The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-05

since he began running to fires, police
calls and accident cases thirteen years
ago he has not missed a single days
duty. He has not been sick, nor has
he been turned out to kick up his heels
in a pasture, but has stood his watch
constantly, alternating two weeks
nights and two weeks days, until the
police officers would almost as soon
think of the suns refusing to shine
as that Roxy would not come gallop-
Ing up to the patrol box in response to
a call With the terrible strain of the
long exhausting runs which he is cali ID
upon to make, Roxy is today without
a blemish, as fleet of foot as in his
younger days, and bids fair to con-
tinue responding to the tap OF the
gong Indefinitely.
In his years Of police duty Roxy has
covered an aggregate of 24,1O5 miles.
This computation is based upon the
records of the police patrol telegraph,
but Roxy was in service Near
~ two years before the establishment
of this branch of the department, and
those were the most trying times of
his life as a patrol horse, for there
was only one patrol wagon in the city
then, and it responded to calls from
every part of the police district. No
record was kept of this period, but il is
estimated that during the first two
years of his service Roxy Travelled at
least 5000 miles, making a total of
27 500 In the early days he ran to
every fire, accident and police call in
the city, his hardest days work being
three trips to North st. Paul in the
summer Of sc, besides a number of
shorter runs in the central district.
All of the police runs are made at top
speed. as 1t is seldom known what
exigencies await the arrival of the
patrol wagon, a vehicle weighing, with
its equipment, 1900, and RoXy's great
endurance can in measure be real
lied from the perfect condition in
which he is today after thirteen years
continuous racing over hard, rough
streets, helping to draw so heavy a
load. When the subpoice stations
were established in 1887 RoXy's life be-
came somewhat easier, as he has since
onlv covered the central district but,
while the runs are shorter, he is
almost as constantly on the go as
formerly.
Roxy has retired three mates, worn
out by the severity of the work which
he SO remarkably survives, and is
now travelling with a fourth companion
In harness, Bull 50 named from his
tendencies to have his own way and
run himself off Of his feet a result
which would have worn him out years
ago If it were not for Roxy's good
sense. "Bull' has all he can attend
to in keeping against the collar with
the pace Roxy sets in running to box,
but he is always in a hurry to get
back to the stable and after regdining
his wind jumps about and frets under
a restrained homeward gallop. With
the prisoners in the patrol wagon,
Roxy knows the most important part
of his work is accomplished, and with
an occasional remonstrative sideWise
glance at Bulls" fretful actions he
trots leisurely back to the station and
when he arrives is again fresh for n
swift run. Butler" "Roxy's" third
mate is now doing duty at the Ducas
street station, where the requirements
are light, and his other two mates are
dead One died from wear and tear
of police duty and the other was killed
in running to a box with Roxy. Only
once has Roxy been in an accident and
this was when his mate was killed.
The team was tearing down Sixth
street on a winters morning, when
Roxys mate fell. Roxy did his best
to hold back the heavy wagon, but his
shoes slid on the icy pavement like
runners and his mates head struck
the curbstone, breaking his neck
Though old in years and service
Roxy retains the fire of youth, ard
when the big gong in the stable sounds
an alarm, and the stall doors fly open.