New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-01
FRANCISCO DE Ia VEGA, THE BAN
FISH.
From Ch1mJOPs guTHni.

From Ch1nJsyt, Surnql
The power q man TO adapt himself to new and in
decd unnatural modes of life has long attracted the
soious attention Of the philosopher Some have
thought j. possible for him 20 live III the wafer ike
whale and ia support Of this theory the extraordinary
anrac fees of the Green landers and the nhaol'ans
OF the shores Of the Mediterranean, the South Sea
Islanders and the Chinese hsve been pointed to. Many
uen have been known to swim thlty miles day;
ard the famous Neapotan diver commonly called II
Pesce once performed the distance Of fifty miles IN
twenty -four hours the coast Of Calabra. At va
rOus periods strange reports have been spread relative
70 hur beings who have been found living either IN
.ea-caves or on the bosom of the mighty deep ITSELF
and amid the numerous examples brought forward to
Prove this smpbibious nature of man. probably mons
Is rore curious th the following. But lei US premise
thai is 10 offspring OF the present wlte imaglni-
hop. Whether the anocdote be in itself absolutely
true, or an exaggerated account OF singular end
somewhat startling occurrence, we cannot pretend to
ie'erApe; but can undertake TO say that doubt
was entertained on the subject by contemporary
writer's and thst il has been treated established
fact by Tick the German poet.
you open the map Of Spain, on the southern shore
Of The Bay of Bsc8y, between Asturas and Old Cas-
le you will find the town OF SaLtander not far dis
amt from Santlans the birthplace of our old friend
Gil Bias; and in Close proximity 10 SAINT lnder you will
sec the Of lierganes This ia place of no par
Gouar interest except what It derives from Its con-
nection with the following narrative. The surround
ing scenery Is mountanous, AID the landscape stretch
a down through picturesque valleys to the sea- Here,
wo hundred years ago, lived poor bu' honest couple
named Francisco dc la VEGA and MarIa ms wlte, to-
gelher with thCI four sons, Thomas-who was already
a priest-JoseIh Franz iscO and Juan.
rTarcisco named after his father, was born in the
seer 1867, and soon began TO evnce wonderful pre-
objection for the water. Even in early youth he was
constantly either bathing angling IN the river that
COWS through tie district The same year that ushered
ysurg francisco into the world saw tue last OF his
ma progeri toT, so that the task of maintaining her
auly m5inly rested with Mara; and her sons indo-
ence was the source Of constant grlef 10 the poor
woman. In vain did she exert bereli TO send hun to
scbool; the good fornothhg fellow was constantly
seen during study bOuTs either swimming 10 or loiter
ing about bis favCLite shoam. 81 length poor Maria
ost ali patience with her child, and in a moment OF
frenzy she cursed him, bidding him betake himself
to the sea, and got dis living there, a. he
was Of no use on earth. Now, mothers curse IL
feaIful thing anywhere; but among southern nations
more especially there 4 supershous feeling attached
70 it which often drives he victim on to ialh nus own
doom. But whatever iuhuenee bis mothers words
may subsequently have exercised on his tate, ran
CISCO remained quietly al home until he had attained
the age Of fifteen when no sent 20 Bilbao TO learn
the handicraf Of carpenter. This town Is not very
Tar removed from Sautander, and has always enjoyed
high reputation for The excellence of It's sword aud
steel manufacture.
As might have Teen anticipated, the young apron
tee showed greater love of work at Bilbao than he
had previously displayed under the maternal roof he
was constantly wasting bis time in the river neglect
ing his duties and consequently causing great dissatis
faction to his master In this manner nc continued 10
out with some companions 10 bathe II va. on mid
summer day, A. ID. 1914, say the ctroniclers, when
dis event occurred. After enjoying the luxury of
somewhat prolonged bath, his compsaOns came
shore and dressed themselves and were rather
pised not TO go Francisco among their number.
They waited considerable time for their missing
eomrade and q: length returned 20 the town, leaving
his clothes the bank where he had deposited them
The unusual absence OF his apprentice now begsn 10
alarm the hoLeet mechanic, who caused inquiries IL De
instituted regarnrg him. but all that could be gath
cred wss that be had been seen swimming down the
river a. eSes; distance from Bilbao; and nothing
further heard Of the unfortunate ysua the nat
rrs inference that he had either become exhaust
Cd had been seized With eramp. and hal fahen
yct I'M to bis passion for the wsieT
Tine carpenter took the earliest opportunity ofinforn
ing poor MGis OF the probable fate OF her son aud he
good folks her neighbours shook their heads ana said
est the methers curse had been fulSlie6. Mars de
La Vega In her atction oenied het she had ever
made use OF the dreadful words sscribei her and
some OF her friends eorrobosied this statement Re
tlas may the honest woman gradually recovered
from the shock she had sustained; and convinced of
Frencscos death, people ceased 10 talk about il, and
al recollection OF the waywsrd boy was rapidly fading
away.
Ese years had elapsed, when a singular occurrence
80 pened on the opposite coasi of Spain. One -1orn
irg in the year l6s9 come fsherInen from CaSz were
pGs ing their Usual ayocatioIs and had already cast
their nets, when they ceivci strange beet IN the
6sisr e. The hgue moved, appeared On the sunace,
then d> cd under water. . here il remained for con-
sidersbl, period liz sppeur ance strongly resemled
trmsn btiaE; ana the boa'uen pulea further out 20
,es IN ora 10 take moro survey Of their new
scq usintan, e ano possible 20 oGeh hin 5a: as lie
did not ape ST Scan, they returned 20 shore AZ e-
rsual hour Having mentioned thtir adventure Over.
niet they Wa I accompanied ne1y morning ty several
OF their scousin ;snces, al anxious TO have look
his stTsnce beir, In his they not disappointed
or II soon showel Itself IN the wete--now approach
nr, now retrea;irg then punsing underneath, tAen
resppearias: snd n Ter gong tsough yanety Of
these c.m6ols. ASH psstme, II hnaly vanished
from view. When the fishermen again returned with
this news the public can osity was raised 70 il, highs:
itch enS al sorts Of uea, were devised in order 20
catch the monster. At len 9Th 1t Was unanimously
ssToed Tat larger and or nets should be Akcn
u and that other hos.s, seah across the bay from
he opposite SIDE sho I'D eldeayG 10 drive he ANNA!
INTO them. Already the water ghoI as Il was called
ormed the main topic ofeonVersa;io1 IN the surround
* country and the authorities were naturally
20 solve, if possible, the mystery. On the third
day II made rs appearance again reulalned longer
han usual on lie sufaNe. The i-lie men threw
pieces Q! bread into tee sea which il rgU;iy csaght
sod OF and devoure1 with apparent lslish for on
GnsIg Oher slices overheard tn monster grsssally
.JDToseafd and tearer .c' II fss " jane