The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03
HERoIsM OF AN ANT.
Pretty story of Marvellous Courage
and Devotion in an Ant Colony.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The sun was just setting when returned
slightly fatigued, from several miles rue
on my wheel. AS is my custom on return,
ing home I took the garden hose ana
had been dug around a maple tree for the
purpose of holding water sulnclent tline
to permit the dirt adjacent TO the roots TO
become thoughly soaked.
Sitting down near the rest, my attentlon
was soon attracted to a group OF small
ants rushing hither and thither IN an an en- EN-
deavor to escape. The bottom OF the cir.
cular ditch being covered, about twenty OF
the ants sought safety on a large cloQ
of earth. AT first they were scattered about
over the highest part of the little mound,
and to all appearance We're lnulILerent dS
to their surroundings. AFTER lltt ls.o. one
of the number proceeded lelSureIy around
the little island, and after finishing the cir
cult hurried back to his companions. 1t
appeared that they then, for the hrSt time,
realized that they were surrounded by
water. The survey was repeated; several
times in quick succession. The group OF
ants gathered more closely together ana
seemed to be in a state OF restless an1iiety.
As the water rose the circuit grew less,
the vigil more earnest ana the exclteIne!nil
more intense with each return or the sentl-
mel. They rushed about over each otner IN
a terrible state of agitation, Tor the water
was rapidly approaching. IheIe was now
hardly room for them to stand on; just
little while, and that would be under wafer
They ceased struggling, settled down !, INTO il1t,
motionleSs inactivity and seemed entrely
resigned to their fate:
I licked I'D a little stick and laid it across
the water to the point where the ants We're.
They seemed dazed and did not instantly
take advantage of the means of escape al
forded them. One then crawled hurrledly
llp on the stick. went its full length out
and over the blades of grass on to the dry
land Without a seconds hes1taton ne
turned and retraced his steps back 10 ms
conpanions Now the smallest one of the
grolip returned with him to dry land. They
both retraced their steps and the work OF
rescue began. The others seemed passive,
entirely subservient to the will of these
two Each with companion haStened out
to a place of safety.
The small one was much the more active,
he rescuing about three to the largers two.
Time was precious, as the water was rapid
" rising; it would soon be running around
the outer end of the stick and the island
was melting away One by one they were
taken out the guide accompanying the res
cued one each time to place OF security.
Why they did not all follow the nrst one
out when he returned 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
little hillock was now melted away, and he
turned to seek safety for himself. He did
not seem as much concerned as before: lie
did not hasten on as when conscious OF res
cuing others The water was running
around the stick. The last avenue of escape
seemed closed to him forever. tie went to
the highest point and settled down per-
fectly still His previous conduct convinced
me that he now fully realized that the case
was homeless as far as he was concerned.
Must the bravest of them all thus die when
he could have easily made his escape long
ago. He willingly risked his own LIE that
he might save others Gould a more gen.
nine example of heroism be found in human
annalsp Gould a more striking example Of
true brotherly love and unselflsh devotion be
shown? Could a more earnest solicitude for
the life of others be instanced? / think not.
Within his own power this little insect had
no POSSIBLE means of escape. He did not
fear death; neither did he die. but he was
Iagt to escape I lifted the stick from the
water and laid il out on the ground. He
erawled hurriedly away to his companions.
whom he had so recently torn from the
erasD of death. Whatever / may have done
for them i can but feel that in his ex-
ample, the little hero ant did much more
for me.