davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

| Especially
Who could have supposed, even II
these days Of waste product utilization
\ that the mueh-despIsed English sparrow
would ever be turned to valuable ac.
count? And for the preservation ot
human lives at that.
This very thinE. however, has come tc
pass. 1t has been found expedient, for
reasons presently to be explained. to sub
stitute sparrows for canaries in raine
rescue work. and a few birds are already
being trained for the purpose at the ex-
pertinent station OF the Government Bu-
reau Of Mines near Pittsburg.
When, not long ago, MFR. Taft witnessed
at Pittsburg an exhibition Of such rescue
work-performed by men n-oxygen sup
piled helmets. with the help Of an enor-
nous iron cylinder Supposed to repre-
sent a mine). in which terrific explosions
Of coal dust. &C.. took place-he was
especially interested in 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
one-fourth of per cent OF the deadly
carbon monoxide gas. Though protected
by no oxygen or other apparatus. the
man endured the situation, while two sets
of birds successfully succumbed leach set
and then remained In the box four min
utes longer, vsliereupon the President or
dered him out.
The object of the trial was to show
that birds are much more sensitive to
deadly gases than htiISSan beings-whence
their usefulness to gle warning OF the
presence OF such gases, In the recent mine
disaster at Brlceviile, Tenn. their en-
ployment in this way undoubtedly saved
number Of lives.
Where canary Is thus-used It is not
killed, or even seriously injured. 1t sim
ply drops on It's perch. and thereupon is
taken from Its cage and gently thrust
into a box. made for the purpose, with
which a small receiver containing oxygen
is connected. A twist OF a button turns
on the oxygen. and in a few minutes the
bird is as well and as lively as ever.
Nothing could be more humane. But
there are, unfortunately. a great many
people in this country who are so strong
cruelty TO animals that they are likely
to condemn such employment Of canaries
with vehemence and public agitation. no
matter how many lives OF poor miners
might be saved through their use.
Whence the new idea--to utilize sparrows
instead. Comparatively little. sentiment
attaches TO sparrows and attack from
certain well-intentioned and hyper-emo-
tional quarters win be discounted by the
substitution.
The experts 10 charge at Pittsburg have
already made formal report that spar
rows are less available for the purpose
than canaries. for the reason that they
do not lend themselves easily to cap
tiyity." To which reply has been made
by Prof. Joseph A. Holmes, chief OF
the Bureau Of Mines. 10 the effect that
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
BIRDS In MINE RESCUE WORK;
GIVE WARNING OF DEADLY GAS

/ helmets accomplish the rescues. But tn,
moment a bird hutters and falls from
| its perch, the volunteers are ordered e
\ retreat. The helmet men then go for.
ward. while the auxiliaries wait in tho
safe part of The mine to help in the
work as half-suffocated miners art
brought out. BY this means, with the
help OF canaries. five men were saved
at the BricevIIle disaster (which cost ID
lives) who otherwise would have perished.
This IS the sort of thing which Is TO be
prevented by the use of birds. At Brice-
Vile canaries were employed, and not a
single rescuer was overcome. With the
help of canaries or sparrows there should
be no loss of life worth mentioning in
uline rescue work from this time on.
while a far greater number OF successful
rescues Of imprisoned men Will be accom-
plished, thanks to the oxygen apparatus
and TO the facility with which volunteers
can be utilized without danger to them
selves.
The Bureau OF Mines estimates that
every year more than 2GOO men are
killed In the coal mines OF the United
States, and about $500 are injured. The
cost Is one lifes for every 10000 tons OF
coal dug out OF the earth For every
two men Killed. one woman is made a
widow and three children are left father
less.
Three and a half men are killed in a
year for every 1000 coal-diggerS. The
average household In this country burns
i've tons Of coal per annum- Thus II is
easy TO reckon that the fuel supply of
every k0eo0 families costs one life every
twelve months. It Is one of the taxes
on civilization.
Disastrous mine explosions are usually
explosions Of coal dust. And yet until
very recently II was denied even by most
experts that coal dust could under any
circumstances explode. The fact, how
ever (as finally demonstrated. by the Bu-
reau OF Minesl. is that coal dust when
MIXED with air is as explosive as 50
much gunpcwdsr, and only needs fire to
set II of.
This was one OF the most interesting
of the demonstrations made recently at
Pitssburg. for educatioRal purposes. in
the presence Of Mr.. Taft and 20.Oc0 miners
gathered from all over the United States
An enormuos cylinder Of iron (represent-
ing for experimental purposes a mine
tunneD was filled with air. coal DUST
and nothing else Then the President
was asked TO. touch Il OF by pressing
button. When he did so "a small guam
ity Of gunpowder being used for the
p1rposeJ. there was an explosion so
tremendous as to alarm most Of the spec
tators very greatly-notwithstand the
fact that the cylinder was some hun
dreds OF yards distant.
Immediately thercupon. while Yet the
cylinder was filed with gases impossible
TO breathe men wearing helmets and
earryiitG oxygen tanks on their backs.
walked cooIly into ana through ft-thus
illustrating IN the most striking way
the usefulness Of such ap-
paratus for mine rescue work
RENE RkCHE
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

