The court held that a leaf was not adequate protection against chiggers.
HEROIC CANARY DIES
Considered the Most Valuable Employee of the Bureau of Mines.
United to Detect Presence of Carbon Monoxide in Mines—"Baldy" Survived Five Explosions.
Washington.—"Baldy," hero of the mines, is dead. After surviving five explosions, in the last of which he was overcome nine times while engaged in rescue work, he has won his reward.
The bureau of mines considered him probably the most valued employee it ever had.
In underground fires or explosions, the life of the miner depends almost entirely upon the behavior of these "hero birds." The rescuer ventures into an exploded mine with a flame safety lamp in one hand and a caged canary in the other.
The bird, in the presence of even the smallest amount of carbon monoxide, gasps, ruffles its wings and flutters.
If sufficient gases are present, the bird drops, seemingly lifeless. The rescue party then steps back to good air and is usually able to revive the bird by quick action.
Such was the work of "Baldy," and when he started to grow old he was finally sent to the Pittsburgh station from the bureau's rescue car, which had been his home for three years. It was intended that he should live the rest of his days in song and contentment.
Then came another explosion and it was necessary to draft "Baldy." Nine times he fluttered unconscious to the bottom of the cage and nine times was  revived. Much, even for a veteran like "Baldy," and he developed fatal pneumonia. 