New-York tribune., 1890-04-20
BYRON'S BOATMAN DEAD.
PROBABLY THE LAST OF TIE HEROES OF
MISSOLONGHI

MlSSOIONtrnl.
PROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
Athens April 1.
There has just died at Missoonghi one of the
very few survivors of the Greek War of Indepcnd-
ence Indeed, he was almost the last of them. for
to have been old enough to play an active part
in that struggle man must now be an octoge-
marian or more and veterans of eighty wears are
few This man, Chazes by name. was a poor
boatman who made scanty living by ferrying
people across the lagoon from Missolongbi 20 Xii
sova, and he pursued this calling almost to the
end of his life though he was eighty-seven wears
old. Then at the end the news OF his death was
telegraphed TO the King by the project OF the
district, and the King ordered noble funeral at
the public expense. and placed emblems OF mourn
ing on the public buildings at the capital Had
Chazes been n statesman or a general. higher hon.
could scarcely have been paid him. II. incced, %
high. For in that case his death might have
been matter purely of National interest. instead
of being, as it is now, event. sending a SYM
pathetic thrill all round the world.
The circumstance that made him parsonage
of such wide interest is this: lie was Byrons
boatman. 1t is now siNty-siX years since that
volcanic genius came TO Greece 10 burn out his
soul in one grand burst of fervor for freedom and
patriotism. The town of Missolongh, where he
made his headquarters stands the margin Of
wide lagoon. which doubtless endcared the place
to him by reminding him Of his favorte Venice.
lie had brought with him T'ita, his Venetian gon-
dolier. But the latter. expert as he was with his
picturesque craft on the Grand Canal. was help
less on the unfamiliar waters of the Actoan La
goon with its frequent rocks and tangles of weeds.
The boats. too. were beyond his ken These cu-
rious craft called monoXyla, would bc known in
America as dug-outs.' They consist each Of the
trunk of n chestnut other tree stripped Of its
bark, pointed at the ends, and followed. One
is perhaps fifteen feet long and two feet wide. and
single-bladcd paddle is the instrument of motive
power Such boat. it is easy 10 see. is readily
upset if managed by an inexperienced hand. hut
with an expert boatman at the paddle is not only
safe enough, but amazingly speedy. So Byron pro-
NOTED or rclcgated Tta to the rank Of body
servant and secured the services of a native boat
man.
Chazes was made that boaman, and for months
he was constantly in Byron's service. For the
poet was passionately fond of the water, and not
only used it as highway of travel whenever
possible, but spent all his spare time in cruising
upon it. 1t was, as is well known this love Of
boating that cost him his life. One day, While
riding with Count GAMBIA in the neighbOrhOod Of
Mssolonghi, he was overtakcn by heavy shower
and returned TO the town wet through. Not
withstanding the remOnstrances of the Count he
persisted in going TO his house by boat, although
the rain was still falling heavily. Two hours
later he was seized with fever and rheumatic
pains which were the beginning OF his fatal ILL
ness Whether or not a man is ever hero TO his
valet. Byron certainly was hero to his boatman.
Chazes recognized him then not only the
would-be redeemer of Greece. but also as the
greatest poet OF the age, and ever since was fond
Of talking of him, describing him, and dwelling
on his greatness. lie was not a literary man.
this b0atman, but he had complete edition OF
Byrons works, and probably knew the bulk OF
them by heart. As he padded his boat about
the logoon he would rccite long passages from
"Childc Harold" his face literally glowing with
ardor and his voice ringing like trumpet as he
rehearse the stanzas which tell of the glorcs Of
his native land.
Some years ago Mr. Vikelas, the well-known
Greek author. visited Missolonghi to CLEAN such
relics as he could of Byron and his works. l
was7 lie says conveyed across the Klisova by
Byrons old boatman, now eighty years of age.
but full of life and vigor. lie steered his little
craft with great deXterity, and / can assure you
that il easy job. Great skill was neces-
sary but old Chazes showed himself 10 DC q first
rate boatman. At my request he gave his paddle
10 his young companion, and, sitting cross-legSed
in the bottom of the boat, he told me OF the eN-
sixty years ago with Byron. lie did not reveal
ANYTHING of Importance hitherto unknown about
the poet but | think you Will admit that you
would he glad enough to have crossed the lagoon
Of Missolongh on that sclf-same boat. with Nil
sova before YOU and the aged boatman talking
TO YOU of the poet whom he 50 often accompanied
over these very waters
Chazes did not confine his patriotism. however.
10 his faithful service of Byron. lie took up
arms and fought and blcd for Greece. lie figured
conspicuonsly after Byron's death in one tremcn-
dous episode just as the poet would have de-
lighted, had he lived 10 see II. 10 lnmortallIe
in song This was the defence of Mssol0n-hi
against overwhelming Turkish forces; Chazes oii
heroic service during the siege Al last on Apil
22 1926. the end came. II was decided To make
a sortie. in which the entire population OF Tic
town. men and women alike. should take part,
and if possible cut their way through the IN
vesting lines and reach the mountains Chazes
was one of the leaders of the desperate chars'.
and followed by nearly one-thrd of the popu-
lation made his way 10 the mountains " had.
he once said. - dozen wounds But for every
wound. | killed two Turks" The rest OF tile
people were either killed in the fight or were
forced back into the town. The latter He'd 70 the
powder magazine. followed. of course by the
Turkish army. and then fired II. blowing them
selves and their opprcssors to atoms together.
4 not uniting epitaph may be found III an
editorial of a leading Athenan paper lie was
il saws IAN honest man poor. hard-worklng ln-
,lustrions both as a ierryman and as fisherman:
silent when lsr had no wine. talkatiye in his cups;
n man who kept his word and paid dine reverence
to I,acchns n better fellow and more thorough
creek than the new generation which has grown
nm orounl him