Chloe Adams
Before electricity, candles were used for light on ships, but they posed a fire risk, especially on wooden vessels. Pirates, who embraced a more relaxed lifestyle, allowed smoking on their ships, which further increased the risk of fires. Pirate ships were essentially floating death traps, held together with tar and waterproofed with pitch, and they were filled with fire. The galley kept a kitchen fire burning, and the only stove was often a steel box holding a fire. Despite the risks, candles were used for light on pirate ships, as evidenced by accounts of fires caused by ill-attended candles from the Golden Age of Piracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Source of light before electricity | Candles, oil, and kerosene lamps |
| Safety measure | Confined behind glass or animal horn |
| Fire hazards | Caused by ill-attended candles |
| Punishment for negligence | 39 lashes on the bare back |
| Smoking | Allowed on open-air decks |
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What You'll Learn
Pirates used candles for light and illumination
Before electricity, candles were one of the primary sources of light on ships. Pirates, therefore, would have used candles for light and illumination. However, candles posed a significant fire risk on wooden ships, and several accounts describe fires caused by candles on ships. For example, in 1691, a fire broke out on a ship when a candle was left burning in a cabin on the lower gun deck. The fire was quickly contained, but the incident caused concern among the crew, who had hundreds of barrels of gunpowder on board.
To mitigate the risk of fires, pirates took several precautions when using candles. One measure was to confine candles behind glass, which helped to prevent the candle from coming into contact with flammable materials. In the absence of glass, thin pieces of animal horn, straightened by boiling or soaking in ammonia, were sometimes used as a protective barrier. Additionally, pirate captain John Phillips's Articles included a rule prohibiting crew members from carrying a lighted candle in the hold of the ship without a lantern, with a punishment of 39 lashes for those who disobeyed.
Despite these precautions, fires caused by candles remained a concern for pirates. Smoking was often prohibited on merchant and navy ships, but pirates allowed it, further increasing the risk of fires. The galley, where food was cooked over an open flame, also posed a fire risk, as sparks from the fire could set the wooden ship alight. Overall, while candles provided much-needed light and illumination for pirates, they also presented a constant danger that had to be carefully managed.
In addition to candles, sailing ships also used deck prisms to provide light below decks. Deck prisms refracted and dispersed natural light into the space below, providing a safe and fire-free source of illumination. However, this technology came after the use of candles, oil lamps, and kerosene lamps, which were the primary sources of light on ships before electricity.
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Candles were a fire hazard on wooden ships
Before electricity, candles, oil, and kerosene lamps were used to light the area below a ship's deck. However, these light sources posed a significant fire risk on wooden ships, which were essentially floating tinderboxes. The wood of the ship, along with the tar used to hold it together and the pitch used for waterproofing, was highly flammable and could easily catch fire.
Candles were a particular cause for concern, as they could be left burning unattended or be carried without a protective lantern, leading to disastrous consequences. Several accounts from sailors during the Golden Age of Piracy describe fires caused by candles, with one incident involving a burning candle in a cabin on the lower gun deck that ignited some loose oakum (tarred fiber used for caulking). Although this particular fire was extinguished without causing significant damage, it highlighted the danger of candles on wooden ships.
To mitigate the risk of fires, pirate captains imposed strict rules regarding the use of candles and other potential fire hazards. For example, John Phillips' Articles stated that anyone carrying a lighted candle in the hold of the ship without a lantern would receive 39 lashes as punishment. Similarly, smoking was often prohibited or restricted to the open-air deck to reduce the risk of sparks igniting the ship's flammable materials.
Despite these precautions, fires remained a constant threat on wooden ships, and the noise and panic associated with a fire breaking out were dreaded by sailors. The galley, where food was prepared over an open fire, was another source of fire risk, and even the simple act of smoking a pipe could accidentally set the ship ablaze. Overall, while candles provided much-needed illumination, they also contributed to the ever-present danger of fires on wooden ships during the Golden Age of Piracy.
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Pirate captains banned smoking pipes in the hold
Before electricity, candles, oil, and kerosene lamps were used to light the area below a ship's deck. However, these light sources posed a significant fire hazard on wooden ships. To address this issue, sailing ships began using deck prisms, which provided a safe source of natural sunlight to illuminate areas below decks.
