The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-08-15

the mystery. After two or three months
the fate of the last victim passed from
the public mind, and by order of
Schmidt e. Co. no one was permitted to
make further use of the platform under
the Office.
In the year 1874 1 was mate of a
sandalwood trader visiting the islands
in the Java sea, and when fully loaded
we sailed for Batavia to offer our cargo
to Schmidt & Co. We had no difficulty
in making sale, and our craft, draw
ing less than seven feet Of water, was
hauled into the shallow slip to dis
charge cargo. We entered the slip OF
Saturday afternoon and were not to
begin discharging cargo until Monday
morning. Our crew consisted of six
men. The three seamcn and cook were
Lascars. Sunday morning about ten
o'clock the captain and left the craft
to take stroll through the city.
Scarcely had we left the wharf when
the cook and seamen disrobed and
plunged into the waters of the slip for
a swim.
After awhile they started on race
out into the harbor, but as they passed
over the deep hole at the mouth Of the
slip the cook suddenly disappeared.
The two seafnen on the vessel and three
or four loungers on the wharf all
agreed that something suddenly
flashed out of the water, curled around
the cooks neck, and drew his head
under water just as he was crying
out IN terror. That something black"
was about the size of an inch rope. very
flexible, and it was moved with great
swiftness. The man was pulled down
so quickly that no one could be sure
that he saw what be saw. We spent the
entire afternoon dragging the slip and
rowing about the harbor, but as in the
three other cases no trace of the body
was found.
One day while we were waiting for
the excitement to calm down, and
while strolling about the wharf, puff
of wind blew my hat into the slip. The
tide was coming in just then and near
ly at high water, and the hat was car
ried under the wharf and lodged
against the platform. To recover it
went down the long disused stairway.
There was at least ten inches of water
over the platform, and the hat had
caught on a splinter at the corner near
est the deep hole. l splashed through
the water and bent over to grab for
my headgear. Just as my fingers
seized 1t something darted out of the
water and whipped around my shout
ders. Close at hand was Spite. with
two braces from the platform secured
to it.
AS / instinctirely started up was
drawn into the crotch made by these
braces and threw out my hands and
got firm hold. cried out in alarm "a
/ was drawn forward, but hal no idea
of what was happening. My first
thought was that the platform had
given way under my feet. 1t was a
matter of Is seconds before second
something darted from the water and
fell across my shoulders. 1 saw it as it
came, and instantly realized that it was
one of the tcntacles of a large octopus.
now screamed for help, and as called
out a third tentacle shot forward and
struck me at the bend of the knees.
| My cries raised an instant alarm on the
wharf. Inside of five minutes dozen
men, mostly sailors, were down on the
stairs and platform and ready to rem
der assistance.
The clothing had on consisted of q
| wooden shirt and pair of trousers of
rather heavy cloth. Owing to this the
air cups of the tentacles did not strike
my bare flesh, nor could they get q
| firm grip. While the first one dartel
lat me held me tight to the braces, the
two others played around and over me
like whiplashes. AS the men came run
ming down and saw what nature OF
creature had attacked me, they hest
tated for moment to approach. Then
three sailors sprang forward with
drawn knives and began to cut and
slash. AS they did SO fourth and fifth
tcntacle darted out of the water and
dashed them, and two more men came
forward with sharp hatchets.
From the time the first man reached
me to the end of the battle was period
of ten minutes, and every minute was
hard work. Every one of the five ten
taclcs was severed time and again, but
so fierce and determined was the octo-
pus that he actually rose to the surface
beside the platform and struck at the
shifting feet of the men with his hor.
rible beak. The Topping off of his arms
disabled him, but he would have made
his escape just the same If man had
not come down on the platform with q
shotgun loaded with buckshot and fired
the charge into his head.
As chung to the braces one of the
tentacles crossed my bare wrist, but
that was the only spot where the flesh
was touched. One of the suckers OF
| aircups fastened to the flesh and had to