New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-02-04
yHO could have supposed. even in
. these days of waste product utili-

wv HO could have supposed, even IN
w these day. of waste product u'n.
cation. that the much-despiscd
English sparrow would ever be turned 20
valuable account? And for the prcserva-
ton OF human lives at that
This very thing. however, has come TO
pass II has been found expedient, for
reasons presently to be explained. % Sub
stitute sparrows for canaries IN mine res
cue work. and a few birds are already
being trained for the purpose at the ex-
pertinent station of the government Blu
reau of Mines near Pittsburgh.
When, not long ago, Mr.. Taft witnessed
at Pittsburgh an exhibition of such rescue
work-performed by mon in oxygen sun
piled helmets. with the help of enoT-
nous iron cylinder Supposed to repre-
sent mine) in which terrific explosions
Of coal dust. etc, took place-he was espe-
cially interested I'm the canary tests. In
one experiment. made in his presence, a
man spent eight minutes in a tight glass
box, the air Of which contained Une-fourth
OF per cent of the deadly carbon mon
oxide gas Though protected by TO oxygen
or other apparatus, the man endured the
situation while two sets OF birds sue
cessively succumbed leach set being partly
asphyxiated in two minutes). and then re-
manned in the box four minutes 10 1ecr.
whereupon the President ordered him out.
BIRDS QUICKLY OVERCOME.
The object OF the trial was to show that
the birds are much more sensitive 10
deadly gases than human beings-whence
their usefulness TO give warning Of the
presence Of such gases. In the recent mine
disaster at Briceville, Tenn, their employ
ment in this way undoubtedly saved Il
number OF lives.
Where a canary is thus used II is not
killed, or even seriously injured. It sim
ply drops off it's perch and thereup1n Is
taken from fits cage and gently :hrust into
a box. made for the purpose, with which a
small receiver containing oxygen is con-
nected. A twist of a button turns on The
oxygen. and in few minutes the bird Is as
well and as lively as ever.
Nothing could be more humane. But
there are a great many people in this coun-
try who are so strongly opposed to any
thing suggestive of cruelty TO animals that
they are likely TO condemn such employ
ment Of canaries with vehemence and pub
poor miners might be saved through their
use. Whence the new idea-to utilize SPAR
rows instead. Comparatively little senti-
ment attaches to sparrows, and attack
from certain well-intentioned and hyper
emotional quarters will be discounted by
the substitution,
The experts in charge at Pittsburgh have
already made formal report that sparrows
are less available for the purpose than
canaries for the reason that they do not
lend themselves easily to captivity" To
which reply has been made by Professor
Joseph A. Holmes, chief OF the Bureau Of
Mines. to the effect that the way out Of
the difficulty is to catch them young" In
other words. the sparrow. for the first time
in the history of its species, is TO be re-
duced TO domestication in order that it may
be of practical service to man.
BIRDS ATTACHED TO BELTS.
Another idea of Professor Holmes is that
instead of carrying the birds in ordinary
cages by hand. as has been done hitherto
with canaries, they shall be placed in small
barred boxes attachable at a moments no
tice to the belt of helmet man" entering
a mine. Thus the cage, while under ready
observation, will not interfere in the least
with the physical activities of the person
bearing 1t.
The Bureau of Mines maintains several
rescue cars on tho railroads.&c. be rushed
TO the scene in case of a mine disaster
and each one of these is provided as part
of its lfesaving equipment with at least
half dozen birds But, under whatever
circumstances they may be used, re
suscitating box always accompanies the
cage in which they are carried, to revive
them when they have become partially
esphyXiated
Mice have been tried for the same puT-