The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-11-07
:. Bruce the Manchester Fire.Horse.


Mr.. A. Tozer, Chief Fire Station,
Manchester, England, says: At the lat
ter part of the spring of 1864, sour
Bruce was born; he soon began to
show signs of a very promising hunter,
of over l6 hands, and in due course
commenced his training for the chase.
At years old he had grown to beau
tiful animal, very docile and attractive
/ his notified gray coat the pride of the
groom and the admiration of his mas
ter, who disposed of him to the Man
chester Carriage Company. In the early
part of the year 1870 he was sold by the
Carriage Company to the Manchester
| Corporation for the fire engine depart
ment, and commenced his duties on the
oath of March. His general appear
ance and kind, tractable, winning ways
were soon noticed by the firemen, and
in less than month after he joined the
brigade he was the favorite of the whole
establishment, having pretty well the
free run of the yard, in which he caused
much diversion by his singular and fun
ny ways. He was always full of inno-
cent mischief, and one of his greatest
delights was to chase the men about the
yard. 1t sometimes happened he was
let out for gambol when the children
were playing. On such occasions it was
most interesting to notice how careful
he was in not going too near them. At
other times, when the engines were in
the yard, he seemed not to forget his
early training as hunter, and would
amuse himself by jumping over the
poles. When tired, he would lift the
latch of the door and go into his stable,
and just as easily, after a rest, when the
stable door was closed, he would let
himself out again, or knock loudly at
the door to attract attention. Near the
stable door there is a water tap with a
revolving handle. sour Bruce would
turn the handle with ease and help him
self to drink. 1t sometimes happened
that hose pipe would be attached to
the tap; this would not cause him the
least inconvenience; in such a. case,
after turning on the tap, he would lift
up the end of the hose pipe with his
teeth and hold the end in his mouth
until he had satisfied his thirst. Many
curious anecdotes could be told about
our pet; how on one occasion he picked
up the end of the hose and wetted one
of the firemen who had offended him;
how, at fire, he would stand amid the
greatest noise and excitement, with
showers of sparks falling around him,
and on his beautiful coat, only to be
shaken off; and at other times COM
pletely enveloped in smoke; but there
was no shying or fretting under fire or
smoke with % Our Bruce" He seemed
to know that ne had brought those who
would fight that ruthless tyrant fire,
and he stood proud and confident that
before long he would return home with
the victorS, when, after being refreshed
and grOomed, he would again be ready,
always first, for the next "turn OUT
For nearly six years "Our Bruce"
never missed going with the first ma
chine, at the end of which time he was,
in consequence of his fine appearance,
and our desire to give him less active
duty in his old age, transferred from the
fire engine to the police patrol duty.
We did not altogether lose our faithful
animals services, for one of bis duties
was to attend fires with the mounted
police sergeant (whose name was al o
Bruce) to keep back the onlookers,
which he most effectually did for nearly
two years, during which time he was as
great favorite with the policemen,
rarely leaving a police station without
an apple, piece of bread, or some
mark of affection.
On the 7th June "Our Bruce" fell
sick; the veterinary surgeon was sent
for, who pronounced him suffering from
Inflammation of the bowels. The usual
remedies were applied, and everything
was done to relieve his pain and make
him comfortable, but to no avail. For
three days afterwaId he was never left
for a moment, night or day, and at the
end of the third day he drew his last
breath, surrounded by those who loved
him well, and who had been taken by
him to the scene of many hard fight.
A post norton examination was held
the following morning TO ascertain the
cause of death. A stone (calculus) six
inches in diameter, weighing 5 pounds
IL ounces, was taken from his bowels.
This was, no doubt, the principal cause
of the disease which led to the death of
the fire horse, "Our Bruce. "-Sctence
Gossip.