Under The Black Flag, Philipsburg Mail (Article, 1899)

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Under the Black Flag

Two Women Known to Have Been Pirates on the Spanish Main.

In the old days, when piracy flourished along the Spanish main and when buccaneers had headquarters in many islands of the West Indies, Mary Read and Anne Bonny sailed under the black flag. The first named was an English girl who had worn boy's clothes from childhood to hide a family secret. For a while she served on an English warship and then sailed for Cuba on a merchant vessel, which was captured by pirates. She joined the gang and thus met Anne Bonny. The latter was also disguised as a man, and, not knowing Mary to be a female, fell in love with her, revealing her own sex. Mary was then obliged to make a similar revelation. The pair served at their profession for many years. Finally they were taken prisoners by a war vessel. Mary Read was sent to prison in Jamaica, where she ended her days. What became of Anne is not known.