The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-11-03
Smart Engine Horses.

Company No. II whose house Is in Lud-
low near Broome street, and the subject
of his warning was large iron-gray
horse standing in his stall, with nose and
ears extended, in response to an amicable
advance of the reporters left hand.
..What is the matter with hin?" asked
the reporter, suddenly withdrawing the
friendly left hand and placing his BODY
under cover of the side d the stall. rs
he vicious?'
s'Oh. no, not vicious. but playful, and
he is apt to jump at straigers.'
"What is his manner?
Barney"
els he an intelligent feliow?'s
Eyes, but nothing like an old bay
horse named Martin, which split bis hoof
and had to be sent to the hospital. Old
Martin could do almost anything but
talk. / never saw the like OF him.
When the gong would sound call to
fire he would not only jump into his
place near the engine pole, as they all
soon learn to do. but he would be the
first there, and then he would raise his
head up and take the bit between his
teeth. At the same time he would paw
the air frantically with his right fore leg.
But it is a remarkable fact that
although he was here ten or eleven
years he never hit man while paw
ing. A man named Joe, who comes
here, used to bring lump sugar
in his pocket for Martin, and he would
follow Joe about like dog and know
the minute Joe touched the handle of
the door on the outside. Joe used to
wear peculiar looking slouch hat, and
it seemed as if the horse would know the
shadow of that hat as soon as it fell on
the glass of the door. II Joe passed the
stall without noticing him Martin would
cut up all sorts of capers and raise the
biggest kind of racket to attract his at.
tention."
In all of the engine-houses there is an
automatic device, by means OF spring
regulated by wire attached to the sig
nal gong, for releasing the halter from
the catch in the side of the stall. Old
Martin knew that fact SO we'll that when
ever the g ong began to sound he wonld
pull so vigorously against the halter as
frequently to prevent the catch from be-
ing released by its fastening. He also
soon learned to unhiteh the halter by
taking the connecting wire between his
teeth, and often on dull days would
amuse himself by making surreptitious
forays in search of water and oats. It
finally became necessary to cover the
wire with sheath of tin to prevent him
from roaming around the premises at
will. Old Martin had also well de.
fined sense of humor, as is proved by the
following anecdotes related by his
driver:
''He was the most gentle and docile
horse you ever saw, yet he took perfect
delight in frightening strangers. One
day a visitor was standing close in front
of the stall talking to me, his back
turned TO the horse. All of a, sudden
old Martin reared up and came down on
both fore feet with a crash that nearly
made the stranger jumpSut of his skin.
My Godp he sung out, i thought
the roof was coming down.
Zone rainy night we went to fire at
| Jones brewery, on Sixth street. Old
| Martin was standing close to the side
| walk and there came along a young chap
with an umbrella over his hat. Martin
seizsd the end of the stick between his
teeth and brought the young fellow to {
| sudden standstill The man looked
round as if he thought somebody wa
taking liberty with him, and when b.
/ found it was only horse you ought t.
have seen his astonishment. I though
T would have died laughing. He got
out from under the umbrella and began
| to strike at old Martin withehis fist, say
ing all the time, Let CO. But not bl
would Martin let go. There was a goo
deal of the bulldog about him.
every other horse that ever sa,
was afraid of being hit on the head AM
would throw up his head to avert blow
but old Martin you could pound in tn
face until you got tired and he woul
never SO much as vince. Well, so tn
young man found out. Old Martin keI
him there until he had all the fun b
wanted and until his hat and coat wer
pretty we'll soaked with the rain! [.
"Another great trick of Martin was
catch passing stranger by the sleeve c
tail of his coat and pull until the owne
would think he was going to pull it OF
Sometimes we would have to beat him
make him let go. Well sir, he was u
to more deviltry than yeu would drea
. of. I have often seen him take tt
!, broom out of the hands of the man WI
.. was sweeping his stall and go throug
, the motions as if he were sweeping hir
self. At one time there was q man b.
longing to the company who would tai
him out into the yard back of the houi
and hold the broom up at him. The
he would rear up on his hind legs an
waltz around as naturally as If he hs
} been trained in circus.
"Well, as you may suppose we we
all very sorry to lose him. After b
foot got better it was thought best not
bring him back here, SO he was sent
r the upper part of the city where Il
2 streets are not paved. He is now wi
8 At engine in Ninety second street, ne
T the Boulevard He is eighteen yea
7 old and still strong and hearty
As an illustration of the capacity
t horses for learning to do what is !
g quired of them, it may be mention
e that Old Martin once had mate nam
!, Dan. who likewise acquired the habit
n taking the bit between his teeth and al
J, of unhHching himself at will. It
$ worthy of note, too, that at engine hor
|. No. II, which is said to be the only 0
e in the city where the brides, like t
70 rest of the harness, are suspended OF
b the positions taken by the horses
q hitching up, the successors OF Mar
1t and Dan have shown a disposition
is follow their-example in taking the
/ voluntarily SO far as to hold up th
t. heads and open their mouths to
a ceive it.
ID Engine IT has another knowing a
Of NAL, an old gray horse named Bin
5 who drags the tender. When sigma
10 received he. promptly taxes his place
se der the tender shafts; But If he is
8. immediately hitched up he walks over