The
Barnegat Pirates
I'll tell you a tale of pirates. No, not the kind we're
told
walked along on pegged legs and buried chests of gold.
These pirates, sent to Barnegat before the settlers came,
'tis said, they camped upon the beach, with piracy their game.
Outcasts from other nations, they fed on nature's store,
deriving all their worldly goods from vessels lured ashore.
Also said of these plunderers, their custom was, at night,
to fasten lanterns to a mule to imitate ship's light.
Then, when a vessel came in view, mistook and thrown off course,
was grounded, then free booters would swarm aboard, by force.
The crews were powerless to stop them, beached upon strange land.
No organized law was enforced to stop this terrorist band.
They'd strip the vessel of its cargo, taking all they'd choose.
These lawless men, tradition says, then victimized the crews.
Are these tales handed down the truth, or colorful folklore?
Old claims like these are hard to die; we'll never know for sure.
- Lillian Arnold Lopez "Pineylore"