Anne Bonny - Pirate Queen Pt. 2
Meanwhile, back in Nassau, Woodes Rodgers had finally completed work on the fortress guarding the port. With over 50 guns now in place, he felt confident he could repel any attacking Spanish force. Calico Jack's long awaited pardon and letter of marque from Rodgers would not be coming any time soon. Rodgers did not have long to wait for the Spanish. On February 24, 1720, a Spanish force of four men-of-war, auxiliary vessels and transports carrying 1300 troops appeared outside the harbor. They did not attack, apparently surprised by the amount of weaponry trained on them from the fort. Dismayed, they decided to try a night assault - which failed miserably. Unsure what to do next, the fleet sailed aimlessly around the island for a few days and then shyly slinked away. Woodes Rodgers had won, not only had he saved Nassau for the British crown, but he had also removed the Bahamas as a base for the Pirates. The Golden Age of Piracy was coming to an end.
Some of the dwindling number who continued to sail the Caribbean was Calico Jack Rackam, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Hunting was poor all summer, Rackam and his crew were confined to seizing fishing boats and raiding shore installations for supplies. While operating off the coast of Jamaica, Rackam took a schooner and a couple of trading vessels. Learning of this, the Governor of Jamaica sent a fast sloop under the command of a Captain Barnet, to track down Calico Jack and put an end to piracy off his coasts. Carnet caught up with Calico Jack at Dry Harbor Bay. Unfortunatly, Rackam's crew were in the process of drinking themselves into oblivion and did not notice Barnet's ship standing toward them. In no condition to offer battle, Rackam tried to escape. His drunken crew managed to raise anchor and raised sail, but Barnet was soon upon them. As Barnet's crew swarmed aboard, most of Rackam's crew were cowering below decks, unable to swing a cutlass in a straight line. Anne and Mary, dressed in men's battle clothing, fought like demons. Slashing with cutlass and firing pistols they held off Barnet's men as best they could, but were soon overwhelmed. Barnet put the remaining pirates in chains and delivered them to the Governor at St. Iago de la Vega, Jamaica.
A month later, they were brought before a judge. Up until the trial, Anne and
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