Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-06-14
= TOUGH s'gOEg u.

OF all the divers who have given any infor-
nation from the bottom Of the ocean, tho famous
Nicholas Perez, mentioned by Rincher, is the
most celebrated.
The vcracity of this account is not in all re-
spects to be depended upon, though Rincher as
sures us he had it from the archives Of the kings
of Sicily
This famous diver, by his great skill in swim
ing, and perseverance under the water, was sur
named the fish This man from his infancy
had been used to the sea- and gained a livelihood
by diving for coraIs and oysters, which he sold
to the village on shore. From his long acquain-
lance with the sea, it at length became his nat
ural element. He had been known to spend five
days among the waves, without any other proyi-
sions than he caught there lie often swan
over from Silly to Ca'ibar-a most dangerous
passage--and fraquen ly would swim among the
CULTS of the Lapari Island, without the least ap-
prehension OF danger.
Some mariners one day observed something q
distance from them in the sea, which they sup
posed to be a sea monster; but upon nearer
view, they found it to be Nicholas, whom they
took into the ship When they questioned him,
as to where he was going on so rough a sea, and
at such a distance from the land, he produced a
packet of letters, fastened up in leather bag,
which he said he was carrying to one of the
towns in Italy. After stopping with them some
time, and taking hearty meal, he took his leave
and Jumped into the sea to pursue his way.
Nature seems to have assisted him in p9cu-
liar degree to bear hardship of the deep, for the
spaces between his fingers and toes were web
bed like a goose, and his chest became so very
capacious as to enable him to take in at one
respiration as much breath as would last him the
day.
The fame of this extraordinary man soon
reached the ears of Frederick, king OF Sicily,
who, excited by a natural curiosity, ordered L a
he should be brought before him. The king
thought this fair opportunity to gain some GER
tain intelligence concerning til Gulf OF Charyb-
dis: h. therefore commanded the poor diver to
explore the bottom Of this dreadful whirlpool,
and ordered gold2n cup to be thrown into il b.
Wav of excitement
Nicholas conscious OF the danger he was OK
posed to, venturcd to demonstrate; but the hopes
of reward, the desire OF pleasing the king and
the increasing his own fame at length prevail
ed He Immediately jumped into the gulf, and
was instantly invisible The king and his attcn-
dants waited with great anxiety for three quar-
tiers of an hour on shore, and at last perceived
him butling the waves with one hand, and hold
inc the cup in the other The cup was immo-
daicly made the reward of the bold adventure.
He was allowed time to refresh himsG f. and was
then brought again before the king, to relate the
wonders he had been witness of.
He declaredit he had been appraised of half the
danger he had to encounter he should never
have obcyed the kings command. There are
four Obstacles, he says, which renders the gulf
| terrible, not only to men, but even the fishes
who inhab,t it. The first is the great force Of
the water bursting up from the bottom, which