The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1897-11-06
"PErsR sPoTs"-FlReMAN.
\ Smart Dog that Belongs TO the Ne.
York Fire Department,

\ Smart Dog hat Belongs to the New
York Fire Department.
Charles T. Hill, the artist. has been
writing a series Of articles about the
New York fire department for st. Mich.
olas. An article Is devoted to "'Peter
Spots'-Fireman," a smart dog that be.
longs to n of the engine companies.
Mr.. Hill says, quoting the words of the
f1remen:
1.-The first we made after getting
him, he didn't go with us, and we were
wondering when we were rolling home
whether we would find him in the en-.
CINE house on our return, or whether
he had turned out with US and we had
lost him on the way to the fire; for
we're not over particular in taking no.
tice of things around us when we are
getting out when an alarm of fire comes
in. The first idea is to get out, and that
as quickly as possible; and as we had
all become interested in Peter, we were
anxious to see whether he had deserted
US or not; but when W. opened the door
of the house out he came bounding,
jumping up at all of us, and barking
away as much as to say: Well, did you
put out the fire? Sorry l wasn't with
you,' or something like that; for to me
he Is so smart that l think he Is trying
to talk all the time In his own way.
And now-well, bless you, sir. he's the
first one out of the house. The instant
the gong begins to ring, he takes his
position right there under The front
truck of the engine, and there he
tail sticking right straight out. he
watches me. The moment start for
the seat he's off like a shot for the end
of the pole between the horses, bark
ing like mad; for he knows we are GO
ing out, or l wouldn't jump for the seat.
When the doors open, out he goes like
a bullet out of a gun; and II there Is
any one passing or standing outside. he
clears them away in short order; and
there's very little danger Of running
over any one as long as we have him
ahead of us, for he clears the way bet
ter than two or three men could. On
he keeps, all the way to the fire, and
half a block or more in front Of the en-
4
CINE. ;
And now let me tell you how smart
he Is; for no matter how rough the
street may be, no matter how dirty,
muddy or slushy 1t is, nor how the
stones may hurt his feet, on he goes.
and never leaves 1t; but when we are
coming home, bless your life; the street
isn't good enough for him, and you
can't get him into 1t, no matter how you
may coax. No. sir; he takes the side
walk back, and walks along as quiet
and dignifed as can be, scarcely ever
noticing any other dog on his way; for
l think he feels that he Is much more
important than they are, and that they,
are not in his class at all. And he
won't stop when we get to the fire; but
he follows us right in the building,
down a basement, or up a ladder-ah.
now l see you are laughing, and don't
believe what am telling you, but 1t is
a fact. He car climb a ladder with the
best of us, providing it amt too high a
one, and he follows us right in with
the line; but he can't come down q lad
der; he hasn't the knack of hat yet,
and that's where the trouble comes in
Many's the time we've gone up and
brought him overcome with smoke,
and carrying him down, laid him In the
wagon to get over 1t.
And many's the time the chief has
said to us: Some of you fellows will be
osing your lives yet with that dog!'
But, pshaw. sir, we would as soon think
IF leaving one of the company behind
as leaving Peter; for he is one Of the
company, although he's only a dog.
And he's taken his dose with the
best of us. Got full of smoke lots OF
lines, and soaked with water over and
over again. Came home one night with
ais tail frozen stiff. Got drenched at q
cellar fire. and as 1t was a bitter cold
night 1t froze on him on his way back.
He was on the sick list for a long while
after that, and we had him tied up In
The cellar near the furnace, thawing
out, and all done up In %bandages; but
ne came out all right. Then we knock
I'd him out of a window, one night, with
4 line. He was standing on the sill,
and we were making a quick movement
10 get from one room to another. There
was good pressure on, and we had q
heavy stream to handle; and just as we
made a quick turn to get a belt at
another room that was blazing up live
Y, we hit Peter, standing ON the WIN
dow sill, square with the stream. Out
he went sailing clear into the middle of
the street, just as II he'd been shot from
n cannon. We thought he was done for
that time. sure; but when we backed
out about twenty minutes after, there
he was, a little lame, but nearly as
lively as ever. There was c~onsidera-
BILE snow in the street. and that saved
him.
"And burns? Well, say, his back Is
all tattooed from the burns he's caught.
What with falling plaster and bits OF
burning wood, he is all covered with
bare places where the hair win never
grow again, but those are service
marks, and, l tell you, he's a veteran
md proud of Them"
London's Smoky Tunnels.