Pirates really forced prisoners walk the plank, but not as often as we think

But not as often as we think makes the modern pop culture. Walking on the board, we believe ordinary pirated punishment and / or penalty, but in fact, such cases were rare, and most of them happened after the "golden age" of piracy. One of the most notorious cases was documented in 1829, the year when a group of pirates boarded the Dutch ship "Frederik Van" in the Caribbean, and forced the crew walk the plank with a blindfold and a priveshennymi belts cannonballs.

In general, this theatrical performance, to say the least, inefficient. If the crew is useless, it is much easier and faster was to throw all overboard. Of course, pirates sometimes be cruel and resorted to torture, but it was done in order to get the right information and not as a prelude to murder. Historians believe that walking the plank used infrequently, if only because that the pirates did not have time for such entertainment - agree that when you capture a ship with intent to rob, it is in your interest as soon as possible to leave "the scene».

via factroom.ru