The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-28

Amusing Stories Told About . HAneus
Fire Horse Of Boston.

Fire Horse Of Boston.
Stories Of the intelligence displayed BY
horses In fire departments have been told
over and over again, but there is horse
In the Boston fire department that seems
to be worthy Of little attention at this
time, as he has about completed the days
when he can be used with safety and prob.
ably will soon go where he will have moth,
ing to do but kick up his heels and enjoy
himself This horse is known to the mem.
bers of tho department and, indeed, to
many Of the citizens Of Boston as Old
Jim, and Is now at the Dartmouth street
engine house, where he is an "emer.
gency" horse This means that he Is used
when one of the regular animals is sick or
away being shod or when the condition OF
the streets demands an extra horse.
The men tell several amusing stories
about him and the way he acts when ali
alarm Is sounded in the engine house. As
soon as tho "tapper" sounds and the stall
doors fly open Old Jim makes rush for
the floor. AS soon as he leaves his stall
and gets out on tho main floor he hesitates
moment and then rushes to the vacant
place as though he understood that he was
as likely to have to I'll one position as an.
other. Another little trick he has is that
Of helping himself at the grain chest when
he thinks no one Is around to see him. He
will turn nearly around in his stall and
with his lips will shake the hook Of the
rope back Of him from tho ring In which
1t Is fastened. Then he will back out Of
tho stall and, going over to the grain
closet, will push back the wooden button
with his lips, pull the door open and then,
raising the lid Of the grain chest, will help
himself If he hears the step of one of the
men, he will rush back to his stall and
crouch up In one corner as II he knew
well enough he had been doing something
wrong.
One Of the most surprising stories told
about him relates to his actions at fire In
the leather district several years ago. The
story is vouched for by Captain Mulligan
Of engine No. 20 and several Of his men,
and, while 1t may seem hard to believe,
those who know the horse say that 1t IL
thoroughly characteristic of him. Previous
to this fire Old Jim had been quartered at
the Fort Hill square engine house, but had
been transferred to the Dartmouth street
house to take the place of another horse.
The fire was one that required the services
of the Dartmouth street company, and Old
Jim went to 1t as leader on tho three horse
team of the engine. When the scene of
tho fire was reached and the men settled
to work, the horses were detached from
tho engine, and Old Jim was tied to
lamppost, bis two mates being connected
with him by the harness. When tho fire
had been subdued and the men were ready
to go back to their house, the driver went
over to get his horses, but no horses were
visible. No one had seen them go, and
Immediately everybody began a search for
the missing team. And where docs the
reader suppose those horses were foundp
Old jim, emboring his former home in
Fort Hill square and perhaps wishing to
introduce his companions to his old mates,
had in some way unfastened his tie rein
md had towsd his two mates to the house
in Fort Hill square, where he was found
looking round contentedly and apparently
enjoying himself immensely.
One Of his former drivers said recently
that when Old Jim was at Fort Hill square
he had manya time gone to fire with the
bits hanging from his mouth, but he seem-
ed to know just where no was going and
only needed the slight pressure to make
him turn in any direction required. So
we'll did he seem to know just whore he
was wanted to go that the men almost be-
lieved be could count tho alarms. In fact,
q boy did call at the Fort Hill square
house one day and asked to see the horse
that could count the box when an alarm
was Standardization Transcript.