The Dawson journal., 1884-01-17
HORSES FOR FIRE ENGINES.
HOW THEY ARE TRA INED FOR THEIR
DUTIES IN TOE SERVICE.
Things Patrick Healy, the Breaker, Knows
About Horse looking Animals
That are no Good Because Deficient ip
Intelligence,
from the New York Star.l

establishment for breaking in and train
ing horses for the Fire Department.
The building is located OH Lawrence
street, near Tenth avenue, Manhattan
vile, and formerly belonged to Engine
81, which moved into new and larger
building across the street about two
years ago.
'You see, he continued, "the differ
ent companies were subjected to great
annoyance by reason of green horses be-
ing sent to them to break in. It was al
most an impossibiity for them to do it
properly and consequently they were
often late in responding to alarms. The
green horses could not be harnessed to
the engine or tender quickly enough.
In fact it was one of the greatest difficult
ties the Fire Department had to contend
against. 1t often happened that after
horse was broken in so that he would
answer an alarm, it was discovered that
he was not fit in other ways for the uses
of the Department. Something would
be the matter with his wind or he would
have one of the thousand ills that horse
flesh is heir to-"
chow long has this place been estab.
lished?" inquired the reporter.
"A little over year," was the reply.
"The Commissioners received SO MANY
complaints that they felt obliged to do
something. They concluded the old
system was radically wrong and a
change was necessary. After consider
ing several plans they hit upon
this one.. The building was vacant, and
they detailed three men from Engine
81 to superintend the training of the
horses"
"Where do you get your horses?"
superintendent Shea buys them at
Bulls Head and sends them here for
trial. We keep them fifteen days, and
if we find that they are sound in every
way and fully up to the requisite of the
Department, We break them in for some
company"
"And if not up to the standard?"
"We send them back, and Others are
sent in their place. Sometimes horse
will be sound in every way, but he will
be too stupid for Us. We can't do any
thing with stupid horse. I've had
horses here for month, and at the end
Of that time they would not walk out
of the stable when the gong sounded.
although had practiced with them a
hundred times day during the whole
month. Other horses, however, would
walk right out after the second or third
day. Horses, I tell you, are good
deal like human beings in that partic!:-
lar," and the speaker patted cco OF the
horses affectionately on the neck. The
horse appeared to be fully appreciative
of the kindness shown him.
The interior of the training station is
arranged like the ordinary engine house
and is fitted up with all the latest appa-
ratus. In the centre, near the door, is a
large BaDcock Fire Extinguisher, with
pole for two horses, which is used in
place of an engine and answers all pur-
poses. Directly behind it is single
Babcock, which is used as tender to an
engine. On either side of the larger ex.
tinguisher is stall in which the two
horses are kept while in training, and on
the right of the smaller extinguisher the
"tender" horse is fastened. While Mr.
Healy was explaining the workings to
reporter, Foreman Murphy and his other
assistant returned from dinner.
"How many horses do you keep here
at time ?" was asked.
eve always have seven, three of
which we are breaking in and four which
you see in the rear of the building.
These latter horses are now ready for
work and will be sent to different COM
panies within few days. You under.
stand that when the horses come here
they are perfectly green. We get, as l
| said before, three at time, which we
place in these stalls near the engine and
and tender. Then we ring the gong
which you see here. That unfastens the
strap attached to the halter. But the
horse does not move. He stands still
and looks around in surprise. Then we
lead the horse up to the engine ana
fasten the collar on him. Well, we
keep repeating this constantly until the
horse comes to know that we want him
to take his place at the engine when the
alarm sounds. This takes time and
patience, but we bring them around
finally"
''How long does it take to bring a
horse to that point of intelligence WHEEL
he will answer the alarm promptly?"
'About two weeks. At the end of that
time, as soon as the alarm sounds, he
will run out of the stall, take his proper
place and appear to be anxious to be off
Then he is ready for the Department,
and we have no further use for him."
'Ts there much demand for your
horses in the Department ?"
eyes, indeed. Some company is in
want of horse all the time, and we are
kept constantly at work in order to
supply the demand"
"How many do you break in in a
year?"
"Well, last year we broke in about 100
horses. But the Department is in better
| condition now than ~ aUnr ruas iD ra
spect to horses, and 1 don't think well
have so many this year.
| Uuoy ora tboso I,,,oo. . - A.