Mitchell Loughlin’s Reviews > Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates > Status Update
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 140 of 320
Often when a pirate would take a boat there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. We envision them as quick affairs based on movies but often they would take there time sometimes spending days squeezing the crew for all they could. This often involved a heavy amount of torture when the invaded crew was not helpful. Torture seemed to be a much more common affair especially with merchant crews (Hense the mutinies)
— Nov 12, 2025 04:30AM
Like flag
Mitchell’s Previous Updates
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 178 of 320
Part of the reason carpenters were so valued was they were able to safely gut the internals of a ship that was intended to haul cargo. Removing walls, opening holes for guns and keeping the boat in good shape.
Pirates often had to beach there ships to check the bottom’s condition and scrape off all the seaweed that would otherwise cause drag
— 12 hours, 11 min ago
Pirates often had to beach there ships to check the bottom’s condition and scrape off all the seaweed that would otherwise cause drag
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 178 of 320
Realizing how little I care to read about pirate movies in the early 1900s. Snooze.
Pirate ships neeeed to have 3 attributes. Fast- sea worthy and armed to the teeth. Pirates , by the nature however could not afford to have a ship commissioned so they took what they could get. Often much smaller then those seen in movies do to there maneuverability
— 12 hours, 13 min ago
Pirate ships neeeed to have 3 attributes. Fast- sea worthy and armed to the teeth. Pirates , by the nature however could not afford to have a ship commissioned so they took what they could get. Often much smaller then those seen in movies do to there maneuverability
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 157 of 320
The end of the golden era of piracy was perhaps started with a massive earthquake in Jamaica which flooded or destroyed the majority of the long standing pirate communes. This was viewed as an opportunity to stamp out piracy and the English king appointed captain Hornigold (very pirate sounding) to govern the island, fortify defenses and limit the crime. It only kindof worked
— 13 hours, 25 min ago
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 140 of 320
The punishment for being found guilty of piracy was also heavy handed. Often the captain would be suspended in a metal cage unable to move at a port untill they died of starvation and the flesh began to rot. If they failed to plead guilty or otherwise they were tied to the ground and rocks would be added slowly untill the man or women was crushed to death or they plead.
Boats are a primo spot to to torture someone
— Nov 12, 2025 04:32AM
Boats are a primo spot to to torture someone
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 124 of 320
Pirates needed carpenters and coopers (barrel makers) and often took these skilled men from their prizes (surrendering ships). Other booty included household items that pirates had a hard time trading for on land including candles, rope, ship repair parts, pots, pans, rations. There goal was treasure but hey, a man’s got to eat.
Complaint:
Pictures isolated to the middle of the book instead of with related info
— Nov 11, 2025 04:41AM
Complaint:
Pictures isolated to the middle of the book instead of with related info
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 124 of 320
Black flags often meant that surrender would be offered. In fact many pirates would fire one warning shot showing the black flag and expect surrender. It was common for quickly surrendering ships to be treated without hostility.
The origin of the Jolly Roger is believed to come from a nickname of the devil old Roger
The flags often showed symbols of death and time to strike fear and haste into surrendering ships
— Nov 11, 2025 04:37AM
The origin of the Jolly Roger is believed to come from a nickname of the devil old Roger
The flags often showed symbols of death and time to strike fear and haste into surrendering ships
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 124 of 320
Flags
When thinking of imaginary surrounding pirates the first thing many minds will consider is the black flag with a skull and cross-bones/cutlases. These were often used but not the only flag spotted by pirates.
In fact many pirates rotated flags to portray different messages. They would occasionally hoist flags of various countries trying to fool other ships. Red flags signified no quarter (surrender)
— Nov 11, 2025 04:35AM
When thinking of imaginary surrounding pirates the first thing many minds will consider is the black flag with a skull and cross-bones/cutlases. These were often used but not the only flag spotted by pirates.
In fact many pirates rotated flags to portray different messages. They would occasionally hoist flags of various countries trying to fool other ships. Red flags signified no quarter (surrender)
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 104 of 320
Also interesting is that the shares of spoils were divided fairly evenly. The captain, doctor, quartermaster, and carpenter would get 2-5x the regular share of the men which was considered fair but never did they hoard all the value. Even still many of the men on board would blow all of there income on gambling, and buying “items of little worth”
— Nov 10, 2025 04:18AM
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 104 of 320
Some of the rules set forth also governed there expected behavior with “the later sex” but did not ever outline relationships within the crew. There are two main thoughts on why’ either it was so rampant and expected that it need not be said or pirates were too many to ever think about having gay sex.
That being said captains were oft accused of taking advantage of young men on the crew
— Nov 10, 2025 04:16AM
That being said captains were oft accused of taking advantage of young men on the crew
Mitchell Loughlin
is on page 104 of 320
They were often drunk, having preferred strong liquor to water when they could find it. Many of there revelries were caused by the influence of alcohol.
— Nov 10, 2025 04:16AM
