The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-24
RATs IN MINES.
The Generally DlslIked Rodents Favo res
with Underground Toiiers.

WIN -NDuHN uAAEAHs
The first rats were brought to the
C0mstg ok from California in fre ghl
wagons, principally, most likely 4
the big pralrIe schOODers slowed
away among boxes and crates OF
goods. says the Engineering Journal.
Their rapid increase after their firsl
+ appearance on the COmstOck was as
t0nisnirg IRON 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 cOl0nlze the C0mstOck
towns encountered no enemies. There
were no cats in the country.
The rats soon discovered the mines,
and found therein a cOngenial home
and a home free from the terrifying
/ presence Of members OF the feline
tlibe Never was a cat seen Ia any
Of the lower levels Of the mines.
though they sometimes prOWl about
the surface OF the tunnels. la the
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 fnd safe hiding places also
there was room for them everywhere
behind the tagging Of the drifts. AS
they increased in numbers there
was on all sides an increasa 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 was their friend
down in the underground drifts and
chambers. He shared his meal with
them aud they seampercd ana
capered about him with perfect inn
unity 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 as though they had been given
immense hOthOuses in which to
breed. Any temperature they de-
size. from 90 degrees to 1870 degrees,
is at their command. Rats are use
ful as scayengers In mines They
deyOur 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 unendurable
in a mine, the miners never inten-
tionally Kill 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 unwOnted 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 uarters.
AT times when a mine has been
shut down for a few weeks, the rats
become rayenouslY hungry. They do
do not scruple 10 devour the young.
old and weak OF their kind During
the suspension OF work 10 a mine
AiAMN III nlNA iUuAAAAlA " VI 0AiNA
mines that are running, everything
eatable in the underground region is
devoured, even the candle drippings
ON the floors When work is resumed
the almost famished creatures are as
tcnishingly bold aud fearless. Then
they will cUmc out OF their holes and
get upon the underground engines
leven when they are in rapid moti0n)
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 by the wholesale. Few escape.
as the gases penetrate every nook
and Granny OF the underground re-
gions, and often so suddenly as to
asphyxiate them 10 their homes.