The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-03-27
A SCIENTIFIC ExPERI16ENT m THE PARIS
CATACOMBA

l. A1ParlS correspondent OF Inc LONDON 1Q1t9
News writes to that Journal: "Capt Denarouze
is proving to the savans that if miners hence-
forth perish from chokedamp it will not be
through the fault of science His demonstra-
ton to this effect are made in the cat4c0mbs, ,un-
der the Reu'd Enfer. The theatre of his ex-
periments is space formed by the intersection
Of two low galleries propped up with squat free
stone pillars, and lined with skulls and -tibias.
These details are rendered visible BY the light
of the faring torches, such as one sees in the
Bercy wine vaults. In the centre of the OPEN
ing Sands q large glass box, or rather chamber,
which might have been borrowed from the man.
ayers of the Brighton &4uarium. Its inmates
are not fishes, but lordly dunghill cock, very
proud of his scarlet throat decorations, and
rabbit which might be taken for an emblem of
unintelligent vaccillation and timidity. At
the extremity of the glass chamber, farthest
from the seats provided by Capt. Denarouze
for those who wish to look on at his expert
ments; lies tin cylinder, closed at ends. An
india-rubher tube inserted into the cylinder, of
which more presently. When the performance
is about to commence few more torches are
lighted A man dressed like q miner then
comes forward, enters the glass chamber, which
is closed on him hermetically, and then pro-
ceeds to work with pickaxe, to the evident
annoyance of the cock and tho bewilderment OF
the rabbit. He has on his back tin box
shaped like a knapsack, and fastened to his
breast little lantern. with very powerful re-
flectors. As he stoops we observe that his nos
trils are shut by means of a pair of spectacles.
We also see that he holds in his mouth bone
tube, from which proceeds another Of gutta per-
cha, ending in the knapsack. The man is in
nowise embarrassed with this apparatus. He
tears up the ground and moves about heavy
blocks Of freestone, crawls on his hands and
knees, and acts as if he were in q mine instead
Of in q glass chamber in the catacombs. While
he is SO engaged, the captain explains that the
knapsack is a sort Of gas0meter, containing a
supply Of vital air, and that the big cylinder
contains reserve fund. He then turns cock,
which he says is to il the glass chamber with
carbonic acid gas. Before many minutes elapse,
the vain glorious bird shows signs of physical
discomfort, turns blue at the wattles, loses his
lorly air, fcps his wings languidly, droops, goes
of into q faint, and gives up the ghost. The
rabbits struggles for life are more convulsve,
and his kicks 60 on for longer time. While
death thus invades the chamber, the miner
works away. not minding the poisonous gas
His lamp, which also communicates VIII
knapsack, continues to burn bright, tho
four torches in the glass room have gone l3
for want Of oxygen. The moment the l. ~
10 it grows dim, the man understands that q, &
must draw upon the reserve fund of vital ail
from which he replenishes his portable gasomc-
ter. Hydrogen and oxygen gas are next turn
in upon him. But he is not hurt by the inflam-
mable atmosphere, for the flame Of his lamp
cannot come in contact with it. The whole
is so simple. that one wonders it
was not long ago invented. Capt. Denarouze's
miners knapsack was first suggested to him
BY the diving bell which he flatters himself, his
apparatus will supercede."