plank and drifted down with the tide for
several hours.
The cold water revived me after a
time anc. though I was still weak, ]
was able to push the plank slowly toward
the shore. / was scarcely able to walk
when I reached land. Slowly and pain
fully I dragged myself 10 a nearby log
cabin, where dwelt an aged negro and his
wife.
There I remained for three days under
their care. On the fourth day a steamer.
the Marble City. was tagged and was
taken back TO Cairo. III. There It was
that learned what caused the explosion.
The Ruth before she started has been In
trusted with the money with which to
pay on Grants troops at VIcksburg. The
money was supposed to have been put on
board secretly, but In some way the Con-
federates had learned OF its whereabouts
and had placed a bomb in the coal The
bomb was supposed TO have been loaded
in with the coal by some man in the en-
ploy OF the Confederate government. II
was near the bottom and was not show
eled into the furnace until we had almost
arrived at Cairo, our hrst coallng station.
Destruction of HCreOIe BeIIe.o
"one OF the liveliest times I ever saw"
said he. was on the Belle Creole. an old
steamer. but a fast one. engaged In
frelghting cotton UP from New Orleans.
Because of a parsinonious management.
We were not allowed to use coverings
over the cotton even when II was piled
up within ten feet OF the boilers. There
was always more or less danger OF a
pine knot exploding in the furnace as we
opened the door and throwing the
sparks on the cotton. But as the Belle
Creole had made many trips without
the men on deck became more
AT that time knew young woman
in Memphis who had always expressed
strong desire to travel on n steamboat
as far as New Orleans. arranged for
a trip after overcoming her parents OBJ
jections by explaining that would care
fully look out for her.
1T was near midnight on the second
day out that was alarmed by an over
smell OF thick. heavy smoke
not the smoke OF burning wood. but the
kind that arises from oiled rags. 1t
strangled and blinded. A man came
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