While there is no definitive evidence that pirates used candles, it is likely that they did, given the lack of alternative light sources during the Golden Age of Piracy. Pirates were known for their heavy tobacco use, with pipes making up a significant proportion of artifacts found at pirate sites. In fact, about 36% of all artifacts at the Barcadares, an 18th-century pirate settlement in Belize, were tobacco pipes.
Despite the popularity of pipe smoking among pirates, pirate captains may have banned smoking pipes in the hold of the ship due to the fire risk. The hold, being a confined space with wooden structures and flammable cargo, would have been particularly susceptible to fires caused by lit pipes.
Furthermore, the smoke from pipes could have affected the air quality in the hold, making it difficult for pirates to breathe and navigate in an already confined space. Additionally, the hot embers from a pipe could potentially ignite any flammable materials in the hold, such as gunpowder or alcohol stores.
As a result, pirate captains likely recognized the dangers associated with smoking pipes in the hold and implemented a ban to mitigate the risk of fire and ensure the safety of their crew and cargo.
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Pirate ships permitted smoking on open-air decks
Before electricity, light below a ship's deck was provided by candles, oil, and kerosene lamps, all of which posed a fire hazard on wooden ships. To address this issue, sailing ships utilized deck prisms, which refracted and dispersed natural light below deck without compromising the structural integrity of the planks.
While there is limited information specifically about smoking policies on pirate ships, it is reasonable to assume that smoking was permitted on open-air decks, given the fire hazards associated with smoking below deck.
In more recent times, on naval ships, smoking policies have varied. From the 1970s to the 2000s, smoking was generally permitted on ships, but often restricted to certain areas, especially below deck. For example, on the USS La Salle in 1979-1980, smoking was allowed anywhere, while on another ship from 2001 to 2005, smoking was restricted to the topside and designated areas like the fantail. On another DDG ship in the 1980s, smoking was prohibited in berthing compartments and the mess decks during meals, but crew members could smoke in their workspaces.
Cruise ships today have strict non-smoking policies in place, with designated outdoor smoking areas to accommodate guests who smoke. These areas are typically located on open-air decks or in specific cigar lounges, with proper signage and ashtrays provided.
Therefore, it is likely that pirate ships permitted smoking on open-air decks to mitigate the fire hazards associated with wooden ships and candles.
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Pirate ships used deck prisms to provide safe light
Before electricity, light below a ship's deck was provided by candles, oil, and kerosene lamps, all of which posed a fire risk on wooden ships. For centuries, sailing ships used deck prisms to provide a safe source of natural light to illuminate areas below decks.
A deck prism, also known as a bullseye, is a prism inserted into the deck of a ship. The glass prism refracted and dispersed natural light into the space below from a small deck opening without weakening the planks or becoming a fire hazard. In normal usage, the prism hangs below the overhead and disperses the light sideways; the top is flat and installed flush with the deck, becoming part of the deck. The lens shapes were naturally derived from the process of handmaking the glass on an 'iron' and would have predated the ability to manufacture flat glass.
Deck prisms were also used on colliers (coal ships) to keep an eye on the cargo holds. A fire was lit, and the light from it was collected by the prism and made visible on the deck even in daylight.
While the use of deck prisms may predate the 1840s, the USS Constitution, launched in 1797, is known to have had prisms. Most prisms from the 18th and 19th centuries were mounted flush with the deck, while those from the early 20th century onwards were slightly recessed to protect them from being stepped on or damaged by falling objects.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, pirates used candles for light and illumination.
No, candles were a fire hazard on wooden ships. Pirate ships were essentially floating death traps, filled with tar and kindling.
Pirates would confine candles behind glass or use thin pieces of animal horn to protect the ship from catching fire.
Yes, pirate captain John Phillips' Article Six states that anyone carrying "a Candle lighted [in the hold of the ship] without a Lanthorn" would be punished with 39 lashes.
Yes, deck prisms were used to provide natural light below decks without the risk of fire.
