The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-24
AN ANTS HEROISM.
Having Rescued Many the Insect Did
Not Fear Death.


From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The sun was just setting when I re-
turned, slightly fatigued, from several
miles ride on my wheel. AS Is my custom
on returning home, I took the garden
hose and turned water into small trench
which had been dug around a maple tree
for the purpose of holding water a suffi-
cient time to permit the dirt adjacent to
the roots to become thoroughly soaked.
Sitting down near the rest, my attention
was soon attracted to a group of small
ants rushing hither and thither in an en-
deavor to escape. The bottom of the cir
cular ditch being covered, about twenty of
the ants sought safety on a large clod of
earth. At first they were scattered about
over the highest part of the little mound,
and to all appearance were Indifferent as
to their surroundings. After a little one
of the number proceeded leisurely around
the little island, and, after finishing the
circuit, hurried back to his companions
1t appeared that they then, for the first
time, realized that they were surrounded
by water. The survey was repeated sew
eral times in quick succession. The group
of ants gathered more closely together,
and seemed to be in a state of restless
anxiety. AS the water rose the circuit
grew less, the vigil more earnest and the
excitement more intense with each return
of the sentinel. They rushed about over
each other in a terrible state of agitation,
for the water was rapidly approaching.
There was now hardly room for them to
stand on; just little while and that would
be under water. They ceased struggling
settled down into motionless inactivity
and seemed entirely resigned to their
fate.
l picked. up a little stick and laid it
across the water to the point where the
ants were, They seemed dazed, and did
not instantly take advantage of the means
of escape afforded them. One then crawl
ed hurriedly up on the stick, went its full
length out and over the blades of grass
on to the dry land. Without a seconds
hesitation he turned and retraced his steps
back to his companions. Now the small
est one Of the group returned with him
to dry land. They both retraced their
steps, and. the work of rescue began. The
rest seemed passive, entirely subservient
to the will of these two. Each with a COM
panion, FASTENED out to a place of safety.
The small one was much the more ac-
tive, he rescuing about three to the 1arg-
ers two Time was precious, as the water
was rapidly rising; it would soon be rum
ming around the outer send of the stick
and the island was melting away. One
by one they were taken out, the guide ac-
companying the rescued one each time to
a place of security. Why they did not
all follow the first one out when he re-
turned puzzled me, but they did not. The
smaller ant now hurried forth with the
last one. Still he was not content, and
rushed back in search of others. The lit
tie hillock was now melted away, and he
turned TO seek safety for himself He
did not seem as much concerned as be-
fore. He did not hasten on as when con.
scious of rescuing others. The water was
running around the stick. The last ave-
nue. of escape seemed closed to him for