The print for this article is a bit hard to read, apologies, but I love it when I find an article with a title like that. Explosive Octopus. It just doesn’t get any better, does it?
Barrier Miner 14 Sep 1948 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48572592
Today we are joining a group of kids out for a bit of fishing at the end of the school holidays in 1948.
I expect they had no real aim that day except to have fun, and that’s just as well because their prize couldn’t really be taken home to mum for dinner.
Their catch? A grenade bearing octopus. Eeek!
You regular readers know what happens if she puts one of them in the oven, don’t you? It just can’t end well, can it?
I think these boys showed remarkable restraint. Generally when I find articles about kids and explosives they involve the kids doing some sort of damage to the explosive, and often being damaged in return.
I wonder how long this octopus had been clinging on to the grenade? Just as well it didn’t work out how it pull the pin, wasn’t it!
Buried words and Bushwa. 
I can just picture the kids going home and trying to tell their mothers the hand grenade they found came from an octopus one of them had caught. They would have gotten double the punishment for telling tall tales where I come from – even if it was true. No parent would buy that line, at least not from a group of teenage boys.
I think they would have to make up some sort of story in order not to get into trouble! The one time the truth will NEVER be believed. ‘Mum, I got this grenade from an octopus….’ 🙂
Octopus : Make my day little humans…c’mon I dare you.
I just have a mental picture of the octopus having a lair full of ordnance under the pier just waiting for his moment… kablooey!!! 🙂
The first 8 legged terrorist?
It shouted ‘YOU’LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!’ but all they heard was ‘squish squish squish’
But what happened to the grenade? Did it slip, slop back into the ocean with it or what?
Amazingly the boy did the responsible thing and took it to the police. I was really suprised that he didn’t hit it with a rock or pull the pin and throw it at his mates. 🙂
That is rather amazing. I’m not sure my nephew would have been as sensible at that age
night night 🙂
Puts a whole new slant on Mom coming through and saying the dinner’s going to be late tonight, the oven just flew through the window in pieces.
What’s for dinner mum?
Seafood surprise…RUUUUUN! 😉