The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-28
FIRE LADIES FINE STEEDS
Little Bits of History About Several of
the Local Department Horses.
Old Normsn's Wonderful Wind During His
Long Years of Service = Chef and
Charlie, the Intelligent Animals.

The small boy is not alone in his infatu-
alton for the fire department. horses as they
dash down q crowded street at terrific
pace with she foam hecking from their
sides, and nostrils distended by the violent
exercise. The grown man psuses to watch
the display OF equine might, and the
drivers almost take gladiatorial pride in
showing the mettle of the fine steeds which
are rushing the apparatus to some blazing
building. A few years ago there were sew
ersl horses In the department that had In
teresting histories. but there are few of
these left. new blood being infused into
the stables of each house. Since last Sep
tember eleven new horses have been pur.
chased. and within the last two years the
number added amounted to twenty five or
more. 1t requires much care in selecting
horses for this work. and generally an ami
NAL 10 bought on trial. to be returned IL ha
does not show the requisite qualities that
60 to make up fire department. horse.
The oldest horse now in service in the
indianapolis department is Norman, an
animal attached to the No. truck on
Sixth street He il twenty-five or twenty
three years old and has been doing duty in
front of departments vehicle for the last
fourteen years. In his day he was great
runner. and. while he has lost some Of his
freshness, he would resent an inference
that he is q back number. He is supposed
to have some of the proud old Norman
blood in his veins thereby emitting him to
the name which he bears. When In the
days long gone by no whisked truck with
q horse called Pony. the tiremen would
wager . months salary that lt was the
hnost team In such service the world over.
He ysnked the first chemical ever brought
10 Indianapolis out of the big doors at
headquarters and 90 we'll did he take TO
tho position of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for the
''sodawater fountain" The chemical run
to every hire and many good long run did
Norman have. His wind was his strong
point, tho long distances never phasing
him. He never knew when to quit running
and wound ND at the end oil the run as
fresh as when he started. de was very
speedy. but age has put few kinks in his
muscles. although his wind still serves
him we'll.
The two smsrtsst horses that ever were
in the department. are known as Chet and
Charlie. Four years ago Chief Webster
drove Chef. but now the animal is quar-
tered at honse No. 8. where be Is used with
o wagon. Chef was great runner and
withal very Intelligent animal One
day while the chief was driving down Del
aware street At q terrific rate of speed an
axle of his buggy broke and had the horse
continued at his wild gait the chief would
probably have been killed. At il was. tho
horse seemed to realize that somethin was
wrong and be came to q stop within q few
feet of the scene OF the accident. The
chief was only slightly bruised. Chef
Webster now sometimes drives Charlie.
who has the reputation OF being Q regular
hurdle horse. While going TO fire on
south East street one night with the chief
Charlie leaped clear OF u natural gas trench
and sailed the chiefs buggy behind him.
landing IL with q heavy thud. but with NO
injury 20 vehicle or occupant. The horse
did not stop for moment on this trip.
Charlie 10 q very playful horse.
In selecting horse for an engine great
strength Is to be desired moro than speed.
for In one OF these engines Is between ak
thousand and seven thousand pounds Of
weight A light. speedy horse is. Of course.
TO be desired for wagon. Many of the
runs OF the department. Are two miles in
length. and to go this distance requires q
horse OF good wind. 1t requires six or
erly. aud by that time he begins to learn
just hat hls driver wants him TO do. The
animals are gradually hardened up to tho
rough service Oftentimes they become
ter trim for the work than they were be-
fore their illness. Careful blanketing and
attention are demanded during this proba-
ti0nary period. and even afterward.
A lire departments horse gets sick just
like any other horse. although he seems to
be 30 hearty and strong. Influenza took off
two OF the finest horses in the department.
At the same time. two years ago. The
horses catch cold sometimes after heavy
run. particularly so when they are not
blanketed after making the run. Often
department. horse will strain o muscle in
golnR around corner too quick and 20
lame for day or Two. Corners are very
hard on the horses Vacations seldom come
to these faithful servants OF the city, and
only when they arc sick do they get TO go
out TO pasture. The big gray team at head
quarters has not had an accident in the last
work.
Among these brutes there seems 60 be an
esprit du corps not unlike that among
soldiers In crack regiment There Is little
laziness. When the gong rings there Is o
ing Of lazinsss reealls Q story that was told
at headquarters last night. On the Cliff
ford-avenue car line Is o mule W hioh IL all
normally tired. He even jumps the traces
n no H sad sr tine dryer .o ss
the obdnrate mnle back into the traces.
The horses in the. fire department are
wholly unlike this mule in their ma
ture. The training of horse TO
answer gong 10 not as difficult as
one would imagine. A new horse is led out
of his stall TO his position in front of cart
or engine. This Is repeated number of
times, the gong ringing when 1T is time for
the horse 10 come out. A whip is some
times uaed. IL generally takes two or
three days TO train AN animal. One horse
that was formerly attached 10 No. 5 house
absolutely refused Co answer the gong. and
the more he trained the moro obdu-
rate he became. Finally when the gong
rang he would turn completely about in
his stall. He wac sold in short order.
he at fnr fvad rftpa