domestic affairs.
In spite of her vicious disposition,
she had many suitors from respectable
families, probably because she was
heiress to her father's considerable
fortune. More masculine tban fem¬
inine, she was i|llick-tcuiperrd and eas¬
ily euinged. Once when an English
serving-woman irritated her, the hot-
tempered Anne sprang ll|M»n her and
disembowelled her with a carving
knife.
Disregarding In r local suitors, Anne
fell in love with n young sailor whoso
AS in in*(l rous mill inorc'ilivss ns any
I hi mill i*i* i* wlm sniloil fhc liiuli seas
during her day anil lime. Fow wo¬
men over have had a more glamor¬
ous career ihnn did ihe notorious
Лине.
ft}/ IIOXOII IIWKS
sole worldly goods were the elolhe* lie
wore. She married him.
The father, as impetuous a* the
dnughter, was enraged and turned her
out of doors. Tired of hum-drum
plantation life, the fiery Anne was
glad to follow the sen with her hus¬
band, and embarked with him for the
island of New Providence i.ff the roast
of New England.
New Surroundings
New Providence, a nc*t of bucca¬
neers, gave Anne a new, delightful
•.urroundiug of daring, dashing
м-а-
robber*. Ibi-ide these bold pirates,
а
sailor veined plain and stupid. One
day she deserted her hue-
band and, putting on men’*
clothes, ran away to sea
with Captain John Rack-
ham, one of the most feared
pirates of the day.
It waa Rnekham who had
led a successful mutiny
again-l Charles Vane, a friend ami
companion of Klaekheard, and with
his stolen vessel, he and Anne began
to terrorize the Spanish Main, steal¬
ing gold and cargoes.
She donned the clothes of a pirate,
girded to her side a cutlass, and hung
pistols in her l«-lt. During many voy¬
age* she sailed with Captain Kaekham.
ami whenever there was pirate'* work
to do, she was on deck to do it. With
every outward ap|>earance she was
а
sen-rohlmr, except that she wore no
bristling heard; hut her sun-burned
face
*«•
seamed and mannish enough
to scare the wit* from any unfortunate
merchant whose ship she plundered.
Frequent Vacations
Through all her corsairing, she
found lime to U<ar Kaekham children,
but after each child she again accom¬
panied her husband on his expeditions.
After the king’s proclamation in
171* offering to pardon all pirates.
Kaekham and Anne lived quietly
ashore. Hut chafing with inactivity,
they took up privateering under gov¬
ernment license. Hardly out to sea.
they again turned to unrestricted
piracy.
In November. lTXtt. near Port
Koynl, Jamaica, Amin's ship was set
upon and defeated by the English
naval sloop, ami on November 16 the
captain and eight of hi» un-lam crew,
including Anne and Mary Kend, an¬
other woman pirate al*oard, wore re¬
turns! to the Carolina*. Kaekham
was condemned and executed,- hanged
in chain*.
Ky a speeial favor just before the
execution, she was admitted to see her
husband. Instead of condoling him,
she glared contemptuously. She was
-orry to see him there, she (old him,
but if hr had fought the English sloop
like a man, ho would not I* waiting
to l« hanged like a dog. and with that
she walked away.
Anne's companion, Mary Kend, was
quite as masculine and saiiquinary.
Krry was an Engli-h woman reared
(Continued
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