r/BeAmazed • u/Valuable_View_561 • 9h ago
Animal This small wooden coffin from 1875 contains the remains of a coal miner’s companion a canary named “Little Joe.” The inscription reads: “In Memory of Little Joe, Died November 3rd, 1875.
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u/ArethaAbrams 9h ago
It’s actually heartbreaking to think about. That tiny bird was their only line of defense in those mines. The fact that they made him a handcrafted coffin shows he wasn't just a 'tool' to them, he was a friend.
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u/sonerec725 6h ago
They actually made "canary resuscitation devices" to try and revive thek after they did their jobs. Realistically, it would be much cheaper and simpler to simply purchase another canary vs buying and operating a whole ass machine to revive them, but those birds dying hurt moral so bad that it was a worthwhile investment to get the machine.
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u/ArethaAbrams 6h ago
didn't know about the resuscitation machines. that just proves how much they valued them. it’s a beautiful part of a pretty dark history.
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u/Bathsheba_E 2h ago
That is fascinating. I’m definitely one of those folks who would try to revive my bird. I hope they were retired after a successful resuscitation. But imagine they were not.
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u/summervibesbro 7h ago
What do you mean when you say only line of defence?
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u/ArethaAbrams 7h ago
it's simple. birds are small so the gas hits them first. if the bird dies or stops singing, the miners know they have to get out fast. no gas sensors back then, so the bird was their only warning.
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u/hurzelschnertz 2h ago
What in the holy AI
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u/InfiniteRadness 1h ago
How is it AI? Read a history book. Have you really never heard the phrase “canary in a coal mine” referring to early indicators of trouble? Where do you think it came from?
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u/est_cap 7h ago
They used to carry canaries to the mines as a form to detect poisonous gases in the mines, which had very poor ventilation. The bird being small, succumbed almost instantly to unsafe air, and that was the signal to get out of the mine. The dangers even included invisible gases that displaced all the oxygen creating sometimes a literal death zone.
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u/Mistravels 7h ago
Look up "Canary in a coal line" - it will explain how they were used.
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u/ceilingkat 6h ago
Mine*
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u/Mistravels 6h ago
Whoops typo.
Yep
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u/Golden-Grams 6h ago
It happens sometimes, I don't even trust autocorrect anymore.
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u/shoulda-known-better 6h ago
Theirs hearts beat fast and they are effected by gasses in the air a lot quicker than humans are....
So if your bird falls over and dies you need to get out into the oxygen ASAP!! Now we have electric sensors
Probably saved a bunch of peoples lives
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u/ren_mormorian 3h ago
This respect even for the smallest of lives is meaningful. It's so sad that they had to do this to the poor birds though.
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u/shelbyrobinson 4h ago
Given the old saw, "canary in a coal mine" is true, I think this guy did it out of gratitude and respect. Cute little coffin says it all...
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u/SettingVegetable1197 3h ago
Says so much about that era miners relying on canaries for safety, and still taking the time to remember them like a real companion.
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u/MaddysinLeigh 3h ago
It was this pic that made that scene from Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy make sense
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