the way out Of the difficulty is to catch
them young" In other words. the spar
row. for the first time in the history OF
its species Is TO be reduced to domesti-
cation In order that II may be of practi-
cal service to man
Another idea of Prof. Holmes is that,
instead OF carrying the birds In ordinary
cages by hand as has been done hith-
erto with canaries. they shall be placed
In small barred boxes attachable at a
moments notice 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 II.
The Bureau Of Mines maintains several
rescue cars on the railroads.&c. be
rushed to the scene in case Of a mine dis
aster-and each one OF these is provided
as part Of its life-saving equipment with
at least half dozen birds. But under
whatever circumstances they may be
used. "resuscitating box always ae-
companies the cage in whech they are
carried, TO revive them when they have
become partially asphyxiated.
Mice have been tried for the same
purpose instead OF birds. In the coal
mines OF Germany white mice are en-
ployed by preference. for the reason that
they are more easily seen, and their
actions more readily observed in the
6arkness underground. In this country
ordinary gray mice have been used eX-
perimentally by ,he Bureau of Mines
But the little rodents are less service
able than sparrows or canaries, because
when confined in cages. they are liable
TO suls. and it is not always possible
to know whether their behavior Is at
tributable to this cause or to gas dis
tress.
On the other hand. a sparrow or a
canary is all the time hopping about
or preening itself cheerfully under or
dinary circumstances, and, IL affected by
gas suffocation, II makes the fact Inn
manifest. Hence a workman
into a mine tunnel suspected
to be dangerous by reason OF gas can
insure his own safety by carrying bird
with him. II win be overcome and drop
from rs perch in plenty OF time to give
him warning TO get Out-the feathered
creature. as already explained. being far
more sensitive than any human being to
the effects OF gas
When an explosion occurs In a mine.
Il Is usually impossible to get enough
''helmet men, down In time to rescue
those In peril underground. volunteers
IN numbers. unprotected by oxygen ap-
naratus, are needed to help. Under the
new System, helmet men &C dowp first,
carrying birds. II the latter show no
signs OF distress. the volunteers can ven
lure. Having reached the bottom OF the
shaft. the helmet men. with their birds.
proceed TO explore the tunnels; and the7
volunteers follow, picking Up any partly
lsphyxinted miners they may come across
md bearing Them 10 safety.N
This makes Il possible for the men
With the oxygen apparatus to devote
themselves mainly 10 the business OF ex-
lIoratIon. while the volunteers without
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

politicians say that a line of railway
steamers would soon drive smaller and
Independent ships out OF business. j dc
not think so. Regulation by Congress
would be easy"
Should the canal be free to all the
ships Of the world +"
THE canal, in my opinion. ought to b0
run In accordance with business prin-
ciples. II win cost $4,000. 600 Interest
on that sum al : per cent will amount to
Sl 10000 yearly. Maintenance will call
for 10000 more. Tolls should be coll
lected. think. to cover interest and the
yearly expenses. At the end OF the first
decade, provision should be made for the
gradual amortization OF the $50, 90. 900
debt. The Suez Canal now controlled by
Great Britain. cost $l0O.0O0O00. 1t is 100
miles long. The toll on freight vessels
Is about $50 per net ton-not $50 per ton
on the freight, you understand. but on
the measurement OF the ship. A typical
vessel, the Sunderland. owned in Eng
land, pays $500 every time II passes
through the canal. Tolls on the Panama
Canal would not need to be so great
President Taft has said, and agree
with him. that we ought TO secure from
the canal tolls a sufficient amount uftI-
mately to meet the debt which we have
assumed and TO pay the interest
The canal Is not a gift to the wnrldl
as / understand the spirit that caused its
Il Is business enterprise.
and MOI = charitable institution"
tCoTgriEhi. ieis. by James B. Muro4.D
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

second too soon. Hardly had I struck the
water when the steamboat started 10
sink. / ciutched plank and by fighting
slmlessiy. yet with all my strength.
against the suction that sought to drag
me down with the doomed steamer es-
capped death. Exhausted, elung to the
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
Let women Decide IL.

From the Petersburg Cya.l Inde1-ATpcsL
Why not let the women of Virginia
vote on the question of amending the
constitution so as to give them the bal
lot? Wonder whether the suffragists at
Richmond would accept this suggestion
The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
Beneats 10 the Paciac Coa.t.

I'm whst way win the three Pacific
States be Helped by the canaI?P
California now sends wheat and barley
to Europe. Sailing ships carry those CO.
reals around the Horn or through Ma
gellan Straits. Canned and dried fruits
can be shipped eastward through the
canal, and so can wine. OF which there is
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
WERE FILED TODAY

Papers in the Minot normal I'M unc-
ton case were today filed with the ST.
preme court. Attorney General Miller
will now move to have the case tried
at the earliest possible moment 50 as
to bring about a speedy and final ad-
Indication of the matter. A resolution
was passed by the normal school board
some time ago, to the effect that
Messrs. Haxby & Gillespie, architects
in charge of the proposed state normal
school building at Minot be instructed
to proceed with the plans and specifca-
tions, necessary survey of the grounds,
and prepare calls for bids on construc-
ton work. on the Ramstad site, all to
be presented to the board at it regu-
lar May meeting, and while Attorney
General Miller held that such proceed
ing would not be strictly in conflict
with the case now pending in the ST.
preme court, in which the legality OF
the present site is being tested, he
thought it would not be prudent to
push on the contemplated building be-
fore the supreme court finally decided
the case. For the reason that if the SUI
preme court should reverse Judge Tenn
pleton's decision. any work done would
be waste and unnecessary expense to
the state. ~
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
ART EXPERTS.
They Can Judge Old Pewter and China
Ware by the Feel.

