The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-01-16
FIGHT WITH A DEvILFIsH.

capt. Conrad, the local diver has
 recently returned from a voyage to central American waters During the
 month of August the fruit ship Oteri
 went ashore on the coast of Ruatan,
 in the tropical sea. Other divers tried
 10 float the ship and failed He was en-
 gagged, and started for the dangerous
 coast. There was a choppy mean sea
 running all the time, which made work
 difficult. The vessel had gone ashore
 head on. The stern was in deep water,
 and just aft of midships the coral reef
 showed itself. At that point she was hard aground, with hole stove in her.
 The keel was broken in three places, and the ship was really in a bad way
 However, he went to work, put the
 patches over the holes, and began the
 pumping. The vessel was soon pumped out enough to almost float her. It was
 evident that the effort would be suc-
 cessful. One evening the ship began to
 leak again with renewed energy. The leak came form point about amidships and near the keel, just under the bilge. It was a bright summer afternoon, about o'clock and he realized that the hole would have to be stopped at once
 He called his assistants, and they an- chored the divers boat with the appar atus. Everything was gotten ready for the work, and it was evident that 1t would me task of hours.
 As he reached the surface of the water his attention was attracted to the beautiful coloring of the coral and the thousands of fish swimming round the reefs Tropical waters usually give weird and beautiful light to the sur ] roundings, for these waters are so blue and clear. That day the picture seemed exceptionally enchanting, and the diver gave himself up to it's enjoyment and thoughts of things which happen away down in the blue sea, out of sight of the world.
 Slowly he approached the ship, thor oughly preoccupied, and he was getting down under the bilge near the point where the work was necessary when long, dark arm shot across his face glass. He had been in tropical waters before, and knew the sign. He realized he had the fearful devilfish to fght-the real octopus, which is feared by all divers, and given wide territory whenever met. The attack was so sudden and the sight so vivid that the diver lost his courage for moment, and gave the danger signal. He was entirely unarmed, and was pulled to the boat as rapidly as possible.
 When on the small boat he removed the big brass helmet for air. He was as white as a sheet and perfectly ex- hausted. His attendants crowded round to know the cause of his sudden flight
 When restored to his usual strength, for Capt Conrad is a man of magnifi- cent physical endurance, he quietly told of the submarine enemy.
 He thought over the situation. The ship was leaking badly and could not be allowed to remain over night with out assistance and careful attention. The work had to be done and done at once He called for a heavy harpoon, which was on board the beat, and cut the handle, making the weapon about three feet in length. Armed with this, he went down in the sea agaln.
 This time he had but one object in view. a fight. The fight was necessary n continue the work. He was very careful. He did not pay much, attention 10 the Vnf1eu dHu eAquioilC SoiohiAiS ~- the coral and fish, and the way the Wonderer- struck tribe watched ms very movement. He was looking TOT 1oe' and one of the most dangerous the sea divers know. Slowly he approachea the ship and the spot where the octopus was hidden under the bilge of the Ves- sel Tt was still there, and was also l watching him carefully AS ne ap- nroe eched the animal moved from under l the vessel gathering itself for the at- tack
 There were but four or five feet be- tween the coral reef and the vessel at +his point, and Capt. Conrad settled himself for the battle. It was not long n coming. The snakelike creature moyed forward and reached out Wlth nne of it's long arms, only to be met py . vigorous blow from the harpoon. Ihe sea. creature was quick and avoided the hIow and touched the diver on the hlp, h,1t lost the arm at once one cut ser ering it clean.
 Then the fight began in earnest. One ar two blows were given With put silght effect but fortunately the harpoon was driven deep into vital spot. When in- iured. these creatures discharge a dye which colors the water perfectly blacK. When hit this time immediately the water became inky, and having his vls- ion cut off, Capt Conrad rushed for safty. He managed to get beyond reach with but little difficulty, and again gave the danger signal.
 For long time he remained on board the tender boat, and the coloring dis charged by the octopus came to the sur face. Within a few minutes it had cleared away and again Capt. Conrad went down to resume the battle The deyilfish was dead, however, but re- mained close under the hull of the ves- sel, just at the point where work was necessary The harpoon was driven into the body, but the animal weighed more than the diver could move. rope was attached to the harpoon, but those on the boat could not pull the fish away.
 Capt Conrad. while speaking of his remarkable adventure, stated that the octopus was about three feet broad, and its body was twice that length, while it's arms extended some 8 or 10 feet When there was no longer danger from the octopus he resumed his work and lay on the back of the animal when