![]() Yep, that’s right, the people who were opposing governments and stealing their ships decided to set up a loose government of their own in Nassau, Bahamas. That would come in handy for Charles Vane when the following year in 1717, he was leading his own crew after Jennings was chosen to become the unofficial mayor of the Republic of Pirates. I would be one of those people but Charles Vane probably wasn’t one. Some people might say that wasn’t a completely rational response. Jennings took his anger out by sinking Bellamy’s other smaller ships and canoes, killing whatever men were on it, then killing 20 English and Frenchman around, and finally burning down an innocent Englishman’s merchant ship. In 1716 Bellamy took control of one of Jennings’s ships and escaped. How ruthless? Well, one story involving Jennings being betrayed by another pirate Sam Bellamy should explain. In the end, they took off with 87,000 euros worth of gold, silver, and other items equivalent to over 5 million today.Ĭharles Vane was learning a lot from Henry Jennings including being ruthless. The crew reached the Florida camps and shipwreck, taking what they could and killing anyone who came in their way. Not much is known of Charles Vane prior to working with Jennings, he was possibly a privateer or part of the royal navy but what was known was his skill as a brilliant navigator and strategist on the high seas. ![]() What they didn’t realize is the moment their treasure hit the ocean it was as if a meal bell rang out to all the hungry pirates, one of which was Henry Jennings and his crew including Charles Vane. Over the next several months they tried to salvage their gold and silver from the ocean, building small camps along the coast. The Spanish fleet was hit by a terrible hurricane off the coast of Florida dumping all of their treasure into the sea while the men tried to salvage what they could, including their lives.īut almost 15 hundred sailors died in the storm with many others making their way to the sandy beaches of Florida. The Captain turned Vane over to Holford, who in turn took Vane back to Port Royal to hang.Now we all know that pirates were sailing the ocean blue looking for ships to plunder but we also know the sea is a harsh mistress no matter how well you treat her. He immediately told the Captain whom his new hand was and Vane was immediately clapped in irons. Holford happened to glance down an open hold and saw Vane busily at work. Unfortunately for Vane, Captain Holford happened to be an acquaintance of this Captain and upon a chance meeting at sea, came onboard to dine with the Captain. Vane worked hard on the new ship and was well respected by the captain and crew as a hard working, experienced sailor. Shortly after this, another ship would arrive, and this Captain knew nothing of Vane or his notorious past and the Captain was persuaded to take him off the island. No promises of good behavior on Vane's part would prevail and Holford further went on to say that if he were to meet up with Vane again, he would have in irons and take him to Port Royal to be hanged. Vane begged Holford to rescue him, and despite being old friends, Holford remarked "I shant trust you aboard my ship unless it is as a prisoner, for I shall have you caballing with my crew, knock me on the head, and run away with my ship a pirating". Vane and a few members of his crew managed to make it to a nearby island where he lived marooned for several months.Īfter some time, a former friend of Vane's by the name of Captain Holford, put into the island to take on fresh water. As soon as he once again regained his strength and went back on the account his ship was sunk by a sudden water spout. Unfortunately his luck would not hold up. ![]() He quickly re-established his ruthless reputation and once again became a scourge of the sea. Vane however was not discouraged by the turn of events and quickly recruited another crew. Vane lost the vote and with his supporters was put in a small sloop and cast adrift. His crew was outraged by this act of cowardice and his position as captain was put to vote. Vane and his crew happened upon a French Man-O-War and Vane being the prudent man that he was, elected not to attack the well armed ship, figuring its plunder was not worth the risk. At the height of his career, Vane made a critical error in judgment. Being popular with his crew and having and uncanny ability to find riches should have been enough to allow Vane to do just about as he pleased as Captain but it wasn't.
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