They Can Judge Old Pewter and China
Ware by the Feel.
A dealer In antiques was talking
about art experts NIX. 4
Take, for instance" he said. ''an
expert in old pewter. You think per-
haps he distinguishes old pewter by
the marks-the Tudor roses. the max.
er's name, and so forth. Bless your
heart, those marks are continually
forged. No. he distinguishes old pew.
ter by the feel.
1T is like the china expert. He, with
his eyes closed. will distinguish hard
and soft paste china. It's the feel
again-the fingers trained by years and
years Of study till each one has brain
in it.
"Oriental rug experts have a very
subtle sense Of rug differences. Some
times they distinguish a rug by It's
smell-the smell Of the wool and the
dyes. This seems incredible till You
think Of the Harris tweed. that i'm.
ported cloth that you yourself can dis
tiuguish by its smell-the smell which
never leaves II, Of the peat smoke Of
the cottage wherein It was woven on q
hand loom.
wool sorters, a less highly paid
class Of experts, can take up handful
Of wool and by its color tell you wheth.
or It came from Texas, from the terri.
tories, from England or from Canada.
The soil. you see. gives its own color
to the wool."-Exchange.
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
NATIONAL CONFERENCE

A most important meeting is being
held in Washington, more than 700 DEL
egates coming from all parts of the
country to attend the sessions of the
National Commercial Conference, rep
resenting 324 separate organizations.
The purpose is to effect the permanent
organization of a central body stand
ing for the actual manufacturing in
terests of the United States. The gov
eminent is taking a keen interest in
this movement, the secretary of the de-
partment of commerce and labor him
self calling the conference to order to-
day and appointing committees, while
the president of the United States ad-
dressed the delegates. The fact that
this conference is the direct result Of
suggestions by these high officers of
the federal administration gives this
conference a semi-offcial stamp that
is certain to be of value in developing
lit as real representative of the indus
trial interests Of the United States. y
Not only is it important that the gov
eminent should thus foster and stimu-
late the manufacturing industries by
bringing their representatives together
into an organization that will serve as
a clearing house of ideas. 1t is un-
doubtedly the desire of every manufac-
turer in the United States to expand
his business. He will find that through
cooperation with the governmental
agencies he can extend the trade, i'm
prove his methods and thereby increase
his profits. For years the United
States government has through its pub
LEGATION been offering suggestions to
the producers of goods of all kinds,
and urging their attention to foreign
markets and better ways of cultivating
them. Use has been made of such ia
cilities to deplorably small extent.
Meanwhile, other countries have gone
forward and occupied fields that
should have been open to American
manufacturers and shippers. Possibly
some such organization as that which
is now being effected is necessary to
give full value to the services of the
government by awakening the manu-
facturers to realization of their op-
portunities
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
suspended until the inquiry is conclud-

suspended until the inquiry is conclud-
ed.
But in any case the question as to
Mr.. Ismay does not reach the matter
at issue, except it be shown that he I'M
dertook to interfere in the manage
ment of the vessel; that he, as repre-
senting the owning company, caused
her to be speeded dangerously through
the ice field, or that he checked the
preparations for the saving of as many
passengers as the limited equipment Of
lfcboats permitted. What the senate
committee is endeavoring to learn is
how far the warnings of ice ahead
reached the Titanic, how far they were
regarded or ignored, how efficient was
the watch for possible danger, how
great was the speed and how large or
small the margin of safety in all the
circumstances judged from all known
conditions. This is matter of legal
responsibility, possibly bearing upon
the liability of the company for DAM
ages. 1t is much more serious ques-
ton than the sentimental issue of
whether this man or that man bore
himself in the hour of peril courageous
ly or meanly, and to reach the true con-
clusion requires a dispassionate con-
sideration of all the facts.
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
A Difficult Problem.

