Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-20
FIREMEN'S MASCOTS.
ANIMALS THAT BRING GOOD LUCK
TO THE LADDlES.


They Go to Every Fire That Calls Out
Their Respective Company.
Brave fire laddies depend upon their
nerves and skill for the preservation Of
their lives in times of fire and disaster.
But that they are cheered by the pres
ence of pet animals whom they have
trained to accompany them upon their
errands of peril there is ample evidence
to show. No fireman goes SO far as to
say that his pet kitten or trick dog saves
life by his mere presence, but all ao-
knowledge that the mewing of kitten
or the barking of dog will steady
trembling set of nerves and make man
feel as if he had a companion with him,
although the flames may have shut him
off from all human companionship.
One of the bravest and most reliable
mascots now belonging to the fire de-
partment is Lii, brindle and white
bulldog, the property of Hook and Lad
der No. 10, in West Twentieth street,
who assists at every fire that is rung
out in the engine room of her district.
Lii is not handsome dog. She was
originally the property of Chief Gro 5r
of the fire department and was lent by
him to the hook and ladder house some
years ago. She speedily became pet f
the company and has been allowed to
remain. She is blind in one eye. Tradi-
tion has it that her blindness is due to
the fact that she has a great failing for
puppies, and in her anxiety to preserve
them from the mischievous boys and
girls of the neighborhood she has grown
blind looking for them and counting
them over and over. Lil's principal ac-
complishment consists in allowing her
self to be pulled all over the building,
and indeed all over the block, by the
children, of whom she is very fond.
No. IA engine, in Eighteenth street,
now mourns the loss Of Chappie, the
brightest bulldog that ever went to
fire. Chappie always sat on the seat
with the driver and rendered much
service by barking in rooms where there
were sleeping inmates.
Once Chappie was sick. He had been
ailing for some days, and it was feared
that he might be too weak in the legs to
attend fire. Accordingly as the alarm
sounded Chappie's men quickly tied
him to the oaken staircase in the engine
house and rushed away to the fire,
thinking him secure at home. Before
the last corner was turned that took
them to the burning building there was
a clatter in the street and shouts Of the
children, and looking from his seat on
the high engine the driver saw his
friend Chappie running alongside the
engine as merrily as ever. Around Chap
pies neck the rope still hung, and to it
also was the round of the staircase to
which he had been tied. He had
wrenched it loose in his fury to follow
the engine. Chappie was finally run
over in Fourteenth street by his own
engine, greatly to the grief of the driv-
er, who saw him, but could not slacken
speed for pet dog when the flames
were devouring property.
In Chappie's place there are now two
CATS Pete and Chop. Pete slides down
the brass pole of the engine house as
fast as a fireman. His pet sport is to
race with Chop. Chop cannot slide
down the pole, and after Pete has tor
mented his companion to the last degree
of his endurance he jumps on the pole
and disappears down stairs, while poor
Chop has to come slowly after.
In Engine 56, in Eighty-thir street.
there is spotted fire dog, Nellie, who
goes to every fire, and, though not very
accomplished, she has rendered good
service. She runs ahead of the engine
barking all the way to a fire. And never
does she wag her tail again until the
fire is out and the firemen returning.
Once when Nellie was i'll box was
made for her to lie i'll down in the cell
lar, and as there was no idea that she
would go to the fire she was not locked
up. By and by the alarm bell rang and
the firemen rushed away. Right in the
heart of the fire, where the flames were
raging fiercely, was heard familiar
bark, and, to the astonishment of all,
Nellie came rushing out to call the at
tention of the men to some one hemmed
in on the other side.
Nellie's pet fireman carried her ten
derly home, not even letting her feet
touch the wagon, so careful was he of
her. But, although Nellie was very i'll,
she learned no lesson from her expert
ence. Only four days later she left
nest Of day-old puppies and went to
that they would suffer during her alb
sence and that she herself had no right
to be there.
The pet of this engine house, next to
Nell, has been for some years large
gray horse. "The Bill Hoss" he is
called by the firemen. ''The Bill Hoss''
is very intelligent, and when he is be-
ing exercised in the street after fire he
walks up to the sidewalk to "speak" to
every lady that passes. If any lady WIS.,
its the engine house and does not stop
to rub his nose and pet him, he stamps
and acts in very unruly manner. He
is very jealous of the other horses and
draws the line at being "shown off"
more than dozen times day. If by
any chance the bell is sounded and he
is made to come out and get into his
harness more than that number Of
times, he ''gets souri," as the captain
says, and squeals peevishly to show his
displeasure.
The fire department does not allow
the houses to keep more than two pets
on account of the possible cost of their
food to the city. But it is certain that
the few animals now in the possession
of the boys'' are useful to them and
not only answer the purposes of passing
away many an hour, but render real
service in time Of danger
would there be more accidents if
there were no mascots?" is often asked.
And every firemen will answer
eyes. New York Herald
heard the other day an amusing tale
of a certain we'll known English noble
man who had adlimported two emus with
the hope of breeding from them, and on
leaving his estate for town left also
strict injunctions that the greatest care
should be taken of the lady emu if she
produced the desired egg or eggs The
egg arrived in due course; but. as artists
have found before now, the lady de-
clined to "sit. >" The steward, however,
xvas an ingenious man and thought of