Historic Cryptid Headline: September 7, 1920 - Bather Fights Octopus With Knife As Weapon

The Washington Times

September 7, 1920

“Bather Fights Octopus With Knife As Weapon!”

Delaware Life Guard, Enveloped By Score Of Tentacles, Cuts His Way To Freedom.

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del., Sept. 7. – Fighting for his life against an unknown creature of the sea, Ira Wilgus, of the Indian River Life Saving Station, managed to escape only by the use of his pocket knife, and today believes that it was an octopus that nearly drowned him.

Wilgus was wading in the Indian River inlet in the search of clams when suddenly something grabbed him with what he described as “a thousand arms,” dragging him into the water.

Struggling as best he could, he found himself being slowly dragged into the ocean. Remembering his pocket knife, he pulled it out and, slashing right and left, finally escaped from the tentacles which had enveloped him.

After staggering to the beach, he lay there for some time before he could make his way to the station, where he declares he is sure that an octopus had him in its grasp.

“Historic Cryptid Headlines” showcases actual articles involving cryptids that were published within United States newspapers back in the 1800’s-1900’s. The articles posted here are written exactly as they appeared during their original publishing date.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

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