SEIZED BY AN OCTOPUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1032, 18 November 1882, Page 3

SEIZED BY AN OCTOPUS.

Another octopus story comes from Flaxbourne, and is told in an exchange. Mr Vavasour, a well-known settler in Taranaki, was recently a visitor to that district, and, being at the boat harbor, determined on having a bathe in the sea. The water was clear and deep. After enjeying a swim lie was returning to the shore, and had just placed his hands on a ledge of rocks which runs out seaward and was about to leave the water, when a cold arm was swiftly thrown out over his shoulder and the extremity as quickly fixed on his chest with a grip somewhat resembling that of a cupping glass. Almost simultaneously a second arm encircled his waist and obtained an equally stronghold, and immediately he felt himself being dragged downwards, and then he knew lie was in

the embrace of a powerful octopus or ‘ devil fish.’ He was in a desperate plight for he had no fooiliold, and all that he had to oppose to this terrible tugging from the depths of the sea was tha comparatively powerless hold which his hands had on the rocks. However, he did not lose his presence of mind, but called out to a shepherd who had been bis companion and was standing not far off, and he without a moment’s loss of time ran to his assistance, saw at a glance what was the matter, and drawing his sheath knife I stooped down from the ledge of rock and severed first one and then the other of the arms of tins horrible monster of the deep, and thus released Mr Vavasour, who in another minute or two must have succumbed. After so narrow an escape most men would have had quite enough of a devil fish for one day at least. But not so Mr Vavasour. After a few minute s rest he became curious to know what had become of his lale enomjq and, peering over the side of the rock, he saw him lying sick and sorry from the loss of two arms, at the bottom of the sea. Mr Vavasour is a splendid diver, and a strong swimmer, and lie without a moment s hesitation determined to become the aggressor where he had so nearly been the victim. Having obtained a hook a rope from the boat station lie with these plunged into the water, cautiously approached the brute, on ■whom recent experiences of cold steel had produced a most distressing appe'rance, and contrived to run the hook into its gelatinous body, and. having secured a firm hold, lie returned to the rock, and, with the aid of the shepherd, who had been viewing the proceedings with astonishment, not uumixed with alaim, succeeded in dragging the monster ashore. Satisfied with thus having had his revenge, he did not make any minute examination of his vanquished foe, but describes the body as being some four feet across, and the suckers ‘ as big as my hand.’ If Mr Vavasour is not a Yankee he ought to be.