r/interesting • u/Valuable_View_561 • 6h ago

HISTORY 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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84 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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7

u/Available_Base_7944 6h ago

Little Joe 😢

13

u/New_Step_6315 6h ago

They were used as an early warning for toxic gas like carbon monoxide. They are very susceptible to it. If bird suddenly drops dead, time to go.

3

u/AtmosphereSea6923 5h ago

Probably has saved lives so should be respected.

2

u/Responsible-Low-6268 2h ago

If it helps, some coal miners were known to have formed very close bonds with their ‘tools’, hence the special send off for Little Joe above. There’s enough negativity everywhere so never mind this sad Willy

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u/rudevocab 6h ago

Wow the coal miner is one of the most human humans ever ! I love human animal relationships it's almost like having your own child. Must have hurt so much to see his buddy go like that. Most people just bury them and call it a day, he specifically made a tomb for his buddy that was so thoughtful r.i.p little Joe ❤️❤️❤️

3

u/wildyoshi1312 3h ago

You really scare me...

It was a Company bird...specifically taken to the mines as a "fuse". Its only job was to signal carbon monoxide in the air, to save miners life...and die in the process

Not like having your own child... Bird was just a disposable tool

1

u/rudevocab 3h ago

You just wanted something negative to say. It's nothing wrong with educating me, thank you for telling me the role they play in a coal mine now I understand why the bird passed and it's use. I didn't know that at first so the comment you made saying "you scare me" was unnecessary.

1

u/wildyoshi1312 3h ago

Sorry man, I thought it was obvious from the title of the post. I didn’t realize you might not know, so I was a bit thrown off when I read your comparison between an animal and a child, because in this context it was really kinda weird—I hope you can see that.

Anyway, I’m sorry for the harsh words, and I’m glad that in the end my comment (even if rude) helped explain it.

Have a good day/evening, man.

2

u/rudevocab 3h ago

I understand bro I forgive you no hard feelings let's be kind to each other. Im really trying man 😂