Good Fortune And Pirates: A Tale Of Two Extremes

The Good Fortune was an English merchant ship that was attacked by Ned Low and his pirates. The crew and captain were slaughtered, and the ship was set ablaze and sunk. Abigail Ashe, who was on board, was taken captive with the intent of ransoming her to her father, the Governor of the Province of Carolina. Bartholomew Roberts was a notorious Welsh pirate who captured many ships, including one he renamed Good Fortune. Roberts was known for his navigational skills, his outspoken and opinionated personality, and his preference for fine clothing and jewellery. He created his own pirate code and adopted an early variant of the Skull and Crossbones flag. Roberts' exploits and capture inspired fictional characters and stories, and he is considered one of the most successful pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy.

The Good Fortune ship was attacked by pirates, who massacred the crew and captain

The Good Fortune ship was attacked by pirates led by Ned Low. Captain Jefferson, in a wise move, decided to surrender, stating that if they behaved rationally and civilly, the pirates would do the same as they had nothing to gain from bloodshed. However, the first mate, Fogg, was uneasy. When the pirates boarded, they were given the ship's manifest. As the pirates read through it and searched the hold, they noticed something that caught their attention. They gathered all their men and fired their weapons at the merchant crew in the well deck, massacring them.

The pirates then retrieved a sickly Abigail Ashe from the hold, intending to ransom her to her father, Lord Peter Ashe, Governor of the Province of Carolina. They set the ship ablaze and departed for Nassau. The Good Fortune burned as the Fancy sailed away.

Pirates demanded a ransom for Abigail Ashe, intending to profit from her father's status

The Good Fortune was an English merchant ship that was attacked by Ned Low, a notorious pirate. The ship's crew and captain were slaughtered by Low's men, and the ship was set ablaze and sunk. Abigail Ashe, a passenger on the Good Fortune, was taken by Low's men, who intended to ransom her back to her father, Lord Peter Ashe, Governor of the Province of Carolina.

The pirates boarded the Good Fortune and demanded to see the ship's manifest. As they searched the hold, they noticed Abigail Ashe and brought her up from the hold, intending to ransom her. They then burned the ship and departed for Nassau.

The pirates attempted to sell the Good Fortune's cargo to the Guthries in Nassau, but the Guthries refused to pay full price as the cargo was covered in blood. Eleanor Guthrie, upon learning of the fate of the Good Fortune, confronted Max and Jack Rackham, demanding to know how the lead on the Good Fortune ended up in the hands of Ned Low.

Abigail Ashe, clearly traumatized by the experience, had a nightmare that she was back on the Good Fortune, hiding below decks while the ship's crew was slaughtered.

The fate of Abigail Ashe after her capture and the outcome of the ransom attempt are not mentioned in the source.

Ransoming hostages is a lucrative business for pirates, who have received millions

Piracy has been a lucrative business for centuries, with ransoming hostages being one of the most common ways pirates made their money. In the Golden Age of Piracy, Bartholomew Roberts, also known as The Great Pyrate or Black Bart, was one of the most successful pirates. He captured over 400 ships, including fishing boats and slave ships, and raided them for valuables. Roberts also adopted an early variant of the Skull and Crossbones flag, which has become synonymous with piracy.

Pirates would often target merchant ships, knowing they carried valuable cargo. For example, the English merchantman Good Fortune was attacked by Ned Low and his men, who massacred the crew and captain and set the ship ablaze. They also captured a passenger, Abigail Ashe, intending to ransom her back to her father, the Governor of the Province of Carolina.

Pirates would also target ships carrying important individuals, such as governors or royalty, as they knew a higher ransom could be demanded for these hostages. For instance, Captain Howell Davis intended to hold the governor of Príncipe hostage for ransom, although this plan was ultimately unsuccessful.

In modern times, piracy for ransom has continued to be a profitable venture. In 2017, the UK Supreme Court heard the case of The Longchamp, a vessel boarded and hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates demanded a $6 million ransom, and after 51 days of negotiation, a ransom of $1.85 million was paid, and the vessel and its cargo were released.

Ransoming hostages has proven to be a lucrative business for pirates throughout history, with the practice continuing to this day. The promise of large sums of money has enticed pirates to capture and hold hostages, causing disruption to trade and endangering the lives of those who travel by sea.

Ransoms fund pirate operations, increasing attacks and costs for the shipping industry

Piracy is a lucrative business, and ransoms are a key part of this. When a ship is captured, pirates will often demand a ransom for the release of the vessel, its cargo, and its crew. For example, in the case of The Longchamp, pirates demanded a $6 million ransom, which was negotiated down to $1.85 million. This money funds pirate operations, allowing them to continue their activities and target more ships.

The payment of ransoms has a significant impact on the shipping industry. When a ship is captured, the owners may be forced to pay a large sum to secure the release of their vessel and crew. This can cause financial strain on shipping companies, particularly if they do not have insurance to cover the ransom payment. In addition, the time spent negotiating a ransom and the delay in operations during the capture can result in significant operating expenses for the shipowners. These costs are often passed on to cargo owners or insurers through general average contributions.

The payment of ransoms also encourages further attacks by pirates. When pirates successfully obtain a ransom, they gain the financial means to continue their operations and plan future attacks. This can lead to an increase in the frequency and sophistication of pirate attacks, posing a greater threat to the shipping industry.

To mitigate the impact of ransoms on their operations, shipping companies can take several measures. One option is to obtain adequate insurance coverage, including kidnap and ransom (K&R) insurance and War Risks policies. This ensures that the financial burden of a ransom payment is shared with insurers. Additionally, companies can invest in security measures to prevent pirate attacks, such as employing security personnel or implementing anti-piracy technologies.

Overall, ransoms play a significant role in funding pirate operations and can have a substantial impact on the shipping industry. The payment of ransoms can result in increased attacks, higher costs for shipping companies, and potential disruptions to global trade. To protect their operations, shipping companies must carefully consider their insurance coverage and security measures to reduce the risk of piracy and minimize the impact of ransoms.

Banning ransoms may prevent future attacks but could endanger hostages

Banning ransoms may be an effective way to prevent future pirate attacks, but it could also put the lives of hostages at risk.

The payment of ransoms to pirates has been a contentious issue for centuries. On the one hand, it can be argued that paying a ransom encourages future attacks and perpetuates a cycle of violence. By refusing to pay ransoms, nations and shipping companies could disincentivise piracy and potentially reduce the number of attacks.

On the other hand, banning ransoms could endanger the lives of hostages. Pirates may be more likely to resort to violence if they know they will not receive a ransom, potentially leading to more fatalities. In addition, the ban on ransoms could make pirates more desperate and therefore more dangerous.

The decision to ban ransoms is a difficult one, weighing the potential benefits of reduced attacks against the risk to individual hostages. There are arguments to be made on both sides, and ultimately, the decision may come down to a value judgment on the relative importance of collective versus individual safety.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of banning ransoms as a strategy to prevent attacks may be questionable. Pirates may adapt their tactics and find alternative ways to obtain financial benefits, such as through the theft and sale of cargo. In addition, the ban on ransoms could drive piracy further underground, making it more difficult to track and combat.

Finally, it is important to consider the potential impact on international relations. Banning ransoms could complicate negotiations and increase tensions between nations, especially if hostages from multiple countries are involved.

In conclusion, while banning ransoms may be a tempting strategy to reduce pirate attacks, it is a complex issue with potential consequences for the safety of hostages and international relations. A comprehensive approach to addressing piracy should consider a range of measures beyond simply banning ransoms.

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