Keelhauling

By Crusader1307

Not necessarily a sole Pirate Punishment, the Practice of Keelhauling was used by Navies as well. The practice involved tying a long rope to the offending Crewman. Rarely were their hands or feet tied. The Subject would be thrown off from the ship's Bow. His body would be dragged alongside (and underneath) the Hull. After traveling the ''length of the ship'', He would be either hauled up – with the procedure enacted again (if needed). In all cases, wooden ships would have many months of encrusted barnacles growing into the wood. As a result, a body being drug along these would be horribly cut and slashed. Add salt water to the Torture and the Punishment was complete. In many cases, drowning was the ultimate cause of death. Also, sharks (attracted to the blood) – may also hasten death. Survivors were known – but not many. It was a form of legal punishment in The Dutch Navy as early as 1560. By 1853, most Countries had abolished the practice.