Wonder why it was called a fable? Ill fated maybe, but not a fable.
There is a part to the story which might be considered a fable. It’s been reported over the years that some of the men did make it far to the west where they were taken in by the natives, married and had families. Not sure if that’s ever been proven.
A fable is a work of fiction, a story.
Fabled is a an event about which stories are made up about.