Bloodthirsty Pirates to Roam Ancient City
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, February 21, 2007. Villainous pirates will once more hold St. Augustine in their grip when an authentic re-creation of one of the darkest days in the Oldest City's long history takes place on Saturday, March 3. The "Sack of St. Augustine: Captain Robert Searle's Raid of 1668" will provide spectators with a vivid look at the horrors inflicted on the city's residents by marauding pirates of the Caribbean.
Sailing from Jamaica to loot the silver ingots stored in the Royal Treasury in St. Augustine, Searle and his men descended on the sleeping city under cover of darkness and proceeded to sack the town. By morning, sixty of St. Augustine's men, women and children were dead in the streets. When their looting was complete, the pirates selected every St. Augustinian they considered to not be of "pure Spanish blood" and sailed away with them as captives to be sold into slavery. As a result of this horrible raid, Queen Mariana of Spain authorized funding to build the Castillo de San Marcos - a fortress that not only discouraged future pirate attacks, but also serves today as a reminder of St. Augustine's long role as an important outpost of the Spanish Empire.
From 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, the pirate encampment at the Fountain of Youth Park will be open to the public and authentic 17th century weapons, equipment and food will be on display. Admission to the park is $6 for adults and $3 for children. At 5 p.m., the pirates will begin their attack on the city by assaulting Spanish defenders at the Plaza de la Constitucion. The re-enactment is free of charge and spectators can join the retreating soldiers and townspeople as they flee for their lives up historic St. George Street.
For more information on Searle's Raid, go to www.searlesbuccaneers.org. The event is funded in part by a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. For more information on events and special accommodation packages for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau's website www.Getaway4Florida.com or call 1.800.418.7529.
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