The Lexington advertiser., 1905-08-10
of underwater wcrk in various parts
of the world

of underwater wcrk in various parts
Of the world
One day Palmer went down in the
ordinary course of his work and was
engaged in putting q chain around a
great seVen-ton block of concrete when
he suddenly noticed a curious-looking
object protrudins from a cavity below
the block.
The water was comparatively clear
and at that depth the diver was able
to see around him with ease.
Bending down, Palmer examined the
object which had attracted his atten-
tion. He was just beginning to won
der what it could be when, without the
slightest warning, it began to move
toward him, A huge tentacle shot out
from below the stone, moved swiftly
sideways and in an instant had seized
his leg in vise-like grip.
Mortified, the driver staggered back,
ward, but as he did so yet another
feeler appeared from under the ma
sonry and alighted upon his arm, hold
ing it helpless.
Wildly the man struggled to free
himself from those awful arms, but all
in vain. Where the innumerable tiny
suckers touched the naked flesh of his
hand they stung and scared like an
electric wire and he felt himself being
drawn slowly but surely toward the
IcYs cIz H.
lurked the Iideous creature which
owned those writing arms.
Palmer is big, burly man in the
prime of life, and has faced danger In
many forms in the course of his long
experience. But for a moment or SO
the unutterabIe horror of his position
held him spellbound; even his brain
seemed numbed
Then, slowly, with gliding motion
that was horrible to behold, the crea-
ture beneath the stone began to emerge.
AS it came out Palmer beheld with a
shudder the cold, staring eyes and par
rot-like beak Of an enormous octopus,
or devilfish,
Other tentacles now hovered around
him, seeking point OF vantage where
they could seize hold Desperately the
tortured man stroye to wrench himself
free, but the more he struggled the
tighter grew the grip of the sinuous
coils which held him by arm and leg.
Then, one by one, the remaining feel
ers settled around his body-cold. |
Shiny, Quiyering masses, but irreaist
ible in their strength.
Palmer, incumbered by his heavy |
dress, turned this way and that In his |
feeble efforts to avoid the thoughtiess-
ness which had sent him down TO the |
bottom without even a knife.
And now--he looked into those awful |
eyes, SO close to his own, and could |
have screamed with terror. The sick |
ening horror Of his pligkt-foldedl
helplessly in the deadly embrace of i
that hideous monster-would have |
driven many brave man raving mad.
1t was useless to struggle-those |
Shiny tentacles had the strength of /
bonds of steel. He had heard of div
ers, attacked by small devil-f5h, bold. |
ly seizing their beeks and turning |
them inside out, for all the world like t
a stocking But the great size and i'm
mense strength of this specimen put
any such proceeding on his part entire
ly out of the question How would
death come? Would the awful crea-
ture crush him slowly out of human
shape or would it tear his diving dress
and so kill him quickly and merci.
fully?
Instinctively Palmer had kept one
arm free from the encircling tentacles.
He now noticed mechanically that the
octopus had let go its hold of the
masonry and had wrapped itself entire.
ly round him.
The sight gave him courage. Had
the creature anchored itself to the con.
crete it is probable that this tale would
never have been written and that Pal
mer's name would have gone TO swell
the long list of those who have died
while following the dangerous occupa
ton Of diving.
Making a desperate effort to throw
of the stupor Of nausea and fear which