Pirates in Paradise 2008 - Key West, Fl
Extra Page: M.A. d'Dogge Cannon Crew: Anatomy of a Firing
(Photo: Poppa Ratsey, Callahan Digital Art)
It is a tradition for me to be on a cannon crew because I still think
it's funny to be a cannon firing surgeon. ("I puts 'em in and I
takes 'em out.") This year, lots of people wanted to fire cannon,
so they assembled several cannon crews for the second battle with the
pirates. M.A. d'Dogge has been involved with cannon firing through Civil
War re-enactments for many years, so he headed up the team of which I
became a part. In my three previous turns at cannoneering (PiP '07,
Black Beard Festival '08 and Talk Like a Pirate Day '08) I have never
been on such a well-organized team. M.A. d'Dogge did a splendid job
explaining all the roles of the team.
At right you can see the core of the M.A. d'Dogge Cannon Crew looking confused (a typical state for us). From left, Edward O'Keefe - barrel Swabber and Load Rammer; Mr. d'Dogge - Gun Captain; Mission (myself) - Primer and Gun Firer (I believe that M.A. d'Dogge said I was a gun corporal or some such) and Mad Dog - Loader and Powder Handler. We decided to have two people named Mad Dog on the crew to optimize possibilities for confusion.
(Photo: Callahans, Callahan Digital Art)
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(Photo: Callahans, Callahan Digital Art)
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(Photo: Cheeky)
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(Photo: James Callahan)
The Firing! Above top from left: Gun Captain M.A. d'Dogge
pontificating, Edward swabbing the gun, Mission pricking the gun.
Left: The crew ready to fire, awaiting the Viceroy's pleasure.
Below: Mission using the slow match to fire the cannon while Mad Dog & Edward cover their ears. (It's loud!)
(Photo: James Callahan)
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(Photo: Nichole Andreyko, Callahan Digital Art)
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Below: The cannon actually firing. Right, Edward O'Keefe: "Any cannon firing you can walk away from with all your limbs is a good cannon firing."
(Photo: Nichole, Callahan Digital Art)
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(Photo: Callahan Digital Art)
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