San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-06-22
FIGHTING AN OCTOPUS.
The Adventure OF Lot Of Boys at Nassau, In the
West Indies.

West ladies.
Prom Golden Days.
The octopus is, without doubt, the
most disagreeable creature to be met
with in the ocean. They are found IN
ueally all waters, from the coast OF
Maine, in and on the borders OF the
Gulf Stream, to the cold waters OF the
North Pacific Ocean. Imagine bag
of flesh, over which waves Of color are
constantly sweeping, and from which
eight arms radiate like the arms OF q
gigantic spider, their under sides lined
with sharp suckers. and between them,
where they join the body, two parrot
like bills. On each side OF the lower
part Of the bag put two fierce green or
yellow eyes, give the whole mass q
tremulous motion, and you have a gem
eral idea OF the appearance OF the octo-
pus, second cousin of the plant squid,
described in a former number. In size
they range from foot across upward.
The largest known was seen by MIR.
W. Il Dali, at Sitka, and when spread
out it measured 2S feet from the tip OF
one tentacle, or arm, to that of the OPP
posite. Specimens measuring IL or IA
feet across are very common in the Pa
cific, and are kept for sale in the San
Francisco markets, and considered great
dainties by the Italians and Chinese.
When Of this size they are very dam
gerous, and have been known to throw
their snake-like arms about divers and
bathers and drag them out into deeper
waters.
In 1877 an Indian woman, living at
Victoria, Vancouver Island, when in
bathing, was seized by monster octo.
pus and dragged slowly into deep wa
ter and drowned. She was missed some
time after, and boats were put out in
search, and the hapless victim was
finally seen in about twenty feet of
water, still held in the arms of the ter
rible creature.
The suckers on the arms are so many
air pumps, SO that when they are
pressed upon the body piston-like
arrangement exhausts the air, and the
suction presses On many kinds) q
sharp, "saw-edged" bony plate, or ring,
into the flesh, making hundreds of ter
rible wounds.
In the Bahama Islands these animals
are very common and of great size, and
their capture affords considerable sport
to the winter visitors at these isles of
summer.
The largest octopus ever caught here
was found upon the beach at Nassau,
according to Prof. B. G.. Wilder, by
Mr.. J. s. George. Each arm measured
five feet, and the entire monster
weighed nearly three hundred pounds.
Several years ago party from New
York spent the winter at Nassau, and
the boys, for there were four or five,
had lively encounter with the octo.
pus.
They had fine cedar boat fitted for
their benefit; her bow and stern were
decked over and formed air.tight COM
partments, while row of air tight cans
extended around under the seats, so
that their craft would float when full of
water-a fact tested on many an occa-
sion.
At every movement of the boat some
new wonder appeared that would have
delighted and astonished boys at the
north. Everywhere great punches of
branch coral extended their branches
upward. Now great mounds or heads
of brain coral appeared, ten or twelve
feet across, and among them beautiful
yellow, lilac and brown fans and plumes
waved in the tide.
Curious animals, called anemones,
unfolded their fower-like mouths, and
the whole scene was that of vast sub
marine garden of the most gorgeous
description. Strange fishes darted
aside at their approach-gray snappers,
great red groupres, sting rays that flew
along like bird, waving their side fins
up and down and lashing long, slen-
der tail after them, and here and there
black object would dart away, creating
a great cloud of mud, showing that a
turtle had been caught mapping.
Sometimes they had to drag her al
most out of water, but finally the head
of yellow Tail" reef was reached, and
they were upon unexplored ground.
The reef was about four feet under
water. and covered with small heads of
the coral known as Meandrina, inter-
spersed with the fans and plumes before
mentioned.
The boat was hauled between two of
the heads, and Tom, Harry and the
others were sitting on her gunwhale
resting, when they were attracted by
shout from Will, who had waded away
over the heads.
Here's queer looking something,
under the coral" he shouted. Come
over"
The boys showed off in his direction.
at looks like a bundle of snakes" he
continued. well, here goes" and
aiming his grains at the object, Will let
drive.
There was a connection for a mo-
aont VIII cl11nnr To his smear the nnla