Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-01-14
ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS.

ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS.
valve in order to fill the dress with air
and make myself lighter. and gave the
customary signal to ascend. The life-
line tautened, and l was soon lifted
from my feet and being drawn toward
the lighter water above. The angry
frame Of mind that usually attends the
diver at work gradually passed away
as l was raised to the surface. and
was Just getting good-tempered at the
thought OF mouthful Of fresh air,
when I felt sudden jerk under my
left arm, and at the same instant my
progress was stopped.
Before l realized what was the mat
ter. the air-pipe was torn from the
check that held it under my arm, slip
ped over it, and pulled my head down
ward; while the hauling OF the "ten-
der above on the lifeline round my
waist raised the lower part Of my
body and left me suspended heels Up.
In the first few moments of my sur
prise and terror did not stop to con-
slider what had happened. My pres
ence Of mind deserted me. and strug.
gled and screamed like a mailman.
After a little while. having kicked
myself into a state Of exhaustion and
common sense. reasoned out the cause
OF my dilemma. AS the strain of the
air-pipe was downward. and that Of the
lifeline upward, con 'uded that the
pipe must be fast below, and that the
nu1, }r IN kn IN
and clear 1t. First, l regulated the
air in the dress. letting out as much as
l could spare. for in my present posi-
ton all the mir went into my legs. and
kept them floating straight upwards,
and then I tried to make the "boys"
understand that wanted them to low
er me. ...+
All my shakes and Jerks on the life.
line, however, were without avail BY
that time all hands. except those pump
ing. had tailed on. and were doing
their level best to pull me in halves.
Fortunately, all my gear was in good
shape, or they might have accomplish
ed 1t. Finally, after hanging betwixt
| the top and the bottom about half an
hour, my tender" had sense enough
to signal for another diver, and was
at last released and hauled up. more
| dead than alive. The cause Of this &C.
cident was simply that the careless
holder OF the pipe, instead OF keeping
it taut; had allowed 1t to drag on the
bottom until 1t fouled around the base
OF a coral cup. Had the tide not been
slack at the time. the weight Of the
boat, which was practically anchored
by the air-pipe. would have torn the
helmet from my shoulders and the re-
suit would have been different.
Octopi are seldom met with in Aus
tralian waters. though there is always
the possibility Of such a thing. and
occasionally one hears OF an encounter
The deaths Of many native divers who
60 down and never appear again. ar;
attributed to the tridacna. a gigantic
mollusk OF the clam order: which
closes with a vise-like grip upon an,
thing that passes its lips.
Another fish that Is unpleasant t.
meet Is that known as the stone-hs
1t Is small. being only few inches II
length, but its bite is poisonous. Ap
parently. 1t makes its home under tn,
pearl shell for 1t is only when picking
up a shell that diver is bitten. Aftel
bite from this spiteful little member
OF the iinny tribe. it is wise to remain
under water rs long as possible. Thu
pressure. causing much bleeding at in,
bitten part. expels the poison.
Black and yellow sea-snakes are con
slant companions OF the diver. though
quite harmless; also stingarees. blow
fish, mullet. and a hundred other va
rieties known among divers by names
descriptive Of some popularity hi
fish possesses, but which to the reader
mean nothing. A few of them arr
known to science by names that NEAR
| less