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Pirates in Paradise
November 28th thru December 8th, 2002
Key West, Florida

The Tryal of
Anne Bonny and Mary Read

(all photos taken by Christine Markel Lampe, except where noted)

Page 1  (The Pirates in Paradise Festival)
Page 2 (Battles at Sea)    --    Page 3 (The Tryal)  
 Page 4 (The Thieves Market & Fight Circle)
Page 5 ("Give us a tune")    --    Page 6 (Pirate Portraits)

The two sorry, disreputable-looking females above are Anne Bonny (left) and Mary Read (right) (portrayed by Brandy Etheridge and Ravan McElderry).  You may have heard of their unnatural acts -- dressing in men's clothing, and taking up with a band of pirates under the captainship of Calico jack Rackham.   They fought alongside with the men pirates, as fierce and as dangerous as any of the men.

They were eventually caught by Captain  Barnett, who brought them into Port Royal, Jamaica.  The men pirates were tried first (and hung).  Now it is these women's turn to face the Vice-Admiralty court.

The women prisoners were first paraded through the streets on the way to the courthouse.

I wouldn't want to mess with these two.

The prisoners are put behind bars while they await tryal.  But I always thought it was those BEHIND the bars that were supposed to rattle them with the drinking mugs.

Grace O'Malley, as narrator, got the crowd settled down into a low roar, and then gave them the introduction to the tryal.

This is Sir Nicholas Lawes, governor of Jamaica, who is presiding over the Vice-Admiralty court.  (Portrayed by Capt. Finbar).

The bailiff reads the charges.
(Chris Suttle)

The first witness was Mrs. Dorothy Thomas.  She told of how the pirates captured her from her canoe, and took her aboard the pirate ship while rifling through her goods and possessions.  The women pirates threatened her life, telling Captain Rackham to shoot her.  But some shred of decency must have remained in Rackham, for her let her go on her way.
(Dorothy Thomas portrayed by Dawn Berry Bradley - aka Capt. Delilah)

Captain Spenlow tells of how he and some shipmates were captured and forced to spend some time with Rackham and his crew.
(Spydr)

The prisoners become agitaged with some of the testimony.  The jailer tries to keep them in line.
(Yellowbeard played the jailer).

Hosea Tisdell, proprietor of "Tizzy's" a local drinking establishment, told of how being the prisoner of pirates weren't so bad.  Here he gets fortification from his "medicine" before the bailiff snatches away the bottle.
(Arthur Whittam once again reprised the role of Tizzy)

One of the assistant Vice-Admiralty court judges must have been a loyal customer (or part owner) of Tizzy's.  The other side of the slate said "Tizzy's Tavern".
(Capt. Luigi was willing to play one of the justices).

Captain Barnett (who was booed roundly by the audience) told of how he and his crew subdued the pirates and captured their ship.  He told of the women pirates who were the only ones to fiercely resistance capture.
(Tony Kopec).

The courtroom sketch artist - Don Maitz -- with his sketches of the tryal participants.

See much more of the Pirates in Paradise festival ...

Page 1  (The Pirates in Paradise Festival)
Page 2 (Battles at Sea)    --    Page 3 (The Tryal)  
 Page 4 (The Thieves Market & Fight Circle)
Page 5 ("Give us a tune")    --    Page 6 (Pirate Portraits)

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Modified January 18, 2002
Web page design by Michael & Christine Markel Lampe.
© 2002 "No Quarter Given" . All rights reserved.
No don't you go piratin' any written material, graphics or photos from the "NO QUARTER GIVEN" website without permission, or we'll have to hunt you down, hand ya over to the crew, and let them have their way with ya. WARNIN': they've been a long time at sea.
Besides. . . , it ain't nice ta steal!