The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-02-10
RATS IN MINES.
The Generally Disiiked Rodents Favorites
with Underground Toilers.

The Generally Disiiked Rodents Favorite,
with Underground Toiiers.
The first rats were brought TO the
COmsttc ok from California I'm fire Oh,
wagons, principally. most likely n
the big ''prairIe s~chOoners," slowed
away among boxes and crates OF
goods, says the Engineering Journal.
Their rapid increase after their first
appearance on the COmstock vas as.
tOnishiEg. From ten to fourteen
young are produced at a birth, and
there are several litters each year;
besides, a rat is a great grandfather
before he Is a year old. Then the
rats that cOloniZe the COmsto X
towns encountered no enemies. There
were no cats in the country.
The rats Dor discovered the mines,
and found therein a congenial hone
and 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,
though they sometimes prOwl about
the surface OF the tunnels. In tie
first opening OF the mines there was
no place for the rats, but as soon aS
the timbers began To be set up and
cribs OF waste rocks built they were
able be find safe hiding places al o
there was for them everywhere
behind the tagging OF the drifts. AS
they increased In numbers thcrt
was on all sides an increaS Of space
through the rapid extraction OF ore
by the miners.
They doubtless soon discovered
that, though a man was their enemy
on the surface, he vas their friend
down i'm the underground drifts and
chambers. He shared his meal with
them and they scampercd and
capercd about him with perfect i'm
runity. The warmth OF the lower
levels appeared to be very congenial
10 the rats, both old and young.
Cold Is a thing unknown TO them. 1t
is rs though they had been given
immense hOthouses in which TO
breed. Any temperature they de-
sire, from 80 degrees TO $50 degrees,
Is at their command. Rats are use
full as scavengers in mines. They
devour all the scraps OF meat
and other food thrown upon the
ground by the miners while at lunch,
eating even the hardest bones, thus
preventing bad OdOr. AS the decay
OF the smallest thing Is uncomfortable
In "A mine, the miners never intcn-
tionally Kill a rat.
The miners have a high opinion OF
their sagacity. The rats generally
give the miners the first notice OF
danger. When "A big cave isabout to
occur, they are seen 10 swarm out OF
the drifts and scamper about the
floors OF "A level AT unwOntcd times.
The settling OF the waste rock prob.
ably pinches the animals in their
dens, causing them at once to leave
in search OF less dangerous Cuarters.
At times, when a mine has been
shut down for a few weeks, the rats
become rayenously hungry. They do
do not scruple to dcvour the young,
old and weak Of their kind During
the suspension Of work In "A mine
that els not connected with other
mines that are running, everything
eatable I'm the underground region is
%devoured, ever the candle drippings
on the floors. When work is resumed,
the almost famished creatures arc as
tonishingly bold and fearless. Then
they will come out OF their holes and
get upon the underground engines
even when they are In rapid motion)
and drink the oil out Of the oil cups,
quite regardless OF the presence OF
the engineer.
A fire in "A mine slaughters the
rats 10y the wholesale. Few escape,
rs the gases penetrate every nook
and Granny OF the underground re-
eions, and often SO suddenly as to
asphyXiatc them In their homes.