The Portland daily press., 1897-05-15
A DEVIL FISH STORY.
How Two Western Hunters Did Battle for
Their Lives.
Especial Dispatch to the Cincinnati Com
mercial- Tribune,

Especial Dispatch to the Cincinnati Com
mercial- Tribune.)
Key West, Fla, May 9.-Captain Lott
Allen, of Cincinnati, and Henry S. Lord,
of Philadelphia, had very exciting adj
venture here the other day in the bay.
These gentlemen have been visiting here
this winter, fishing and having jolly
good time generally. They are both
well -to-de retired merchants, and being
both experienced fishermen and lovers of
the sport they have naturally drifted to-
gether, and have been companions in
many exciting adventures in the Gulf
waters.
A devil fish was seen in the harbor last
week, and these gentlemen decided to try
their skill in catching one, as they had
secured almost every other specimen of
fish in these waters. They were warned
by the boatmen to be very careful of
these fellows, as the devil fish have a
very disagreeable habit of attacking any2
body who interferes with them. Starting
out in the morning they cruised for sew
eral hours without sighting one, then
they anchored in fifteen feet of water and
began still fishing. All at once Mr..
Lords line Strengthened out with a heavy
pull and at the same time seven or eight
little tentacles or fingers appeared over
the boat and shooting up several feet in
the air.
They were all about the size of man S
tb,,,,,b onI or bo ood rf 90 NJ, III
tie round disc; these arms clawed around
in the air as if they were vainly search
ing for something, then began pushing
over into the boat. To say that the gen
tlemen were astonished or alarmed does
not do justice to their feelings. Hastily
cutting off the fingers as fast as they
came over the gunnels of the boat One
of them fastened on his hand; with
sharp exclamation he brought the Ratchet
down on it, severing it,afterward rubbing
his hand vigorously where the poisoned
end of the fingers had touched the flesh.
Several others came as fast as the old
ones were cut off, and the fishermen
thought matters were getting little too
warm. They cut the cable and tried to
scull away, but the boat would not move.
A look over the boat revealed huge oc
surface, with several of it's huge arms
fast hold of the boat near the rudder
Jabbing the oar down with all his force,
Allen tried to push the boat off; the dew
il fish gave dive forward, almost upset
ting the boat, and it's huge head appeared
over the side. 1t had the appearance of
a parrot, with great, deep, staring eyes,
and curved beak big enough to take
in mans hand. Lord seized the oar
and brought it down with all his force on
the creatuers' head, forcing it down.
1t suddenly rose again, hitting the boat
a violent thump on the side. Again its
head came up, and Lord seized his hatch
ct and with dexterous blow cut the
head entirely off. With few founders
and mad splash of waves the big Great
ure's body disappeared, while the sea was
crimson with its blood. Just as the gen
tlemen started to go off two other big
devil fish came rushing up from either
side, hitting the boat heavy blows near
the bow. The long tentaoles began
creeping over the side, and both the anna
teur fishermen saw that the situation was
getting exciting.
The next fifteen or twenty minutes thew
had all they could do to protect them
selves from those long, horr ible looking,
quivering fingers One of them fastened
on Aliens neck and another on his hand
He uttered startling exclamation and
shouted for help. Lord sprang forward
and with his fishing knife hastily sew
cred the two tentacles. Allen fell for