The Lamar register., 1892-05-21
FIGHT WITH SEA ROBBERS.
A New Version of an Old Story About
Columbus.

Columbus.
1t is one of those tales that illus.
trate the manners OF this cruel age.
The pirates had long been the scourpe
OF the honest Venetian traders. Some
times they would disguise themselves
as merchant men trading peacefully
to Gambia for wine, and then throw
ing of their disguises would prey
upon all around them. No mercy was
shown in these fearful contests. Be-
tween the sea robbers and the mer-
chants there was lasting and deadly
hostility. 1t was to the pirate class
that the Columbi belonged, and of all
the corsairs OF the day they were tho
most renowned.
The elder Columbus had appar.
emily lain in wait in vain for the rich
feet that sailed yearly to the North.
But he had son known as Columbus
Junior. who followed the same pro
fession. and whose true nnme was
Nicolo Griego or Nicholas the Greek.
He at last succeeded in the pro ect
which his father had so long essayed
IN vain. The prize was tempting
one to the bold buccaneers. The
Flanders galleys with their freight
were valued Mt 2O0. 900 ducats-per-
haps two millions of dollars-and
would have proved au immense for
tune to the captors could they have
retained the spoil.
In 1885 the ealleys were equipped
with unusual care. We have the de.
cree OF the senate under which they
set sail. Tho Doge Giovanni Mon
cenigo appoints the noble Bartolomco
Mimic captain, with salary OF 600
dnoats. Four great galleys are pro.
vided, and to each captain IA bounty
of 3, 800 golden du ats is promised on
their safe return to Venice. This
money was to be paid out OF the tax
on the Jews and calls up anew Shalt
spere's unreal picture; it is plain that
the merchants of Venice were the
true Shylocks of the time. A medical
man was assigned the feet; his sal :
ary was only nine ducats mouth.
Minute rules are given for the con-
duct OF the expedition. The freight
IS to be paid to the state. No deck-
loads OF tin or pewter ware allowed no
currents nor molasses are TO be stored
in the hold. Two galleys were to go
10 London or the English ports. the
rest to Sluys or Bruges.s On then.
passage they might touch at Malaga
and other ports in Spain; on their re-
turn ship was detuched TO trade with
the Mohanmedaus along .the Barbary
shore The Venetians were too keen
traders not TO find profitable markets
even in the lands OF the infdcl.
The Columbi or the GrIegos were at
last TO 'eize their prey. They watched
With seven ships-powerfuL no doubt.
and well equipped-of the Spanish
toIomeo Mimic. The commander of
the pirates was Nicolo Grlego. tho
son. we are told. OF the elder Column
bus. II. father had disappeared from
sight But with him in the pirate
ships was another Columbus. the fu-
ture discovorer and admiral of the
Indies.
In his Life Fernando Colum bus
boasts OF his fathers share in this
famous engagemcut-famous because
it led TO the settlement OF Columbus
at Lisbon. his marriage and his future
oVploits. He was now man of at
least City, states lIarpors Magazine
hardened by thirty-slN years OF cease
less adventure. What position he held
in the pirate feet whether as COM
mauder OF seaman. his son does not
tell. We only know that he served
under his relative. Columbus oil
Griego and that he fought with des,
perato energy in the famous sea-tlSh
Of Cape St Vincent