Captain Edward Beard’s ship, The Vandalia, was spotted sailing with ease near the hollow. A week from that sighting….the ship was found washed ashore near McKenzie Head. All were lost they say…..no survivors were ever found.

But, Here me hearties is where the story truly begins: You see, While Edward Beard was a respectable Gentleman….that could not be said of his entire crew….for among the sailors are a few of the pirating kind. A family ….believe it or not ! An entire family had talked their way on to The Vandalia. To Beard….they were merely a family working their way to the west coast of America, little did he know, they were pirates come to plunder his cargo.

The day after the last sighting of The Vandalia…….the pirates decided the time was right and the ship was ripe for plundering. Cannon Ball Barney and Lucy Dagger were a mean pair, but they couldn’t hold a candle to their daughters Mini Morgan and Goldie….the Terror of the 7 Seas! Such a fight as you have never seen occurred that day. There was blood on every surface….a horrible sight to be sure. When all was said and done….the only ones left to tell the tale…..were the pirates. Barney took the helm of the Vandalia, Lucy blew on her conch shell horn as hard as she could, calling to their mates on the Terrible Tilly. Mini Morgan and Goldie threw Captain Beard’s body overboard….not caring if his body smudged a bit of blood on their garments. Yes…those two are a scary pair to draw to!!

As Barney was sailing near McKenzie Head….The Terrible Tilly sailed by Diabolical Dee and Henry Bowen came into view. They pulled alongside the Vandalia and all reloaded the precious cargo of Tea, Calico, Silks and Rum from the Vandalia to the Terrible Tilly. Once everyone was back on board the Terrible Tilly….. back towards the hollow they went. Docking nearby and storing their treasures to be picked up at a later date.

Now some claim to have seen Captain Beard roaming the hollow…. looking for his lost crew, but we know, he is really searching for those scallywags that did the murderous deed. Their decedents still pirate these shores today, taking the names of their ancestors to reign mayhem & terror on the high seas in today’s world. Story to be continued…Maybe in the future.

By Maggie2Bears Pirate Teller of Tales