The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
LIFE OF A GALLEY SLAVE.
WEN CHAINED FOR YEARS TO
ROWERS BENCH.
severity OF tho Labor-Slaves Frequently
Fell Dead at the Oar-Gay Galleys OF
Louis XIv.-Discipline and Punishm en- I
--Galieys as Cruisers and War Vessels.

The galleys OF Louis XIV. we're the last
Of European vessels where Christians were
employed "a slaves. The Moorish galleys
had Christians as rowers up almost to our
own time, says the United Serrice M1gi-
,lne, and the Maltese held Turks and Moors
tothat hard labor, but the French Of the Louis
Quatorze period chained to the same bench
felons who had been reprieved from the
sallows murderers and robbers-and those
whose only fault was that they wished to
worship God in their own way.
The oars Of first class galley we're about
fifty in number and from forty-f1ve to fifty
feet long, each being pulled by six men.
who sat on benches on deck placed little
obliQuely to the keel These oars were
never taken inboard while the galley was
al sea- but when not In use were cock billed
hv depressing the looms and making them
fast with a toggle. The large and heavy
loom had grips bolted to II so that the slaves
could easily grasp them. Along the middle
Of the deck between the benches ran fore
and aft raised bench or walk called the
-courscr," upon which an officer called the
.comite" walked back and forth, armed
with q long whip. with which he enforced
silence and stimulated the slaves to the ut
most exertion at the oar
While the galleys were in service the
saves we're never allowed to leave their
benches, to which they were chained, eating
and sleeping in the exact place where they
toilcd at the oar. In very rainy or cold
weather an awning was tented over the
galley and stopped to the gunwale. This
was generally gaily striped. Victor Hugo
somewhere says that the galleys OF Louis
XIV answered the same purpose as the
steamers of our day; and, indeed, first
class galley, going at steamer speed over
the smooth, blue Mediterranean. gaily
painted, with gilt carving, streaming pen
dants, trumpets sounding and nrmored SOL
dicrs at their posts must have been beau
tiful sight to those who could close their
eyes to the wretched. ernaciated creatures
who toied at the oars,
Each of the rowers' benches was ten or
twelve feet long, covered with coarse sack
ing of baize, and extending from tho
coursier' to the side. To each bench six
slaves were chained by ring about the
ankle. There was footboard or stretcher
for keeping their feet out OF the water when
seas were taken on board AS has been said,
the oars were about fifty feet long, balanced
So that thirteen feet of their length was in
hoard and thirty-seven feet out. The
'con1ite. or boatswan, had his post aft near
the captain, while his mates. or souscomites'
were on the 'coursier.' armed with long
and heavy whips. When the captain gave
the order to move the boatswain used his
silver whistle or call. which was repeated
hv his mates, and the slaves gave way
together, the fifty oars rising and falling
like one machine. They ceased pulling at
the same signal, and great precision was alb
souey necessary to prevent the slaves OF
the next bench being struck by the loom
OF the heavy oar.
The labor of galley slave-the most IA
tsuing possible-has passed into proverh.
Six naked men flor thev were clothed only
wien not at work.. with shaven heads
chained to a bench, one foot on the stretcher'
the other on the bench before them. bending
forward toward the stern of the galley and
pushing the oar at arms length above the
back Of those in front Of them. raise the
loom, dip the oar and fall back upon the
seat with their full weight This often con-
tnued for many hours without intermlssion.
and when there was danger of utter eA-
haustion pieces of bread dipped in wine
were crammed into their mouths by the
'souscomites.' If one OF them fell dead,
as not lnfreQuently occurred, the signal
was given. rowing suspended FOR moment
the shackles Knocked OF and the body
pitched overheard
A most interesting account OF life in the
French galleys has been left us in the little
work entitled Memories dun Protestant
Coudamme aux galleries. de France, first
published in Rotterdam in 1857 anony-
nously, but now known to have been written
nv Jean Martcilhe Of Bergcrac. Mar
tclhe's sufferings-most of the time in the
galleys-endured from the years 100 to
1913 a monentous period in the history OF
Europe. Born at Bergerac, in Perigord in
lCS;. Marteihe, with many other Huguenots
al the ncighborhood was driven by the I'M
heard OF cruelties Of the Duke de la Force
who rlyaIed on tho Dordogne the per-
turmanccs of the inquisitors Of the Ce-
venncs--t % endea vor TO flee the country. He
was only 10 years of age, but well grown
and strong His father was in prison, the
younger children imprisoned in convent,
lbs mother forced to abjure her faith and
twenty-five dragons quaItcred upon her
for an indefinite time.
Flight from the country was declared
capital crime but Marteilhe and com
Ianlon managed to leave Bergerac, and
made their way to Paris, where they were
advised to make for Holland, by way Of
Mc1i"res ard Charleroi. After a number
~ halrhreadth escapes from arrest they
were finally imprisoned and reported to the
Marquis dc Ia Nrilliere as Hugnenots es-
Gaping from France. and this report was
sr""Glly followed by their condemnation
ia the galeys for being found on the from
tier without a passport. In spite OF the
terrible prospect of the galeys they refused
10 conform and in January. 1902. they,
with many others, were sent In a chain OF
cnnvicts to Dunqlerque, where they we're
all placed on board the galley L'Heureuse.
the capitane, or flagship, of the squadron
Of six Ealleys belonging to the port, Here
they were chained to separate benches. so
rs 10 prevent communication. and they
Witnessed the punishment of the bnstinado
ON the very dav Of their arrival.
A vanous benchmate demanded money
RI Martcilhe for drink, and, being refused
reported him for blasphemng the Virgin
and the saints, and the comite was about
to give him the hast nado when no was
rescued by the Major OF the galleys. who
Investigated tho case and had the wretch
who had reported him punished in the
same way and then chained to a criminal
bench; for there was he'll within he'll
In the galleys.
The bastnado was inflicted by stripping
W." victim and laying him across bench,