The Eighth Flag

The untold story of the Caribbean, and the mystery of St. Croix’s Pirate Legacy

The Eighth Flag

The untold story of the Caribbean, and the mystery of St. Croix’s Pirate Legacy

Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. Pirates. Visions of cartoon characters dancing around a cauldron with an explorer tied inside. Balboa gazing on the Pacific Ocean. De Leon and the fountain of youth. Pizarro conquering the Incas. Henry Morgan, in red, drinking spiced rum. Smoke curling around Blackbeard as his cutlass slashes through the air. … all children’s tales that mean nothing. Today, we do not know who any of these people were, how they came to do what they did, or why they did it. The struggle for power, freedom, and wealth that shaped the Caribbean for two and a half centuries has, since John Barrie created Peter Pan, been relegated to the same literary section as Barney the Dinosaur; yet, underneath the soil of the modern world, the roots are still there. I started pulling them up on St. Croix, and the roots led to more roots, and more. Islands connected, nations connected, and legends came to life.

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The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. Pirates. The untold story of the Caribbean and the mystery of St. Croix’s Pirate Legacy, 1493-1750

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Officially, St. Croix has flown seven flags over the last 500 years. Before the American flag and the Danebrog, the Spanish came for gold, the Dutch to trade, the English to raid, and the Knights of St. John to be in charge. The French built a colony only to watch it die of fever. During all of those years, Pirates, Conquistadors, Freebooters, Filibustiers, Corsairs, Buccaneers -whatever you call them- ruled the Caribbean and called St. Croix home, stealing at sea whether they had ‘permission’ to do so or not, and paying no attention at all to whatever European flag was flying. It is time to recognize our eighth flag. It was black. This is the untold story of St. Croix and a Caribbean long forgotten. Come. Sail with me.

What Others Are Saying

I learned more about the tragic and fantastic history of the Caribbean in the first thirty pages …

I learned more about the tragic and fantastic history of the Caribbean in the first thirty pages of this book than I ever learned in my history classes in school. Well written and easily accessible, this book helps the reader to see the natives in their pristine world, before the… Read more “I learned more about the tragic and fantastic history of the Caribbean in the first thirty pages …”

James Bush Jr.

Brilliantly written. Absolutely amazing

Brilliantly written. Absolutely amazing! This is an impressive display of local history. It should be included in the school curriculums. Gift shops and hotels would benefit from the sales of this book. Include it in welcome baskets for new residents of St. Croix!

Mary G Sluss

Entertaining and Informative Read – A “Must Read” for those living in the Virgin Islands, and those who wish they did.

Entertaining read of both St Croix and regional native and pirate history. I’ve lived on St Croix and read other books about the island and region. This one not only tells the island’s little-known infamous history, it includes insights from the author’s sailing and diving explorations and insights. This is… Read more “Entertaining and Informative Read – A “Must Read” for those living in the Virgin Islands, and those who wish they did.”

A. MAC

Real unbiased history

Well written by a man who knows and loves St Croix!

Amazon Customer

Real History!

What a great read! Stan makes the history of St. Croix come alive with this well-researched book. If you love the Caribbean, read this book. Better yet, come down and experience it!

Acuman3001

St Croix was the pirates secret hideaway in the Caribbean for more than two centuries!

Absolutely fascinating – St Croix was the pirates’ safe hideaway in the Caribbean, and the Danes pretty much omitted it from history. Stan tells the lively stories of more than 200 years of pirates coming and going. Everybody came to St Croix – Drake, Morgan, Blackbeard, Martel, and many more,… Read more “St Croix was the pirates secret hideaway in the Caribbean for more than two centuries!”

Crucian

PIRATES

Whenever you pick up a book on the history of St. Croix it pretty much starts with Denmark having the Virgin Islands. Very little is written about the history of the island of St. Croix before that time. Finally Stan Joines researched and wrote about it. Readers are able to… Read more “PIRATES”

Leonor C. Gillette

An interesting perspective on pirate history

A unique approach to pirate history. Fun to read, great for the beach!

Lara

History about Pirates and Sea-hero’s in U.S. Carribean ST. Croix Colonial history (17th cent.)

The book is about an exciting and unknown part of 17th century: Pirates and Sea-hero’s in U.S. Carribean ST. Croix Colonial history (esp. 17th century. . Everything in the book is true to history, no falsifications. It is written in a pleasant and eloquently narrative style and layout.

Amazon Customer