Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-05-03
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
A MODERN VERSION OF AN Old
STORY ABOUT COLUMBUS.


ph-r coiumbn. Played the Role Of a
Pira,c-iiow Ito Came to settle In Lis
bona sayag. hattie Mt sea.
II Is ono Of those tales that illustrate
the manners OF this cruol ngc. Tho
pirates had long been the scourge Of the
honest. Venetian traders. Sometimes
they would disguise themselves as mer-
chantmen trading peacefully to Gambia
for vino. and then throwing of their
DISCUSSES, would prey upon all around
them. No mercy was shown In these
fearful contests. Between the sea rob
bcrs and the merchants there was u
lasting and deadly hostility. II was 10
the pirate class that the Columbi be-
longcd, and Of all the corsain Of the
day they were the most renowned. The
elder Columbus Ind apparently lain In
wait In vain for the rich fleet that sailed
yearly to the north. But he had son,
known as Columbus Junior, who fol.
lowed tho same profession and whose
true naino was Eicolo aricgo. or Mich
olas the Greek. He at last succeeded Ia.
the project which his father had 30 long
essayed In vain. Theprizo was tempt
ing one to the bold buccaneers. The
Flanders galleys with their freight were
valued at 200, 900 ducats-perhnps q, 600, :
00O-and would have proved an immense
fortune to the capton could they have
retained the spoil.
In iaS5 the galloys were equipped with
II. u
the senate under which they set sail.
The Dogo Giovanni Monconigo appoints
the noble Bartolomeo Mimic captain
with u aalary Of 600 ducats. Four grea;
galleys are provided, and to each cap
tain bounty u $500 golden ducats IL
promised upon their safe return to Ven.
ice. This money was to DO paid out o.
the tax on the Jews, and calls up anew
Shnkespearc's unreal picture; 1t Is plain
that the merchants OF Venice wero the
trne Shylocks u the time. A medical
man was assigned to the fleet; his salary
was only nine ducats u month.
Minute rules arc given for the con
duct Of tho expedition. The freight 1.
70 b. paid to the state. No dcclsloadi
Of tin or pewter ware are allowed. nc
currants nor molasses arc 10 bc stored
in the hold. Two galleys were to 20 u
London or tho English ports, the res. tC
Sluys or Brugos. On their passage the,
might touch ut Malaga and other port,
IN Spain; on their return ship was do
tachcd to trade with the Mohammedani
along the Barbary shore. The Vene
tians were too keen traders not 20 fnt
profitable markets even in the lands o
the iniidel.
The Columbi or the Giegos were a
last TO seize their prize. They watohe,
with seven ships-powerful, no doubt
and well equipped-off the Spanish coas
TO intercept tho fleet of Bartolomo
Mimic. The commander Of tho pirate
was Nicolo Griego. the son, we arc told
of the elder Columbus. His father ha
disappeared from sight. But with hin
IN the pirate ships was another Coluu
bus, the future discoverer and admirG
OF tho Indies. In his Life Fcrnand
Columbus boasts Of his fathers share 1
this famous ngugomont-famous b,
cause 1t led to tho settlement Of Colun
bus ut Lisbon, his marriage and his II
ture exploits.
He was now man Of at least fifty
hardened by thirty-six years Of consoles
adventure. What position he held 1
the pirate fleet, whether IN commando
or seaman, his son does not tell. w
only know that he served undor hi
relative, Columbus or Griego, and tia
he fought with desperate energy in III
famous sea fight OF Cape st. Vincent.
The corsairs, or Columbi. approache
their psy in the evening. They waite
all night ON the still Atlantic. and
the morning rushed upon the Venetian
TWAS seven, perhaps eight, ships again
four The galleys were heavy lado
and unmanageablo compared to the
swift assailants, The Columbi had CIV
IDENTIFY resolved to make sure Of the
ppy. They sailed under the Frcnc
flag, and may have been fitted out
Genoa. twas the custom Of the pirate
Il seems, 10 assume false colors. 81
dreadful was tho contest and fierce Il
fight that ragged all day, ~ Columbl
had told his son, on the tranquil sea.
the scene, nearly four centuries later,
the battle OF 81. Vincent-and his narr
tive Is confirmed by the Venetian a
chiyes. The four great galleys und
Bartolomeo Mimic defended thensely
with unfailing courage.
from the first to the tweuueth no,