Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-11-07
francisco de l.. Vega, the Man-Fish.


terranean, the South Sea islanders, and the Chi
nese, have been pointed to. Many men have been
known to swim thirty miles a day and the Ia
NOUS Neapolitan diver, commonly called IL PeSce,
once performed the distance OF fifty miles in TWEEN
ty- four hours, on the coast of Calabra. At vari-
Gus periods, strange reports have been spread re-
atve to human beings who have been found llv-
ing in sea-cayes or % the bosom of the mighty
deep itself and amid the numerous examples
brought forward to prove this amphiblous nature
of man, probably none is more curious than the
following. But let US premise that this is no OIL
spring ofthe present writer's Imagination. Nheth-
er the aaecdo,e bs in itself absolutely true, or an
exaggerated account of singular and somewhat
startling occurrence, we cannot pretend to deter
mine but " can undertake to say, that no doubt
was entertained on the subject by contemporary
writers and that it has been treated as an esIab-
lished fact by Tsck the German poet
If you open a map of Spain, on the Southern
shore of the Bay of Biscay, between AsturIas and
Old CASTLE, you will find the town of Santander,
not far distant from SantlIana, the birthplace oi
our old friend Gil Bias; and in close proximity to
Santander, you will see the name LlerganeS-
! This is place of no particular interest, eXcePl
what it derives from its connection with the lol-
lowing narrative. The surrounding scenery Is
mountainous, and the landscape stretches down
through picturesque valleys to the sea- Here,
two hundred years ago, lived poor but honest
couple named Francisco de la Vega, and Maria
his wife, together with their four sons, Thomas
who was already priest-Joseph, Francisco and
Juan.
Francisco, named after his father, was born in
the year 1867, and soon began TO evnce won
derful prediction of the water. Even in early
youth he was constantly either bathing or angling
in the river that flows through the district. lhe
same year that ushered young Francisco in the
world saw the last OF his male progenlor, so that
the task of maintaining her family, mainly rested
with Maria and her sons indOlence,was source
of constant grief To the poor woman. In vain dld
she exert herself to send him TO school the good
for-nothing fellow was constantly seen during
study hours either swimming in, or lettering "a
bout his iavurite stream. At length poor Maria
lost all patience with her child, and in moment
of frenzy she cursed him, bidding him to beiaEe
himself altogether 10 the sea, and get his living
there, as he was no use on earth Now. moth
er's curse is fearful thing anywhere, but amongst
southern natians, more especially there is su-
persiilious feeling attached to it, which often
drives the victim on to fulfill his own doom. But
whatever influence his mothers words may sub
seQuentIy nave exercised on his fate, Francisco
remained quietly at home until he had attained
the aye of fifteen, when he was sent 10 Bilbao,
to learn the handicraft of carpenter. This town
is not very far removed from Ssniander and has
always enjoyed high reputation for the excel
ence of the sword and steel manufactures.
As Night have been anticipated, the young ap-
prentice showed no greater love for work at Bilbao
than he had previously displayed under The mat
ernal roof. lie was constantly wasting his time
in the river, neglecing his duties, and consequent
ly causing great dissatisfaction 10 his master. In
this manner he continued to live for a couple OF
v .ars. until one afternoon he went ont with his
co mpanilns to lathe. 1t was on mid summer
day, a. d. 1914, say the chronlcIerS, when this
event occurred. Alter enjoying the luxury OF
somewhat prolonged bath his companions came on
shore and dressed themselves, and were rather
surprised not to see Francisco among their mum
Der.
They waited for considerable time for their
MISSING cnmrade, and at length returned to the
town. leaving his clothes On the bank where he
had deposited them. The unusual absence of
his apprentice now began to alarm the honest me
cbanic. who caused inquiries to be instituted re-
uarding him; but all that could be gathered was.
that he had been seen swimming down the river
at great distance from Bilbao, and as nothing
further was heard Of the unfortunate youth, the
natural inference was that he had either become
exhausted or had been seized with cramp, and 50
fallen victim to his passion for the wafer
The carpenter took the earliest opportunity OF
inEorminr poor Maria of the probable fate OF her
SON aud the good folks her neighboTs shook their
heads. and said that The mothers curse had been
fulfilled. Maria de la Vega, in her aflliciion,
now denied that she had ever made use of the
dreadful words ascribed to her, and sorno of her
friends corroborated this statement. BE this as it
NAV, the honest woman gradually recovered from
the shock she had sustained and convinced Of
Francisco's death, people ceased to talk about it,
and all recollection Of the wayward boy was rapid
ly fading away.
Five wears hnd elcapsed, when singular oc-
cursnco happened on the opposite coast of Spain.
One morning, in the year 1919, scme fishermen
from Cadiz were pursuing their usual ayocallon,
and had already cast their nets, when they per
ceived strange object in the distance. The figure
moved. appeared on the surface, then dlved under
water, where it remained for considerably Pc
rod In appearance it strongly ressmbled hu-
man being and the boat men pulled further out
to sea, in order to lake more minute survey oil
their new acquaintance, and, If possible to catch
him; but as he did not appear again, they return
ed To shore at their usual hour. Having mention
ed their adventure overnight, they were accom-
panied next morning by several of their acqualn'-
arc :, all ANXIOUS TO have look at this strange
beinu. In this they were not disappointed ;
for it som showed itself in tho water-now ap-
preaching, now retreating-then Plunglng under
meath, then reappearing; and after going through
variety of these gamb1ls, as IT In pastlme, 1t
finally vanished from view. When the fisher
men again returned with this news, the public
curiosity was raised to lis highest pitch, and all
sorts of means were devised iD order To catch the
munster. At length it was unanimously agreed
that larrei and stOuter nets should be taken out,
and that other boaIs stealing across the bay from
the opposite side, should endeavor TO drive the
animal in to them. Already the water ghost, as
it was called, formed the main topic Of converse
tion in the surrounding country, and the authorl-
ties were naturally anxious to solve If possible the
mystery. On tn third day it made It's appear
ance again, and remained longer than usual upon
the surface The fishermen now threw pieces OF
bread into the sea, which 1t rapidly caught hold
uf and devoured with apparent relish for on fling
ng other slices overheard, the monster gradually
approached nearer and nearer until il finally came
40 close 10 ene boat, as 10 get suddenly entangled
nd caught in the net.
The men delighted at their success now haul
ed their prize into the boat, when, to their great
astonishnent they found the sea monster, whom
their maginations had pictured as half fish, no.
thing more nor less than any ordinary human be-
ing, with nothing of the fish about him except
s,me scales On the backbone. They soon carried
their captive on shore, where a curious crowd a
waited his arrival and amidst the tumult and
glamour OF the people, and their exclamations Of
establishment, they conveyed him to a franciscan
convent The monks, and some men of conse-
duence in the place who had followed the crowd,
now examined this singular being mare closely.
They addressed him. first Of all, In the languags
of the country then italian, French and other dIa-
lncts hni the Wild mnn did moi ranlv hy 4 slnnln