Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-03-01
Pullman Herald.
HOOKED AN OCTOPUS.
The Luck of Three New Orleans Fish'
men Near ship Island.

HOOKED AN OCTOPUS.
The Luck of Three New Orleans Fisher
men Near Ship Island.
Probably it is not generally known
that the octopus, or devil fish, ire
ouently OF a large size, is found on the
coasts of Mississippi and Louisiana
Possibly the first instance on record OF
one Of these fish. and one OF large size
at that, having taken hook, came
within the experience of three residents
of New Orleans a couple of years since.
General Philip Buchanan, Lieutenant
Colonel f. c. Fenner and Major Harry
Howard. now mayor of Beloxi, Miss,
started from that place in the yacht OF
Major Howard for Ship Island on 8
fishing expedition. East-northeast OF
that island, in about eight fathoms OF
water. lies the wreck of the steamship
Josephine, marked now by buoy. Al
though the vessel proper has been al
most covered with sand, by careful
sounding the location of the walking
beam may be found. On anchorlng near
that spot day of good fishing Is as
sured the angler. The wrecked steamer
has formed barrier or shelter, about
which the fish appear to gather and at
certain tides, no matter what other con-
ditions may prevail, the abundance OF
fish makes it almost drudgery to attend
the lines. No sooner has the hook
reached the required depth than 1t is
seized by some large and voracious fish,
generally red snapper, which is gal
liant fighter.
1t was in August that the fishermen
above mentioned, accompanied by two
sailors in yawl, anchored over the
wreck of the Josephine Colonel Fen
ner. who has a prediction for taking
sharks of large size, had with him, as
usual. an inch line, ten or fifteen
fathoms in length, equipped with
hook of suitable size for sharks. This
was baited with piece of salt pork and
thrown overheard, where it remained
undisturbed for long time. The line
was secured to one of the thwarts of
the boat The fishing was as coed as
usual and all were having good luck,
when attention was called to the shark
line, which was running out with great
speed. The rapidity of its movement
indicated some FISH of exceptional size.
The five men had hardly time to
throw themselves to the side of the
craft opposite the line, when the fish,
which was firmly hooked, bore the boat
down so that the gunwale was partly
submerged. For several moments its
occupants expected that it would be
dragged broadside under the strain.
Their first impulse was to cut the line;
but this was opposed by one or two of
the party, who wished to see the end of
the adventure.
AT this juncture the boat suddenly
righted to an even keel; the line slack
ened and it was evident that the fish
was moving toward them. The slack of
the line was rapidly taken in, which
was barely accomplished when the
water became violently agitated, and
there leaped from the surface a great
octopus in whose mouth the hook was
firmly fixed As ne threw himself
above the water he darted his tentacles,
which were not less than ten OF fifteen
feet long, toward the boat; then he
slowly sank and remained for a few
moments, apparently motionless, as if
meditating on mode of attack.
The condition of the fishermen was
now somewhat critical. for they were
entirely unprovided with any weapons
except a couple of oars with which to re-
pei the attack of the monster, and
yet they were unwilling to detach the
line from the thwart. There was moth
ing to do but to await developments.
Indeed, there was but little time for
consultation or action. for, after brief
delay, the octopus again slowly rose to
the surface, where, with his head slight
ly elevated, he began beating the water
with his tentacles. He was apparently
studying the extraordinary adversary
which he had encountered. A third
time he disappeared, and this time with
"a fierce rush. The line fed over the side
of the boat with great velocity. The
fishermen again threw themselves to
the opposite side and awaited the shock
When it came the line, unable to bear
the strain, parted at the thwarts and
disappeared Y. Sun.