The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-03

lone foot on the stretcher, the other on the bench before them, bending toward the stern of the galley, and pushing the car at arms length above the backs of those in front of them, raise the loom, dip the oar and fall back upon theseats with their full weight. This often con- tinued for many hours without inter- mission, and when there was danger of utter exhaustion pieces of bread dipped lin wine were crammed into their mouths by the 'sous-comites' If one tOf them fell dead, as not unfrequently occurred. the signal was given, rowing suspended for a moment, the shackle knocked off and the body pitched over board.
 "A most interesting account of life in the French galleys has been left us lin the little work entitled Memories dun Protestant condamne sux galeres lde France first published at Rotter- ldam in 1757 anonymously, but now known to have been written by Jean lMarteilhe, of Bergerac.
 'Marteilhe's sufferings-most of the
 time in the galleys-endured from the lyear 1700 to 1713, momentous period in the history of Europe. Born at Bergerac, in Perigord, in 1884, Marteilhe with many other Huguenots of the neighborhood, was driven by the un- heard of cruelties of the Duke de la tForce-who riValled on the Dordogne lthe performances of the inquisitors of lthe CeVennes-to endeavor to flee the lcountry. He was only sixteen years of lage, but well grown and strong. His father was in prison, the younger |children Imprisoned in a convent, his mother forced to abjure her faith. and
 twenty-two dragons quartertd upon her for an indefinite time.
 Flight from the country was de- clared capital crime, but Marteilhe land a companion managed to leave lBergerac, and made their way to Paris, where they were advised to make for Holland, via Mezieras and Charleroi. After number of hair-breadth escapes from arrest they were finally inn lprisoned and reported to the Marquis
 de la Vrilliere as Huguenots escaping
 from France and this report was speed fly followed by their condemnation to the galleys for being found on the ' 1FOuIleF WlLnOuL a passport,
 Tn spite of the terrible prospect of
 the galleys they refused to conform, and In Januray, 17O2, they, with many others, were sent in a cain of convicts to Dunquerque, where they were all placed on board the galley L'Heureuse'
 the 'capitane' or flagship of the squad ron of six galleys belonging to that bort. Here they were chained to lseparate benches, so as to prevent com Imunication, and they witnessed the
 punishment of the bastinade on the very day of their arrival. A villanous bencbmate demanded money of Marteilahe for drink, ard, being re-
 fused, reported him for blaspheming
 the Virgin and the saints, and the
 comite was about to give him the
 bastinade when he was rescued by the major of the galleys, who investigated the case, and had the wretch who had
 reported him punished in the same way and then chained to the criminal
 bench: for there was a hell within a
 hell in the galleys. ,5,E
 The bastinade was inflicted by strip ping the victim and laying him across l a bench, while two convicts held his llegs and two his arms. The 'comite then set muscular Turk to beat him with a thick rope. As the Turk knew he would suffer if he did not put forth his whole strength, great wales were Iraised at each stroke. Marteilhe says few could bear more than twelve blows without becoming insensible, but ithat the strokes were continued until
 all that were ordered were received.
 Thirty or forty was the usual number for slight offences, but he had seen one hundred given. in which case the victims scarcely ever survived. After the punishment vinegar and salt were
 rubbed in to restore the circulation and Iprevent gangrene
 After remaining on board the Heureuze about a fortnight a dis tribution of the newcomers was made, and Marteilhe was allotted to the Palme, which gallery was noted as having the most cruel 'comite' of the whole squadron. The commander of this galley was very bitter against
 Huguenots, and used to urge the
 'comite' to use the whip freely upon
 them, especnally when they were naked and rowing.
 Tn the July following Marteillhe's committal to the galleys the squadron left Dunquerque for a cruise upon the Flemish coast and overhauled Dutch man-of-war becalmed. The galleys pulled up, firing from their long bow guns; and when they drew near the slaves raised their appalling 'chamade, , or cry of battle. Three hundred naked
 men simultaneously rising and falling,
 yelling and shaking their chains ,, formed sight to make any stranger shudder. The Dutch crew was so dis mayed that they ran below, and the ship, which was of fifty-four guns was easily boarded and taken by the soldiers of the galleys.
 The year 1707 was one of great hard
 ship for the galleys, as they were con- stantly cruising in the Channel. The next year, 170S, the galleys were ac- lively employed in annonying the English. Taking on board much com bustible and an extra force of soldiers, . they put to sea on September 5, with smooth waters and everything favor able, and reached the mouth of the
 Thames the same evening. While lying
 Inv and waitinr for darlSnaeS the eap+i