The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-09-23
a DOG THAT GOES TO FIRES.
He Broke Through a Bakers Window
to Run After Hia milne.

- -
Z. Hill, the artist. Mr.. Hill tells about
Peter SpOts'-Fireman," Il dog that
belongs to one of the engine companies.
The dog once fell into disgrace by play
fully swapping at the heads of the
horses when they We're running to i
fire and causing them TO balk. SO he
was given to a baker who lived far
from the engine-house. Mr.. Hill gives
the following account, in the language
of one of the firemen, of the in
which Peter Spots came back to the
company:
I'VE had almost forgotten about Pc.
ter, and got used to not having him
around, when one day u third alarm
came in that took US out; and in getting
to the station | had TO drive through
the street tile bakers place was on. l
never thought of it myself, but, OH my
word, Peter hadn't forgotten US; and
when we made III appearance he
showed up pretty quick. The baker
told Inc all about it afterward, and this
was the way it happened: Peter was
lying asleep beside the stove in the CEN
ter of the bake-shOp, when all of q sud
den he pricked up IL ear, and then
jumped on his feet and gave 4 bark.
The baker was making out some bills
behind the counter, and thought moth
ing of it until the next moment Peter
gave one jump, and vas in the show
window among the pies and cakes and
such like. The baker hollered to him
to him to get out; but Peter began to
claw at the window, and bark and
howl. You see he coulG hear our wills
tie and bell and had recognized us.
Then the baker made up his mind that
the dog had gone mad, and got fright
ened and got up on Il chair, and began
to holler himself; and what with the
baker and Peter. there was a high old
time in that bake-Shop for g While.
Every time Peter gave a kick ne knock
ed a pie or Il plate full of cakes out Of
the window until he had it clear Of
everything. Then we hove in sight; and
through the side Of the show-windoW
he saw us and recognized ME in the
seat, and that settled it-no bake-Shop
would hold him then. He jumped back
in the store, braced himself plumb in
front Of the pane of glass in the door,
and when we We're just about opposite
he gave one last howl, and crash. out
he anne through glass and all.
Il heard the racket, and turned my
head just in time to gee him come flying
out. l understood it all in a moment,
and expected to see him roll over dead
in the gutter; but not much! He came
through so quick he scarcely got q
scratch; and away he went, down the
street ahead Of us, barking at every
one, and clearing the way Just as he
used to, and running around in a circle
and jumping high in the air and cut
ting UP gymnastics-and happy?-Well,
l just guess he was happy. Even the
Captain heard him in all the racket be
hind the engine, and let up on the whis-
tie long enough to holier ahead to me to
look our and not run over him; but
there was small fear Of that, for he
beat us by half a block all the way to
the fire.
When we got there we stretched in
and stood fast as we call it, which
means we stretched in the hose, and
got ready to go to work when 50 or
dered; but they didn't need US, for the
fire was pretty we'll oil then, and the
third alarm had only been sent out as a
sort Of precaution; so in a few mo-
ments the Chief ordered us back to
quarters.
when we were picking up or put
ting the hose back i'll the wagon, Peter
was around among us like old times,
and every one Of the gang had a kind
word for him. He vas cut a bit about
the back with glass, SO the Captain
says: Throw him in the wagon, boys,
and We'll take him back to the house,
and mend him up. I'll put him OH pro-
baton; and if he acts right he a stay
| with us as long as he wants. And then
he adds: Put you fellows will have to
chip in and pay for that pane Of glass
And we all laughed; for we were will
ing to pay for a whole show-window to
get Peter back again.