New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
MONSTER DETILFISH IN PORTLAND.
NATIVES WONDER At II AND FALL TO TELLING
STRANGE TALES OF TIE SEA.

NATIVES WONDER At II AND FALL TO TELLING
STRANGE TALES OF THE SEA.
From The Portland Oregonian.
The largest and most Notwithstanding octopus,
or devilfsh ever seen in Portland was displayed
IN front Of a FISH market a; Third and Ankeny
SITS Yesterday and attracted much attention
being surrounded by a crowd all Gay. IL IS IN
possible accurately TO state the length o. me
tCntaclcs. arms OF the monster, as some VIZ
festooned on the hooks in the vicinity OF the
one on which the monster hung while others
were COiled III the snow on the Sidewalk IL
Was evident that the reach OF the tehtacIes
would cover thirty TO forty feet. Inc sa'h
shaped body could be distended so as u hold
a gOod-sized boy. and the thing when awe ana
IL good pasture probably weighed from d
hundred 10 a hundred and fifty pounds. Al
least these figures are an average az tne estl-
rates made by the crowd. The long tehlaCles
were thickly covered with spckers rom emo t ~
end those the head. shrunken "heh me
FISH was killed, being large enough 10 cover a
silver dollar. and. probably, Wnen the amman
was alive and able to expand ard contract them,
ud cover DISK between IN size O. d H'U4''4i-
Plate and soup plate.
TIE crowd gathered around listened with open
mouths 10 the story Of fisherman. who to!a
them the deyilhsh had swamped and smashed
2 boat and chased the crew ashore. An o!d
sailor gave the crowd some pointers in regard
70 deyilfsh ne had met in Australian waters
hich could reach thei: arms up and pull sailors
off the wards Of q gooG-slzed vessel The adj
Ytrtising agent or barker for dime museum
related his experiences in exhibiting stuffed
octouus In Cincinnati. and explained the anat-
ouv Of the monster to the crowd. The hsh
dealer slit UP the gizZard-shaped mouth OF the
FISH and exposed the tooth, or beak, shaIed
like that Of a parrot, and as sharp as knlie:
The cavity of the body was explored, and all
sorts of organs including a vermlforn appendix
found.
Then another sailor told how an octopus got
wound up in the propeller OF steamer he was
cr and stopped IT, and the steamer came near
drifting into the breakers before the arms OF the
tlir.r could be cut off and cleared away, as every
sucker held on like grim death. Then new
bard took the floor and told how the devililsh
car,ed its tentacles around. and Il one Of them
touched a man he was a goner. and was hauIeit
"a the bottom AT once M
And what would he do with you then asked
. shivering pallid wretch Of a dope hend' whose
bare toes protruded through his WORKOUT shoes
into the SNOW. he removed the cigarette
snipe from his mouth.
WHY. eat you. OF course" said tie orator,
licking around: but when he saw the dope memo
he added. NO. he would not eat YOU. you
u,ouid turn his stomach" The fend slid Of just
as a farmer with whip in his hands. elboWed
RI xrav into the crowd and stood staring IN
oren-roouthed wonder at the monster. \ MIS-
chieyous fellow gave one OF the tentac4es d
swing. and il whirled around the farmer NECK
and ne without waiting TO see VINO had a.
sstlted him. began striking right and leit WIN
lis whip. which caused d scattering OF lhe crow"
in all directions