The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-04-21
FRANCES GREATEST NAVAL HERO.
Jean Barfs Part In Abolishius the Bruta,
Code of Oierop.

Jean barfs Part In Abolishiug the Brutal
Code Of 0isron.
Captaih Mahan has shown how
England began her world wide domin.
ION under Drake and Raleigh and made
u SooG under Nelson. Thomas t.
Watson, The Georgia politician and or
utor In his "'rhe Story of France"
makes the claim that. had the Grand
Monarch, Louis NV, eucourag ged Jean
Bart as lie deserved. the sea and the
| "oriu might have another story for us
| to-day. MIR. Watson writes:
jean Bart is robust figure Of these
times. He came of race OF corsairs
OF Dunkirk. corsair, you must
Know, was gentleman pirate. He did
unto ell ships but those of his owr>
country the deeds which pirates did
unto all ships without exception"
Jean Barts grandfather was eel
cDrity, known in corsair circles as the
ScI-foy. His father was likewise Il
semi-pirate OF eminent respectability,
md accumulated n great deal Of plum
der. Thus Jean was cradled in the
luxuries, liberties, and hero!sms Of le-
galized piracy, and from his youth he
followed the seas"
In 1886 lie served In the crew Of n
man-of-war commanded by n brute
named Valbuc. Even at this early age
he was hero. In those days the cap
tain of ship was master Of life and
death OH board his vessel. The code of
Olcron. IAN eye for an eye," was then
the guide. If Il sailor drew knife
upon another, the offending hand was
nailed to the mast with Il knife. If he
killed his mate, his own body was tied
to that of his victim, and both were
cast into the sea. This simple code
was practiced for several hundred
years, because 1T was popular among
sailors. In trying a case the captain
took vote of the crew, and the ma
jority decided.
There was one Huguenot sailor in
the crew of Calbue, and his religion
made him the butt of his mcsSmates.
Nalbue told story Of miracle per-
formed by some priest, and. when he
had finished, he threw at the IIugue-
not sailor an insulting remark and q
tin can. The sailor appealed to the
code Of Oleron. Nalbue, angercd by
his resistance. struck LanoiX Uhe
Huguenot with capstan. LanoiX
rctreatcd over the iron rail which ran
across the forward part OF the ship
and warned Valbuc not to strike him
again, for l have passed the chain"
This was known in all ships of those
days as "the chain of refuge" This
part Of the ship was rs a sanctuary on
land. NalDuc declared that the law
did not apply to swine Jews and
HuSucnOts, and so rushed upon La
nolN and struck him. LanOiX stabbed
the captain in the arm, and all the
crew except Jean Bart Saurct fell up
on the Iugucnot. who killed one of
them with his knife.
Bring me the book" shouted the
captain, and Tic cabin boy fetched the
code of Oleron.
Read me the law!" demanded Val
buc of Sauret, putting his finger on the
| clause meant.
Il will not read it"' answered Sauret
| disgustcd and indignant.
You arc not acting according to
| law" continued Sauret. This unfor-
| tunate man I.anoiX) is entitled to
three meals ut which he may confess
| his faults; he is also entitled to make
his oath of excuse and his promise OF
future obcdience.'
Hush your mouth" shouted Val
bue. Being Il hereto, he is entitled
! to none of these rights.
| Listen" continued Nalbuc, whose
method Of procedure was, in truth. di-
abolicnlly regular aud correct. "'rhe
sailor who raises his hand against the
captain shall he fastened to the mast
by Il knife. and he shall he compelled
to loose his hand from the knife in
such Il way that he shall be compelled
to lose at least half of his hand
After carrying out this brutal pro-
gram. I.anoiX was tied to the body Of
| the sailor he had killed, and both
| were cast into the sea. Jean Bart
stoutly protested against this proceed
urc, and left the ship when IT reached
Calais. The inhumanity of the occur
renee SO shocked Colbert, Louis's
great minister, that he had the mari.
time code changed.
| The Army Field Uniform,