A country man having been summon
ed to appear before the magistrates for
not having a name on his cart was In
due course brought before them. The
magistrates asked him II he had any.
thing to say for himself. and he re-
piled he was very glad to meet such
wise men. as he had a difficult ques-
ton to ask them. which he could not
solve himself. The question was this.
he said:
THE wheels of the cart belong to
John, the miller: the body Of the cart
to the vicar. and the old bones (mean-
ing the horse) belong to me. and, gen.
tlemen, If you tell me what name I'm
to put on the cart I'll have 1t done i'm.
mediately."
The magistrates dismissed the case
London Taller.
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
SATURDAY, APRIL 20. 1912
900 q q e = = z = = = q -
q SECOND ANNUAL N0RThaDA q
. koTA INDUSTRIAL ExPo5l. q
= TON, BISMARCK. OCTOBER -
q TO 13, 1912. .
<@+*$**e $50 -
SEARCH FOR FACTS

Over a week has passed since the
Titanic sank at sea with over 1000 per-
sons, a week of great suffering for a
multitude of people, of intense anxiety
followed by the sickening certainty of
loss. The worst is now known and
the present task is to ascertain the re-
sponsibility for the disaster. The I'm
tied States government, acting with
commendable promptness and vigor,
has instituted an inquiry that promises
to disclose as much of the facts as may
now be ascertainable. The men of the
Titanic who survived and who are like
ly to be acquainted with the circum-
stances have been brought to Wash
ington, together with the managing d.
rector and the vice president of the
company, and a,e now being examined
There is no occasion for excitement,
but, on the contrary, the time is at
hand for calmness and deliberate judg-
ment:: III .,:-f'
This is not a question of personal
ity but of official responsibility.
Whether Mr.. 1smay comported himself
bravely or otherwise, whether he was
considerate or selfish, whether he did
all that could be done to lessen the
disaster, or by his individual behavior
contributed to it, all this is matter
Of the smallest consequence compared
with such questions as the handling of
the Titanic before and after she was
struck. As for Mr.. Ismay, he is en-
titled to the right to defend himself.
Senator McCumber on Saturday called
for fair play and asked that the man
be heard before condemnation and exc
e,tion. 1t is unfortunate that such a
plea should have been rendered neces-
sary by the haste shown in some quar-
ter to brand him before the world. 1t
does not comport with the American
sense of fairness and justice to con-
wet this man without proof, and it is
to be hoped that judgment will be
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-25
sAuERKRAUT ExPLoDEs.
Yss, Indeed, the Very Best Kinda
When the Cabbage Ferments.

Yss, Indeed, the Very Best Kinds.
When the Cabbage Fsrmsnts.
That German delicacy. sauerkraut, II
made in large quantities in this coun.
try, and tons and tons Of cabbages are
shredded up to supply the demand.
The Germans stoutly declare that all
Of their kraut is strictly handmade and
that the imported kind is vastly su-
perior to the American machine made
article. They cay that there Is no way
to obtain the long, slender delicate
tendrils Of cabbage Of which the finest
quality Of sauerkraut should be made
other than by having It sliced up with
q sharp knife in the hands Of a skilled
workman. Nevertheless the greater
part Of the sauerkraut eaten over here
IL the product Of an American labor
saving method.
sauerkraut does not look like par
ticularly highly volatile substance
when 1t appears on a platter alongside
Of q pink pigs knuckle or as the foun.
dalton or groundwork upon which il
placed the plump. brown frankfurter
sausage. But it does frequently ex-
plode, sometimes with sufficient vio-
lence to wreck its container.. This hap
pens when fermentation sets in. And
II q carload Of sauerkraut goes up bar
rel after barrel the wreckage II great
and the loss complete. while the walls,
roof and floor Of the car are likely to
be covered With the picked cabbage
inches thick.-New York Sun.