The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1825-01-06
TTcEa 3EAG 1s x S cl,
THE WONDERFUL MAx-FisH.

In the time Of Frederic, king Of Sicily,
there lived celebrated diver, whose name
was Nicholas, and who, from his amazing
skill in swimming, and his perseverance, un-
der water, was surnamcd the hsh. Inns
man had, from his infancy, been used to the
sea and earned his scanty subsistence BY
diving for corals, and oysters which he
sold to the villagers Jn shore His onS &C
auaintance with the sea, at last, brought 1t
to be almost his natural element. He ire
quentlv was known to spend I'VE days IN the
midst of the waves, without any other pro-
visions than the fish which he caught there
and ate raw. He often swan over from 81
civ into Calabria q tcmpcstuous and danger
us massage. CARRYING letters from the king
He was frequently known to swim among
the gulphs of the Lpari islands, no way ap
prehensivc of danger.
Some mariners ont at sea one day observ-
ed something at some distance from them,
which they regarded as sea- monster. but
upon it's approach it was known to be Mich
olas, whom they took into their snip. When
they asked him whittier he was going in 50
stormy and rough a sea, and at such dis
lance from land, he showed them packet
of letters, which he was carrying to one OF
the towns of Italy, exactly done up Ill leath
err bag in such a manner as that they could
not be wettcd by the sea. He kept them
thus company for some time on their voyage,
conversing, and asking questions and after
eating an hearty meal with them, he took ms
leave, and jumping into the sea- pursued his
| voyage alone.
In order to aid these powers OF enduring
IN the deep, nature seemed to nave ASSISTED
him in a very extraordinary manner; tor
the spaces between his fingers and toes were
wcbbed, as i'll goose
The account of so extraordinary person
did not fail to reach the king himself who,
actuated by the general curiosity ordered
that Nicholas should be brought before him.
II was no easy matterto find Nicholas, who
GENERALLY spent the most of his time III the
solitudes Of the deep; but at last, however,
) after much searching he was found, and
Brought before his majesty. The curiosity
Of this monarch had long been excited by ac-
counts he had heard Of the bottom of the
gulph OF Charybdis he now, therefore, con
ceived that it would be proper opportunl-
ty to have more certain Information. lie
therefore commanded our poor diver to ex-
anime the bottom of TINS dreadful Whirlpool !;
and, as an Indictment to his obedience, order
ed a golden cup to be flung intoit. Nicholas
was not inscnsible of the danger to which he
l was cXDoscd dangers best known only tc
himself and he therefore presumed to re-
;, monstratc but the hopes ola reward, the de-
sire of pleasing the King, and the pleasure. o
showing his skill, az last prevailed lie in
: stantly jumped into the gulph, and was swal-
a lowed instantly up in its bosom. He contin-
ucl for three quarters Of an hoar below
! during which time, the king and his attend
ants remained upon shore, anxious Tor hi:
+ fate but he at last appeared, bulfeting upol
n the surface, holding the cup III triumph II
one hand, and making his way good among
the waves with the other. 1t may be sup
posed he was received with applause, upol
: his arrival on the shore ; the cup was made
: the reward of his adventure the king or
! dered him to be taken proper care OF; and
' as he was somewhat fatigucd and debiltatet
: by his labour, after an hearty meal, he wa
:. put to bed, and permitted to refresh himsel
u by sleeping.
!, When his spirits were thus restored, h
: was again brought, to satisfy the kings curl
osty with narrative of the wonders he ha'
seen and his account was to the following
o, effect. He would never, he said, have obey
ed the kings commands, had ne been appriz