Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1894-11-15

partments cannot be found anywhere.
When the tiny bell called the 'jigger''
begins to strike in the fire house time
is everything. A delay of "A second
may mean the loss of thousands of
dollars. Then the intelligence of
these trained horses is of wonderful
II slstanoe. 1t is no uncommon thing
for an engine company in this city to
be on the move in eleven seconds IRON
tho first tap of the bell, oven though
the men are asleep upstairs at the
time. 1t has been done in one and
tive-eighth seconds with the horses
standing twenty-one feet behind the
pole and the men on the alert ready
for the signal.
The search for these Intelligent ami
mails and their training for tho inn
portant part thoy play in tle saving
of life and property is "A work which
is kept up necessarily There are
nearly, II not quite, 1000 horses in
the department, and the ranks must
be kept full. The horses are pur-
chased from various dealers, generally
at the large stables on Twenty-lourth
street. A uniform price of So % is
paid, which includes the privilege of
trial for a gwen period to ascertain
their fitness for duty. There does not
seem 20 be II preference shown in
their selection either as to the To-
caiity from which they come or tho
stock from which they spring.
Whether he comes from Canada or
tho West or the East, your fire horse
must be large and strong, sturdy Of
limb, broad OF flank, with fine quarters.
JHe must have both breadth and depth
OF chest, for wind is Indispensable
when it comes to dragging 5000 or
5000 pounds at y double quick, and his
shoulders must run up broad aud high
to give ample support for the thick
mock and well shaped head.
Tho candidate fortunate enough to
fulfill these requirements is then sent
to the training stables on Ninety
ninth street, between Columbus and
Amsterdam avenues, says the New
York World, Here he is initiated into
tho duties of a fire horse. A regula-
ton engine-house, with all the neces-
sary appliances, is fitted up there, and
the candidate is made to feel at home
in II stall open at both ends, with
neither trough nor manger. He is
accustomed to the regular strike OF
the jiggcr and the clang of the great
gong as the alarms come in, and day
after day is habituated 10 the har-
moss, which drops upon him from
above and fa5tens him to the pole with
ono motion.
When horse has successfully
passed this stage he is sent to some
regular engine house, where his course
is completed and, if he is found com
petent is finally accepted. In the en-
gine house he comes under the direct
control of the man who is to drive
him, live with him, become his bosom
friend, for in every instance the
strongest attachment springs up be-
tween The animal and tho man who
handles him.
The first thing is to let the horse
know just what you expect of him,
Ia tho contest way no ia taught to
loqVo the stall and walk under the har-
ness in given spot, just as he did at
the training stables. He is taught to
, ,',,I ms ,,. iio%u 30 as 70 prlhs ms mead
pn''o' 'ilo Doilur' anu oitehtiines the
.iors.'s Prov 70 ihieiliSeht as TO suck
. .hoir ,'o =. .nrough that collar oven
n.y., ,no'sh 10 resVS almost on inc ground.
l' ~ nc ,osrnS 70 staru IRON inc stan
% %o Wv; ~ '.i svroHo u one pel sometimes
,,'o, 20 , 9'o" IN moving IN "hich ease
nun ups nin sihartly with a whip and
,'n. niues himseh' because the
III p'ao' ioa a .ne oell anu leeiing the
INV uiom ~ 'i'u s'''ne Illhe, runs to his
p'"Vp a,pu 'len looks AROUND to see
mnere Vhe uloW came from II he saw