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Show RAT IS FRIEND OF MINERS Workers Warned of Coming Catas-v Catas-v trophe When the Rodents Leave Tunnel Are FeeHiy Men. InvefttlpitorR of inlnlnR conditions nml tho peciillnr dangers to which minora nro Hiihjcctcd recently hnve lulicn much Interest In tho practice of Western cold minora to mnke pets of tho rats which commonly Infest mines. On tho mother lodo of Call-fornln Call-fornln It linn been found that tho miners Invnrlnhly feetl tho rots nnd take enro of them, bellovlne. tliut tho rodents nro n wmrco of protection against nccldent, snys Our Dumh Anl-mulH. Anl-mulH. This u due, tho men niiy,,to tho Instinct of tho rntH, which Avarns them when n tunnel Is unsnfe. And when tho rnts leave n tunnel It la almost Impossible Im-possible to Ret tho minors to work there. - Thfs recalls tho belief among sailors that rnts will lenvo n doomed ship, a'ho miners nlso hnvo found thnt rnts nro much moro misceptlble thnn humans to tho dangerous eases that hq often cnuso loss of llfo In tho mines. Long hoforo tho miners themselves nro nlTected by these Rases tho rats become be-come sick nnd show symptoms of distress. dis-tress. So tho men keep close watch of tho rats' Rood henlth. |