Telegram-herald., 1890-03-03
BINGO, THE FIRE-D0G.
Some OF His Many Exploits-How
He Died

Bingo was exceedingly black. Eyes,
skin, hair, every thing about Bingo, sx.
oept his disposition, was of the most
somber hue. He had the most charming
qualities as an Offset to his funereal coli
oring. He was intelligent, he was kind,
he was unselflsh, he was faithful and he
was devoted TO his vocation.
Now. this description Is history in
itself, and IL one only adds TO it that
Bingo died in the full prime of his pow
ers, 1t would seem a Rembrandt portrait
of him, with powerful contrasts of light
and shade.
But to make the history OF Bingo moro
appealing TO human sympathy, some Of
the vicissitudes of his career should be
set forth. Virtues are nothing if they
are not exercised, and the action of life
is the grindstone which rubs them
smooth.
Bingo was dog.
But such a dog! Both his parents were
French, so, according to the law of ca
nine genealogy, Bingo, though born in
the United States, was French poodle.
His mamma was a trick-dog named Frou-
Frou, that had been trained by New
York fireman named John Farley. She
belonged to very elegant young gen.
tleman, whose occupation in life was to
amuse himself. one of the hardest things
in the world TO do when it is the only
employment which one has.
This young man thought that Frou-
E-o,, hu IA 10 hic off m
make life amusing if she were taught
several things which no dog, not even
French poodle, would ever pick up by
itself. so the young gentleman brought
Frou-Frou to John Farley and asked
him TO educate her in the very highest
fashion possible to a young, aristocratic
dog.
Farley was great instructor of dogs
He was very successful in his methods,
having pretty well solved the education
al problem, SO far as dogs are concerned.
He was stationed at the water-tower on
Thirteenth street, and he used to keep
Frou-Frou in the room where he slept,
which was also her school-room.
But it Is not necessary to dwell at
length on the education of Frou-Frou,
since this is the history of her son
Bingo. 1t is enough to say that after
her course was completed she was one
Of the best-educated poodles in Gotham,
and she furnished good deal of enjoy
ment to the young gentleman in quest
of amusement. She has been mentioned
only to show that Bingo had an ancestry
of which no dog need have been
ashamed, and to account for the sphere
of life in which Bingo achieved distinc-
ton.
The young man was pleased with Far
ley's success with Frou-Frou, and beside
paying the bill for her tuition, he gave
Bingo to the fireman when he was
very young and utterly ignorant little
poodle. Farley accepted the puppy and
trained him with the greatest care.
Bingo became fire-dog.
A fre-dog is one which lives in an
engine-house and takes an active inter
est in confagrstions. Although there
are not many of these dogs to-day in the
New York engine-honses, they used TO
be common feature of these houses.
These dogs take instinctively to their
calling. They are not specially trained
10 their vocation, but they fall into the
ways of fre-dogs naturally.
Farley taught Bingo many tricks and
accomplishments, but where fires were
concerned the dog picked up every thing
by himself. In the engine-houses the
horses are kept in stalls by the side Of
the engine. Every thing is arranged so
that there will be no delay in starting
of for the fire the moment the alarm is
sounded. The harness hangs from tae
ceiling, high enough from the ground to
allow the horse to come under 1t.
The moment the alarm sounds the
horses sArt with tho greatest alscrity,
spring from their stalls, 60 TO the en-
gine and put themselves in position 70
be haTnessed. BY the time they are
there the frenen are sliding down the
smooth. round pole which goes fsom the
ground floor Of the engine-hOuse up to
the room where they sleep.
The harness is dropped on the horse,
the buckles made fast in jiffy. The
driver vaults into his seat and in mo-
ment more the horses are galloping full
tilt through the busy streets. the gong
Ctau4 AHE I'it>taHttr 20 VAN TIC FtAtEles
and PEDESTRIANS 70 get ont Of tbe way.
II is a most exciting sight 70 see the
horses bounding along. tie heavy en-
Fine rattlinE over the stones. while the
brass clsng Of the gong Is necessarily
sounding.
Bingo soon determined what his
function vas. and be acquitted himself
o. Il vith The most ardent zeal This.
- course. was after ne had grown I'D
s5d bad rssched maturity. When he
vas q Wabsly little puppy, and Thss,
lstsr- "a vas thoaghtlsss, gidSi
Toung dog. he did notro 20 Ares, hutrss
fed and trained upstairs
But be grew 70 b vsTT strong, e.
though he vas never verT large His
hair VAS ciipped - thst he looked Ike
an African lion. L VAS CIT Tery closs
IN , sces. but vas ieit thics around rs
shoalirrs sud hssd. With teft On To-
end - his tsil. Re had ittle s-rnlets oi
bis osn hair On bis legs sna littls
ciarn cr his han1ches
"A