Connecticut western news., 1889-01-23
A MAN-FISH.

At 1 o'clock in the afternoon of June 21, 1859, I was in the crows nest or lookout on board the New England Nhaler Yankee Land, and we were bear ng up for Valparaiso from the Juan Fer nandez Islands when I caught sight of a 1oating human body on the lee bow, and half mile away. We had only a light breeze and the sea was scarcely dis turbed, and from my perch aloft I could see even the fish as they played about us.
 I had scarcely hailed the deck when he f1oater raised his head, kicked his feG under the surface, and, after waving his arm as a signal, he began swimming Town to us. The sight of a man out at sea, provided with nothing whatever to 1oat him, was queer enough, but there was something much more queer in store Sor us. I have seen the natives of al- most every country in the water, but I aever saw anything like the speed this 1oater made as he came down to us. He just smoked through water like yawl with her sail set to a stiff breeze. All the men mustered forward to get sight of him, and as he came alongside he checked his way, took long survey of our craft, and coolly called out:
 "What ship is that2"
 ssThe American whaler, Yankee Land, l" answered the mate.
 t'Want any hands2"
 "Yes, we will ship you," replied the captain.
 ''Very well, sir-I'Il come aboard"
 They threw him rope and he soon stood on deck, the only unconcerned person on the ship. He asked for a chew of tobacco, wrung the water out of his clothes, and when the cook brought him some grub he did not appear over hungry. He refused dry clothes, saying that he felt better when damp, and when he had finished eating he explained:
 ssMy name is Tom Finch. quit the English brig Saxon two days ago. can steer boat or fasten to a whale with the best of you. Give me a lay and let me turn to.
 "You quit the Saxon two days ago2' queried the captain.
 "Yes, sir"
 "Where was shc2"
 GA matter of fifty miles to the north west, sir"
 'sAt sea2"
 "Yes, sir"
 "How did you quit2"
 "Said good-by to my watch and jumped overheard, and have been float ing ever since"
 There wasn't man in the ship who believed his story. Indeed, what intel hgent man would believe it? And yet it was Gospel truth, as we discovered when we reached Valparaiso. The Saxon was there, and half. dozen of her crew had seen him go overheard as stated. A man fish had come aboard of us There never was mermaid, but he cer tainly was a merman. He was next tc amphibious. He was with us for sixteer months, and during that time was tht wonder of our crew and of every othel crew we met. He was stalwart, good looking chap of 35, but his interior mas have been built on the fish principle. H. swan as swiftly as some kinds of fish and that without seeming to tire him He could not be drowned, and no shark would bite him. I said he was a quee man. The reader probably agrees witl me. I give my word and honor tha every statement I shall make is true, ant can be proved true.
 Our carpenter was laid up with broken leg, and when Finch announced that he could use tools he became car penter temporarily. After we left Val paraiso, no longer doubting the story O his two days float, he gave us a marvel lous exhibition of his skill as swimmer In running back to the south we strucl the flag end of a cyclone, and got ter rible sea. Our big ship was tossed abou | like pea, and the waves walled up ol us now and then until their crest seemed to tower fifty feet above the rail Everything was lashed and double lashed and the cook couldn't make even q cup o coffee for twenty hours. While we wer | lying to and hanging on for life Fincl stripped to his shirt and pants and wen overheard for lark. The best mal among us would have been drowned il five minutes. He was in the water tw, i hours, and when he came out he did no i puff as heavily as man who had ru across the street. A hundred times il i those two hours we thought he was lost i but he had no more fear for himself tha ] e if he was on dry land. In the sixtee