The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-02
FIGHT WITH A DEvILFIsH.
Battle Between an Octopus and Di-
YER Who Was Working on n Wreck.
New Orleans Picayune.

New Orleans Plcayune
Captain Conrad, the local diver. has re-
Gently returned from a voyage to Central
American waters. During the month of
August the fruit ship Oteri went ashore on
he coast Of Ruatan, in the tropical sea;
failed. He was engaged, 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 a hole stove in her. The keel was
broken in three places, and the ship was
really in 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. 1t
was evident that the effort would be sue
cessful. One evening the ship began to
leak again with renewed energy The leak
came from point about midships and near
the keel just under the bilge. 1t was a
bright summer afternoon, about o'clock,
and he realized that the hole would have
TO be stopped at once. He called his as
sistants, and they anchored the divers
boat with the apparatus. Everything was
got ready for the work, and it was evil
dent that it would be task of hours.
AS he reached the surface of the water
his attention was attracted to the beautiful
cooring of the coral and the thousands of
fish swimming round among the reefs.
Tropical waters usually give weird and
beautiful light to the surroundings, for these
waters are so blue and clear. That day the
picture seemed exceptionally enchanting.
ment ard thoughts of things which happen
away down in the blue sea, out of sight of
the world.
Slowly he approached the ship, thoroughly
preoccupied. and he was getting down under
the bilge near the point where the work was
necessary when a long, dark arm shot
across his face glass. He had been in trop-
ical waters before and knew the sign. He
realized he had the fearful devilfish TO fight
the real octopus which is feared by all
divers, and given q 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 once on the small boat he removed
the big brass helmet for air. He was a white
as sheet and perfectly exhausted His at
PENDANTS crowded round TO know the cause
of this sudden flight.
When restored to his usual strength for
Captain Conrad is a man of magnificent
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 without assistance and
careful attention. The work had TO be done
and done at once. He called for heavy
harpoon, which was on board the boat, and
cut the handle. making the weapon about
three feet in length. Armed with this he
went down in the sea again
This time he had but one object in view a
fight. The fight was necessary to continue
the work lie was very careful He did not