The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-09-17
"PETER sPoTs"-FlReMAN.
A Smart Dog that Belongs to the New
York Fire Departments

"FE TEX SPOT -fI IREM AN.
A Smart Dog that Belongs to the New
York Fire Department..
Charles T. Hill the artist, has been
writing q 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 one of the engine companies.
Mr.. Hill says. quoting the words of the
tiremen:
''The first run 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-
gine 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 we opened the door
of the house out he came bounding,
Jumping up at oil VI uS, anu Uul hlllS
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 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
stands. Eyes wide open, ears up. and
tail sticking right straight out, he
watches nse. The moment l start for
the seat be'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 wouldn't jump for the seat.
When the doors open, out he goes like
a bullet out Of a gun; and if 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 block or more in front of the en-
gine.
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 it is, nor how the
stones may hurt his feet, on he goes,
and never leaves it; but when we are
coming home, bless your life; the street
isn't good enough for him, and you
can't get him into it, no matter how you
may coax. No, sir; he takes the side
walk back. and walks along as quiet
and dignified as can be, scarcely ever
noticing any other dog ON his way; for
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 basement, or up ladder-ah.
now see you are laughing, and don't
believe what l am telling you, but it is
a fact. He can 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 lad
der; he hasn't the knack of that yet,
and that's where the trouble comes in.
Many's the time we've. gone up and
brought him out overcome with smoke.
and carrying him down, laid him in the
wagon to get over it.
'And many's the time the chief has
said to us: Some of you fellows will be
losing your lives yet with that dogp
But, pshaw. sir, we would as soon think
of leaving one of the company behind
as leaving Peter; for he is one of the
company, although he's only dog.
.'And he's taken his dose with the
times, and soaked with water over and
over again. Came home one night with
his tail frozen stiff. Got drenched at a
cellar fire. and as it was bitter cold
night it froze on him on his way back.
He was on the sick list for long while
after that, and we had him tied up in
the cellar near the furnace, thawing
out, and all done up in banda ges; but
he came out all right. Then we knock
ed him out of window, one night, with
a line. He was standing on the sill,
and we were making a quick movement
to get from one room to another. There
was good pressure on. and we had a
heavy stream to handle; and just as we
made a quick turn to get belt at
another room that was blazing up live
ly, 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 if he'd been shot from
a 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 considera-
BILE snow in the street. and that saved
him.
"And burns? WE'LL 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 will never
grow again. but those are service
marks, and. l tell you. he's veteran
and proud of them"
London's Smoky Tunnels.
The chief objection to the under