Beaufort, North Carolina has several tourist attractions. One of interest is the grave of the girl who died at sea while returning from England. No big deal except that the captain, her father, buried her in the rum barrel and brought her back to Beaufort to be buried. Today, her grave, sheltered by 100 year old oak trees (live ones at that), is covered in cult-like fashion with toys, trinkets, flags and coins that visitors have left. Yeah, yeah, real nice but I'm left with questions!!
What possessed this grieving father to put his daughter into a rum barrel? Was he drinking tequila and noticed the preserved worm in the bottle? Fortunately, a custom of putting one's dead loved one into barrel of liquor never caught on. Although, I once observed my grandmother putting her teeth in a glass of gin.
And what happened during the journey to Beaufort? Did they have a wake? Did the first mate get carried away and tap the casket? "Who wants some virgin rum?! Oh, sorry, Capt'n" Of course, during that party, you have to ask yourself, "Could she hold her alcohol?" The answer is yes, not only could she hold it, she absorbed it!
At first I thought, well hoped, that her name was Jean. Her father then being the one who brought Jean Rummy to the maritime. But no, her name was Brandy, which means her father created the first rum runner drink at sea (for you teetotalers, that’s rum with a little brandy in it)!!
Monday, February 13, 2006
girl in the rum barrel
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