Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
FIRE DEPARTMENT DOG.
This Dog Tells Firemcn How Far
They Can Go With Safety,

From the New Haven Evening Register
Hook and Ladder Company No . nave a
mascot and pet that has attracted no end
of attention. The mascot is bright and
intelligent dog. a field spaniel, that the
company have picked up and made pet of
He goes to all the fires said one of the
blue-coated. g!lt-buttored fire boys. as he
threw the dog huge bone. The company
never has any luck without him.
''On July -. 1924. the company was called
out to get under control severe fire. that
burned out the old Troy laundry. 1t was a
hard fight, and when the men returned to
the engine house in the gray of the morn
ing they were thoroughly worn out almost
too tired to do the necessary picking up
In cleaning up the engine house they dis
covered their mascot. in the form of a
dirty brown dog, hidden in the cellar They
tried to throw him out, but the mascot
gently but firmly showed his inclination to
remain. The climate seemed to him pleas
ant. the air salutary: At last. after many
days. they gave up the attempt to drive the
dog away, and gradually began to have a
feeling of affection for it.
The question soon arose of conflict with
the law of the state. 1t is against the law
to keep a dog or other pets in the engine
house. Special permission was actually
granted in this case by the fire marshal
and Rover held the fort having conquered
the entire fire department. Since this time
he has exhibited the utmost fondness for
the marshal, often going down to his office
to see him.
THE passion of the dog is to go to all the
fires. ii
He's waiting for the alarm stroke, Just
the same as we are, day and night said
one of the stalwart men of the company
"As soon the bell strikes he is up and
stirring around. When the truck starts he
goes with 1t right to the fire. and sticks
there until the fire Is dead out and the de-
partment is ready to go home. And smoke,
why the dog can stand more smoke than
closer to the floor than we are, and can
breathe the pure air better, the purer air
being close to the floor during fire
AT the severe fire over Ford's year ago
the dog rushed playfully about in the most
dangerous places. where the men could
hardly enter. Often he goes on shaky
places where the men fear to go on account
of their greater weight. This was the case
at this fire. He also often goes freely in
| advance of the fire.nen when they, to avoid
being strangled by the smoke crawl on
their hands and knees. When the dog is
forced by the smoke to stop. the men
push on. On several occasions the dog has
been quite q little burned. and at times
his eyes have been smoke blinded that
for days after fire the little animal was
unable to see clearly. He, as is thus seen,
frequently risks his life He is a pucky
cog, and who will say that he does not be-
leve himself of much use at fire as
the regular firemen They have almost
come to believe that 1t is so. and would be
very fearful Of going to a fire without their
mascot.
When the house of Schonberger on Daven-
port avenue was burned the smoke was so
thick that the fire was nearly unapproach-
able. 1t had completely driven out of one
of the rooms the whole force CT men. After
a while there came trottiEg out through
the smoke and flame the Hook and Ladder
Companys dog. his eyes streaming and
bleared from the effects of the atmosphere,
that could have been cut in blocks with a
knife. On several occasions he has saved
the lives of men. who. overcome by smoke,
were unable to find their way by feeling,
out of a series of unfamiliar apartments
and who had just sense enough to allow
the dog, with his unerring sense of loca-
lion, TO lead them to the outer air The
dog follows a line of hose at fire. and in
this way always helps with the men,"