PIRATES Ssfix.Qxd

E IFF RE D N 52 T DISCOVERDISCOVER FAMOUS PIRATES B P LAC P A KBEARD A IIRRAATT Edward Teach, E E ♠ E F R better known as Top Quality PlayingPlaying CardsCards IF E ♠ SS N Plastic Coated D Blackbeard, was T one of the most feared and famous 52 pirates that operated Superior Print along the Caribbean and A Quality PIR Atlantic coasts from ATE TR 1717-18. Blackbeard ♦ EAS was most infamous for U RE his frightening appear- ance. He was huge man with wild bloodshot eyes, and a mass of tangled A hair and beard that was twisted into dreadlocks, black ribbons. In battle, he made himself andeven thenmore boundfearsome with by ♦ wearing smoldering cannon fuses stuffed under his hat, creating black smoke wafting about his head. During raids, Blackbeard car- ried his cutlass between his teeth as he scaled the side of a The lure of treasure was the driving force behind all the ship. He was hunted down by a British Navy crew risks taken by Pirates. It was ♠ at Ocracoke Inlet in 1718. possible to acquire more booty Blackbeard fought a furious battle, and was slain ♠ in a single raid than a man or jewelry. It was small, light, only after receiving over 20 cutlass wounds, and could earn in a lifetime of regu- and easy to carry and was A five pistol shots. lar work. In 1693, Thomas widely accepted as currency. A Tew once plundered a ship in Other spoils were more WALKING THE PLANK the Indian Ocean where each practical: tobacco, weapons, food, alco- member received 3000 hol, and the all important doc- K K ♦ English pounds, equal to tor’s medical chest. There are over 3 million today! The only a few known cases of most prized treasure was pirates actually burying ♦ ♦ A gold and silver; either in Playing Cards with their treasure. William featured on the card faces Kidd buried treasure on a 52 IMAGES the form of small island off the tip of coins, bars Long Island, NY. It was K later recovered. Pirates typically divided up the ♦ PIR Poker ♣ ATE F Size LA GS A K Walking the plank is a form infested waters, as these preda- of execution that involved the tors often followed a ship. In ♣ victim being forced to walk off fact, there is little evidence of the end of a wooden plank or this practice ever being wide- beam extended over the side of spread, and it seems a ship, thereby falling into more likely that victims JACK RACKHAM the water to drown, were simply thrown over ♦ ♦ sometimes with bound the side of the ship. The hands. Even if the hands pirate who is often credit- THOMAS TEW weren’t bound, there was ed with this idea is the K K the real risk of shark- pirate ATTACK STRATEGY Q Q ♣ ♣ ♣ K Q P LI IR FE O A ♣ ♥ TE E N B NTE OAR RT D AI K NM ENT Pirates would rely on variety open fire and rapidly board of tactics that included decep- their prey. Another tactic was to Q tion, surprise, speed, boldness frighten the ship into surrender- and terror to capture a ship. ing as Pirates had a reputation One common ploy was to fly for cruelty that many lived up ♥ the flag of a friendly nation to! They knew that their victims while approaching. Ropes were would surrender more easily if sometimes dragged behind the resistance was punished by tor- Pirate ship to slow her ture or death. Another down, giving the impres- advantage was the speed ♣ ♣ There was little to do when sion of a slow merchant of a Pirate sloop which not on watch or stalking a mer- ship. At the last moment usually made escape chant ship. Pirates would eat, chew tobacco, drink rum, play Q FER the flag would be replaced impossible, unless the Q IF E card games, and gamble with D N with the skull and cross- defenders put up a fight sional musicians to entertain T bones, and the pirates and damaged the Pirate dice. They would also the crew. The musicians would hiding below deck would vessel. • LIST OF ALL 52 CARDS IS ♥ make their own entertain- strike up jigs in the evening so 52 ment by playing musical Pirates could dance. They also AVAILABLE instruments, such as a played during many raids, Q hornpipe or fiddle. believing that Pirates • SAMPLE DISPLAYER AVAILABLE Sometimes, Pirates would attack more would employ profes- fiercely than ever! Sea to Sky Photography ♥ Q E IFF RE D N 52 T.

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