SEIZED BY AN OCTOLUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 31, 4 March 1878, Page 2

SEIZED BY AN OCTOLUS.

A' startling, adventuro- with a "devil flsli " is rcltitod' by tho Belfast corrcsrondent of tho Warnam-bool advertisica. as follows 5— "Mr Smttlc, tho divor engaged at tbo Moyno Kivor in. removing thereof, Jiacl fired off; a ohnrgo of dynumitc,.nniJ was^onßflßpJ in rolling over 11 lurgp stone,.,

whon ho' saw something which ho supposed at t ho timo w«s n pieoo of clean looking kolp moving about in fronb of whero he Wflß working. In <v fow scowls this object oarao in contact with Iho diver's* arm, nbout whioh it quickly coilml, portly holding him. Immediately Mr Smato ' tbuchod what was coiled round hi* arm ho beenmo-awaro of his- position, and tried to extricate himself, but found it a far morO' diflioultjob thiui.ho anticipated' Gatchr ing hold of tho part hanging from, hifr arm ho walked along tho bottom of tho rvvor towards- tho end of it,, whemho saw ho was .firmly hold by ono of tho foolors of a lnrgo ootoptifl. Mr S'mnlo tried. to pull tho fish off -from. its hold of tho roclcs, but without offoct for Homo time. Afe last tho fish loosened itaolf from tho stone*, and (jnickly trnnsforred its foolers, or nrm« around the diver's logs, and' body.k In this- position Mr Smalo thought tho best thing for him to do was to got up on dock no «oouii as possible, and lie quickly mndo tracks for tho laddor, which rouchva from, tho deck of tho- punt to tho bottom of tho pivor. Tho diver w.a-9 oortainly a curious look, ing object whon ho carno' up,. The luu«uglynlooking tlung appeared to bo cntunKl«d nil over him. UoMinft him ombraoo. ITovvevor, Mr Smalo's fellow workmon wero not long itv freeing him r from tho unfriendly hug of his submarine I companion. Tho body portion of the I octopus wns only about tho sizto of a Inr^o soup platOi with oyos in its bend like thoso of n sheopi but possossod nine aims, oacl> about 4ft. in. length, at tho butt aa thick as a man's wi»Ut, tapcriiu off »t tho end to at ilne n point n* thut of a pon-knife. Thus it could spread over an aroa of Ol't, jin diameter. All tho wny along, tho, underneath part of ottoh feele* nre suokors every quarter of nu inch, giving it im- ! mouse power. Mr Smalo declares that it 1 wus powerful enough to keep throo> men 1 under water,"