Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-15

ut 81
v;wcd Aftef the punishment vinegar ana
salt were rubbed in to restore the cifeula
tion and prevent gangrene
After remaining on board the Heureuse
about a fortnight distribution y. MI III
aIIutet; I. the Paine. which galley was
noted AS having the most cruel connie
III The whole squadron The commander
~ this galley was very bitter agatnst hu-
ei,ettDts ard used to urge the ''G0mite 70
,,se the whip freely upOn them, especial
iy when they were naked ana rowing. ln
the July f2lo~ins M a,,aatns c%t y,a.
u,Iernue for a cruise Upon the French
Coast and overhauled a Dutch mlri-Bf-
war becalmed. The galleys pulled up.
they drew near the slaves raised their ap-
Mailing "chamade," or cry OF battle.
Three hundred naked men simultaneously
rising and falling ye .st t 10 ,ns sak amy
stranger shudder The Dutch crew was
SO disniayed that they ran below. and the
shin. which was OF 81 guns, was easily
boarded and taken by the soldiers of the
galleys.
The year 1907 was one Of great hardship
for the galleys. as they were constantly
cruising in the channel inc next year;
17Us. the galleys were actively employed
much cOmbustible material and an extra
force ut soldiers, they put to Sea on Sep
TENDER 5. with smooth waters and every
thing favOTdDiu, anu TedCI1cu tIc JIOuth vi
the ThameE the same evening. While ly-
ing by and waiting for darkness, the sen
tinel at the masthead discovered large
fleet of merchant ships, escorted by q
frjgate making for the river. A hurried
consultation of the officers took place and
II was determined to attack the convoy.
Two Of the salleys. Of which Marteilhe's
.wns one, were to attack the frigate and
the other the convoy.
Marteilhe was badly wounded during
the fight by one of the frigate's guns. To
his bench were chained fiv~ convicts and
a Turkish slave. and when they ran
just in the line of fire of one of her guns,
and it was evident that they would all b.,
killed II the gun was iired :nd Five h or them then
teilhe stood up as far out OF the range as
his chain permitted He saw the gunner
apply the match and was thrown uncon-,
scious upon the coursier. over the dead
body of the lieutenant of the galley. At
dark he recovered consciousness, and feel
ing no pain. he crawled back to his bench.
saying. Get up 1ads; the danger is over. ,
boosted that he had rever felt fear. did
not reply, and when Marteilhe tried to
raise him by the arm the limb came OF
in his hand-indecd, all five of his bench
mates had been literally torn to pieces:
Marteilhe now began to feel something
cold and wet upon his naked body, and
discovered that he was wounded in three
or four places The other galley ., , had
one to reach an offing: as well as TOWING
the captured frigate. but no lights were
shown for fear of pointing out their posi-
ton to the English men-of-war, which
had come out of the river on hearing of
the engagement. Seventeen out of Is of
the slaves on the three benches about
IMarteilhe had been killed by grape from
one gun of the frigate. and killed and
wounded incumbered every part OF the
galley. The coursier. four feet wide, was
completely covered with the dead. and
and sailors were all piled together. After
obtaining an oi!fng they began to throw
overheard the dead and place the wound
ed below. Marteilhe himself narrowly es-
capped being thrown overheard for dead
for he had tainted again. but when the
"argousin" came to unchain him the pain
revived him and he was thrown pell-mell
with the other wounded on the coilcd ca
heS below.
Here they remained for three days I'M
til they reached Dunquerque. without
treatment and with all the filth and yer
min incident to their forlorn condition.
the wounded died like flies At Dun
aueroue the wounded slaves who re-
manned alive were hoisted out by ropes
tai, where they were chained to the beds
by the neck. Marteilhe had n secret
friend in the town. who recommended ,I,e
he usually ordered the treatment. not
only dressed his wounds himself. but rep
rimandcd the galley surgeons for having
neglected him. Owing to this care he got
fo,rths of the wounded died.
After three months in the hospital he
left there sleek and fat" but with a
certificate that his injuries would prevent
him from rowing. He was chained to his
old bench again. however. and remained
there all winter. But when the galleys
were fitted out in 1909 he was lucky
enough to have change of labor. There
six slaves to each rho largest
and strongest were strokesman. having
the hardest work and being nearest the
comite's whip. Tho weakest were placed
near the side MarteiIhc had always been
So weak that he could hardly lift it. In
such cases the comite usually fiogged I'M
til the man was MALT dead to see il he was
shammins. and Marteilhe expected moth
ing else.
Upon going out of the harbor the comite
conned the galley out until she was clear
ing how the rowers were classcd and us
ing his whip freely. When he came to
Marteilhc's bench he yelled out, Dog of
n Huguenot. who ordered you to row."
He replied that he was doing his best
with one arm. Disgusting his kindness
under rough language the comitc called
the argousin to ''unchain the incapable
dog and put him in the storeroom" If
those who were wounded were not re-
leased at least they should not row in his
galley. Poor Marteilhe had served seven
years AT tnat Dencn ana would nave Deen
released after he was wounded if he had
not been a Huguenot. The rough but
good-natured comite excused himself for
his leniency by saying that "as he MAR
tcilhe) would suffer for his religion in the
other world he should suffer less in this "
After this our slave was made clerk to
the captain of the galley and was allowed
to wear the convict's red coat and cap all
the time. His hair was allowed to grow
and he carried only an iron ring about
his ankle. without the chain to which he
had so long been accustomed.
In 1872 peace was concluded with Eng
land with the disgraceful stimulation that
the English should occupy the town and
fortiiicatiOns of Dunquerque till they
could demolish the forts and fill up the
port. The English accordingly took pos
session with 5000 troops ir September.
The French navy WAS so reduced that
they could not fit out the galley fleet,
and an agreement was entered into by
which those vessels. their crews and
gangs of slaves should remain in the har-
Dor during the winter. and that no boat,
seaman or galley slaves should leave the
pOrt without the permission of her ma
jesty of England.
As SCOT as the English troops took pos
session they ran in crowds to gaze at the
terrible galleys of which such heartrend-
ing tales were told. Among them were
some officers who were French refugees.
and these SympathiZed with the Huguenot