My close up experience with a Tall ship named “The Bounty”
We had a surprise visit to Erie, PA two days ago. When my brother in law told us after mass that the tall ships were going to show up in Erie, I got curious and I beamed excitedly to my husband. I haven’t seen ships around Pennsylvania. I thought Lake Erie is a small lake and no connections to the oceans, but I was wrong.
The area in the picture shows the back of the famous Erie Museum. It is the home port of the “Flagship Niagara”. Among the 13 tall ship silhouettes, Flagship Niagara is a square-rigged type tall ship. To Americans, the brig brought significant history in America. It is the flagship of Oliver Hazard Perry in the victorious Battle of Lake Erie during the war of 1812. The present Niagara tall ship incorporates some original timber in non-structural areas. It used to dock where the Bounty ship is this picture, but since The Bounty came from a long way in Greenport, Long Island, New York, It took Flagship Niagara’s place for a visit. It’s rig height is 115 feet which made it second tallest than Flagship Niagara who has 120 feet. Both ships are square-rigged so it has plenty of space.
I thought a tall ship is a “Tall” ship. You know, tall in height. I did research in the internet, it was more than what I have expected. In the web definitions, a Tall ship is a large traditionally rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques.
As we are getting closer in line to get inside “The Bounty”, I took a picture of its beautiful stern. Very classic design, isn’t it?
As I was looking at those poles, I was fascinated of how arranged and the great number of ropes it has. Surely no sailor would get strangled in those, wouldn’t they?
My husband and my father in law is in this picture. So many ropes!
We are so grateful to those people who were in the long line that they let us pass them to get inside the boat first. They saw we got a disabled companion which is my father in law.
George and I got pictures with the ship’s steering wheel in our background.
I was able to go down the lower deck. It is where the sailors sleep inside their hanging hammocks. I saw a wide space there that has a very nice ceiling.
The Bounty has four canons. It was used as a merchant ship before and not designed for a war. My husband got an information that this ship was being used many times in Hollywood movies. There was a movie about it’s history called “Mutiny in the Bounty” by Charles Bordhoff and it was used in “Pirates of the Carribean 2-The Deadman’s chest”, to name a few.
The present crew of the ship, told my husband that it was used as the “Edinburgh Trader” in the Pirates of the Carribean 2.
Photo credits above by wikimedia.
One interesting structure that I asked a question to a crew is the picture above. It’s an ancient device used to hauling the anchor by the use of clubs. Each crew will insert clubs into the square holes and turn around it to raise up or lower down an anchor. They didn’t use that at present. They got hidden modern device for that concern.
The Bounty ship has a figure head in it’s front face. She’s called “Bethia”. She’s the name of the wife of the first owner of the ship. She has a very conservative dress and stepping modestly in manner.
Overall, my close up experience increased my knowledge about America’s past. I am happy to get to know one of America’s History and to have met this wonderful and great peice of Art.
I read the novel and seen the movie- Mutiny on the Bounty. It's a very great movie. Great that you were able to see the real Bounty ship. Thanks for the post. God bless you all always.
Wow, Sir Mel. You are one classic novel reader! I haven't read the novel and haven't seen that movie. Will try to find and see it as you recommend it.