Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-17
he Little Feathered
Rescuer

lNCSIuCI
1t is almost unbelievable that our
brilliant little feathered pet, the can
airy, should merit such an important
rank among the heroes of the world;
but there is scarcely another living
creature which has done as much to
save the lives of men in danger
The canary is recognized today as
an indispensable helper to the rescue
worker at great mine disasters; so
much sOy in fact, that Uncle Sam pos
sesses about twenty of these birds
which he keeps regularly in his SER
vice for this special work. They have
become the pets of the professional
rescuer5 Of the bureau of mines.
| Whenever a mine disaster occurs
this bureau rushes it's rescue corps to
the aid Of the entombed miners; and
the little canary birds go along also.
A few of the intrepid rescuers, with
oxygen breathing apparatus attached
to their backs to provide them with
fresh air, break their way into the
gaseous and dusty depths to save all
of the men, who have, perchance, been
only injured.
These men start the fans going to
keep the air moving and then begin
to dig out the victims. Only few
men can do this perilous part of the
work; the risk is too great for num-
!! Der of men to be allowed to imperil
their lives. But others press as close
behind as they possibly can, to be
| ready to render first aid to the in
! jured men delivered from within. In
the company of these workers, the
canary enters the scene to play it's
part.
Just word to tell why the canary
is picked for this heroic service and
to explain what use he, mere mite,
can possibly be in any stupendous cal
amity. 1t has been found that the can
AIRY, of all tiny creatures, is the most
sensitive to atmosphere. The slight
est presence Of an asphyxiating gas
affects him. In the fresh air he is
happy and gay, preening his feathers
and singing gay song; at the least
pollution of the atmosphere he willis
and droops. His very charm acts as
a meter to indicate the purity of the
air, and by its strength or weakness
distance that they may safely pene-
miners within
Before the canary proved it's effec.
tiveness as a rescuer, many other
small creatures were used for expert
mentation. The white mouse was
among this band, and it was thought
for time that it would serve the pur-
pose in an ideal manner; but the
white mouse often takes to sulking
and it sometimes sulked In action,
which is not the way for hero to be-
have at all, and the rescue men could
not tell the difference between its sulk-
ing fits and its true response to as /.
phyxiating gas.
Not SO the canary; always clipper
and sprightly, it proved itself the most
dependable indicator of the condition
of the atmosphere. So now the little
canarys cage is held aloft at all of
the country's great mining disasters:
the little bird within is watched most
carefully, for it's actions regulate the
position of the rescue crew.
Sometimes, while the men are wait
ing for the injured ones to be carried
to them, the contaminated air rushes
out and the little feathered hero is
overcome. But he is as carefully at
tended as the stricken miners them
selves. Quickly he is thrust into an
other cage which has an oxygen tank
to it. Oxygen is pumped into
this cage and the bird Immediately re-
wives.
One of the rescuers owns bird
that has been aSphyXiated seventeen
times, and seventeen times has it
been revived! Now, the owner, who
treasures it most highly, says that il
must not be taken in dangerous places
ever again. Seventeen heroic expert.
ences, which would indeed suffice for
a man, constitute splendid record
for tiny bird, and the owner thinks
it should be retired from active ser
vice.
Not only at disasters are, canaries
useful. Every day. before the miners
descend the shafts of the coal or meta
mines, the foreman walks through the
subterranean passages ofttimes two OF
three miles underground, to see that
everything is all right. In his hand he
carries bird cage and his little net
fits about within. If the little chan
makes this trip unaffected at the end
the miners are allowed to enter also
and begin their work
Thus, on the safety of one tiny life
hangs the safety of many others; and
on the service of a little bird does the
great work of rescue at mining catas.
trophies depend