The somewhat dramatic punishment of walking the plank has become one of the great pirate myths. In truth, there is very little evidence that any pirate captain or crew forced one of their own or their captives to be blindfolded, walk across a plank hanging from the side of the ship, and plunge themselves to a watery grave. One of the only known accounts of such an occurrence was the unfortunate crew of the Vhan Fredericka, a Dutch brig that was captured by pirates in 1829. Pirates fastened shot, or projectiles such as cannon or musket balls, to the victims' legs and then forced them to walk the plank one at a time.