Dogs were also in the mines in Australia - On 8 April 1885 at the
Wallsend (Newcastle NSW) mine 2 dogs caused an accident. The mine
manager reported that the "dogs were coming out of the mine, got on the
engine plane and met No.1 empty train going in-bye. The impact knocked
the skips off the road and onto No. 3 haulage road where a full train
was being hauled out-bye. the result was a good smash which stopped
work for 1 and a half hours and caused about 15 pounds damage to the
skips." The dogs were killed - the miners took the dogs into the mine
to "protect their food and tallow from rats - if it wasn't for the dogs,
the mines would be completely overrun with rats. As it is I can
scarcely keep a ventilating stopping tight for the rats eat holes
through the barrier."
While no mention is made of the type of dogs, it is interesting to note
the dogs role in protecting the miners' lunch!
Lesley Walker
> I would like to ask for your help in the following question (which is
meant
> ABSOLUTLY seriosly):
>
> A friend of mine is owner of a yorkshire-terrier and absolutly
convinced
> that this kind of dog was used in earlier times in English pits (in
> Yorkshire) in order to EXPEL RATS!
>
> I must admit that I had to laugh when hearing this - imaging the rats
> laughing, too, when seeing a yorkshire-terrier. However, I promised
to clear
> this up - what I'm trying to do now.
>
> So: have YOU ever heard or read about dogs, especially terriers,
working as
> "rat-hunter" in mines?
>
> I'm highly anxious for an answer and hope to hear from you, soon.
> Thank you very much.
>
> Greetings from the mining-city Gelsenkirchen, Germany
> Judith
>
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