The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-08

the Portuguese uAlcfintu 20 NAht nm ~
haunt Of tho dcvilfish not far from the
Golden Gate. Tho amateur fisherman was
provided with an ordinary boat hook,
which he was told was used in the capture
of the FISH, and when the tide was well out
he was taken 20 "a group Of kelp covered
rocks and informed that the game was
waiting to he flushed, a. il were.
The place abOundcd i'm pools in which
the water was about a foot deep, these b.
ing partially covered with floating weed.
Passing from rock TO rock, the hunter
thrust his hook or spear, turning up the
sand at the bottom Of these pools. He had
nearly given up the chase when his boat
hook gave a violent wrench under his
hands, and up from the weed came an un-
canny arm of livid and chocolate hues, a
finger trembling with rage and apparently
endowed with intelligence finger, lined
with enormous suckers, that curled itself
about the squid hunters leg SO quickly
that before he could make an aggressive
move ne was in the arms of the enemy.
As he fell, slipping partly on his back,
he was Mortified TO find that his prey held
on, and that he had pulled IL partly out Of
water. Struggling TO his feet, he was met
bv what appeared TO be a ball of snakes, a
head Of Mcdusa, with two green eyes
cleaning with rage and fury and about
which writhed eight sucker lined arms
1t was enough TO demoralize the most
intrepid lover Of sport, but the octopus
merely hung on, making no advance. Hav-
ing gained his footing the hunter took the
boat hook by the end and buried 10 i'm tho
writhing mass, from which Immediately
am inky fluid poured and seemed 20 dye
the water black Waves of color shot over
the arms, and the monster, raising itself
out Of the pool, endeavored TO haul its way
20 the ocean. II throw its long arms into
every crcvice, winding them about the
rock and holding on with the tenacity of
iron. gradually moving toward the water.
The body was but small part of the
affair, perhaps as large as "A child's head,
and In this the hook was caught. The oc-
topus slowly gained ground but finally
tho fisherman obtained a bracing vantage
and held back, shouting for help. With
assistance the animal was disabled and
borne inshorc, where 10 was found TO have
radial spread Of nearly Is feet.
Octopi Of this Kind and size are found all
along the upper California coast 10 Alas
ka, SEINE attaining extraordinary proper
tions says "a writer in the san Francisco
Chronicle. Curious tales are told concern
ing them, several instances being recorded
where they were supposed to have caused
the death of swimmers some years age
am Indian woman disappeared from among
some bathers and was found held by d
/ hugo octopus, but there was no other cvi
dcnce thar she had been taken by the ami
NAL That they are powerful enough 4
drown "a man there Is not the slightes
doubt One Of the size mentioned coul'
drown three or four men at time, assum
ing that they were swimming and that i
could attack them in that position.
The writer once saw AN octopus with {
spread Of but four feet throw down MAJ
who with Others. had been lifting rock
into "a 5oat from a reef As "a piece wa
thrown upon the beach a big gp,enisl
brown octopus camo out and started fo
the watcr whercat the man, who was hare
footed, gave it kick Like a flash, th
animal resented the insult by throwing it
eight sucker lined arms about les opponent
clasping him ia an embrace that held hi
legs together so tightly that he foll head
long ON the sand shouting for help anl
fearing To touch the animal with his hand
T. tear 10 or He was released only whCl
ono 81 tLs mon inserted "a knife bcncatI
tho coils and severed the snakelike arms
Tho strength al the octopus IS remark
able Tho writer has taken scores of thef
with the spear and has known them
bring up 80 or o. pounds ~ coral, cliugin
90 it with their tcntaelcs when pulled il
and these were comparatively small one
the body bciur tho sizeof ones CLOSED IT,
il BIS easy 90 imagine what the strength q
large ono might De- Even the sina
specimens were not pleasant objects To 100