Show RAT IS FRIEND OF MINERS workers warned of coming catastrophe when the rodents leave tunnel are fed by men investigators of mining condi conditions flous and the pecullar peculiar dangers to which miners are subjected recently have taken much interest in tile the practice of western gold miners to make peta of the rats hach commonly infest mines on the mother lode of california it tins lias been found that the miners invariably feed the rats and take enre of them Iel believing leving that the rodents are it a burce of protection against accident says rays our dumb ant animals this is due uie the men say to the instinct of the rats which warns thein bahen a tunnel is unsafe and when iben I ben the rats leave a tunnel it Is almost impossible po to get the miners to work ork t there ere this recalls the belief among sailors that rats will leave a doomed dooma sh ship p the miners also algo have found that ruts are much more susceptible than humans to the dangerous gases that so often cause lost loss of life lit in tile mines long before the minors miners themselves are affected by those gases the rats become sick and show symptoms of distress so the men keep close watch of the rats good health |