The evening world., 1893-12-20
RATS IN MINES.
The Rodents Are FnvOriteS with Tn
foreground TOllers.

The first rats were brought to the
Comstock from California in freight
wagons. principally. most likely in the
big prairie schooners," slowed away
among, boxes and crates OF goods. Their
rapid Increase after their first appear
ance ON the tomstock was astonishing,
says the Engineering journal. From
ten to fourteen young are produced at
Il birth, and there are several litters
each year: besides a rat IL II great grand
father before he is II year old. Then
the rats that COLOMBO the Comstock
towns encountered no enemies. There
We're no cats I'm the country.
The rats soon discovered the mines:
and found therein Il conSeninl home aud
"A home free from the terrifying presence
of members OF the feline tribe Never
Was a cat seen in any of the lower
levels OF the mines. thought they somc-
times prowl about the surface of the
tunnels. In the first opening of the
mines there was no place for the rats.
but HS soon as the timbers began to he
set up and cribs of waste rock built
they were able to find safe hiding
anywhere behind the tagging of the
drifts. As they increased in numbers
there was on all sides an Increase Of
space through the rapid extraction OF
ore by the miners.
They doubtless soon discovered that.
though II man was their enemy on the
surface. he was their friend down in the
underground drifts and chambers. lie
shared his meal with them, and they
scampered and cap-rcd about him with
perfect impunity. The warmth of tn"
genial to the rats. both old and young
Cold Is II thing unknown To them. II Is
as though they had been given immense
hot houses In which to breed
Any temperature they desire. from ca
degrees to 1870 degrees. Is at their com
mand.
Rats are useful as scavengers IN mines.
They d"Vour all the scraps Of meat amt
other food thrown upon tn" ground by
the miners while at lunch, eating even
the hardest bones. thus preventing bad
is uncomfortable in a mine, the miners
never Intentionally KIM Il rat.
The miners have n high opinion OF
their sagaclty. The rats generally Eiv"
The miners the first notice of danger.
When IA big rave Is about To occur they
are seen to swarm out Of III" drifts ana
s"amper about the floors OF u level AT
unwonted times. The settling Of the
waste rock probably pinch"s the animals
in their dens. causing them At one" u
leave in search OF less dangerous quar-
t"rS.
At times, when Il mine has been shut
down for "A few weeks. the rats hrconi"
r~avrnOusly hungry. Then they do not
scruple IL d"your the young. old and
weak Of their kird During the susper
sion OF work IN "A MINI that is not %
n,Cted with other mines that are rum
nihE, everything eatablc In the under
ground region Is devoured, even the
candle %drIppings on the floors. When
wurk * roNumel the almost famished
creatures are astonishlugly bold and
fearless, hen they VIII come out Of
tiieir holes and get upon the under
ground engines (eVen wn"u th"v are in
rapid notion and drink thr oil ont OF
The :ir ups, quite regardless Of the
presence of the engineers.
4 fire in "A mine ~slaughters thu rats
by tht wholesale, Few escape. H. u.
gases penetrate" every nook and Granny
81 the underground regions. and often
So suddenly as to a~sphySiate them IN
their homes.