The sun., 1899-05-21
HORSES OF SENSE, THESE.
OBsERTATToNs OF A DRTTEB OF a
FIRE ENGINE

Horses - Illustrations of Their Intelli-
Eencs = The Whip an Insult to Them.
There is no doubt in my mind" said the
driver OF team Of ire horses. that horses
have many sonsibities. know that many feel
pride and prejudice. and are keenly suscepti-
BILE to disappointment. I have driven horses
for twenty years and they have always been OF
the best. have therefore had an excellent
opportunity to study them.
About ten years ago one OF the team that
drove was big bay horse we called Dan. He
was the finest ever had anything to do with.
He came from the West and was put alongside
an old fire horse. II was hard work for him at
first. but he caught on rapidly. and at the end
OF a month he was always out OF the stall and
In position ahead OF bis partner. II seemed to
be the ambition Of Dams life to make record.
When the other horse was slow In getting into
position beneath the harness Dan would stamp
his feet and leer at him. He expressed dis
pleasure just AS plainly as II he said. why
don't you hurryr' II Dan made misstep in
leaving the house. or. on the way to fire.
slipped and delayed the other horse. he would
be cross and sulky for an hour after
ward. One time we we're going down a
narrow. asphalted street late at night. The
pavement was covered with thin Ice. and II was
hard for horse to stay on his feet. Poor Dan
slipped and fell and one OF his forelegs was
badly cut. He made several efforts to get up.
but we had to unhitch him before he could do
so. He ought to have been relieved from con-
tinuing to the fire. but II was 30 evident to me
that he wanted chance to retrieve himself
that put him back In the harness You should
have seen him go the rest OF the way. Never
misstep did he make. He'almost leaped out OF
the harness. But he was grieved over his
error When he got back to the barn he trotted
into his stall. refused to eat his oats. and for
four hours acted like q schoolboy who has
been whipped. petted him and talked to him,
but he had to have his pout out.
For q month we drove with him a heavy
horse that was rather slow. Dan had to wait
every time there was an alarm. aud on the way
to q fire had to hang back to accommodate the
slower horse. Dan was patient, believing evil
IDENTIFY that In time his side partner would i'm
prove. At the end OF a month. when no sign OF
improvement was noticeable. Dan made a
daily practice OF hitting the strange horse.
saw that Dan was displeased and got a new
animal Dan changed at once. Now. II any
one can tell me that Dan didn't have as much
sense as most men. I'd like to know what
ground he has for the assertion. He got too
old for service and he was sold to farmer
saw him once after that and he reminded me
for all the world OF poor old man who has
been exiled and is heartbroken. The farmer
told me that whenever Dan heard bell ne
would prick up his ears and dance around.
After that he would amble away to lonely
part Of the pasture and stay there for hours.
II once had another horse named Paddy that
was as fine beast as one could find. Like all
fre horses. he would. OF course. start when
ever he heard the gong ring. but he would do
more He would rear on his hind feet. snort
and kick. Just out OF pure Joy While he and
u Hi. 4
shiver all over. so anxious was he to be out and
Off. He was good Roer and was sure-footed.
He liked to be petted better than Dan. For
instance. on his return from fire to which he
knew he had made a fine run. he always made
Q practice OF rubbing his head against me till
petted him and told him he was good boy. II
forgot the pettng he would kick and neigh till
entered his stall and caressed him. Paddy got
to be bad horse though We had substitute
driver here for while and he abused Paddy
all the time. The result was that we had to
get rid OF the horse He was sold to farmer
seven miles from the city. One day when the
farmer was driving him in the city f1re engines
went by. Paddy was seized with the old spirit.
and. getting the bit In his mouth. he ran to the
IRE. On the way he overturned the farmers
wagon. The farmer was thrown against q
street car and killed.
The Colonel Is another fine horse. He is
the proudest beast we have. His driver has
always taken exceptionally good care OF him
and the Colonel's hide shines like silk all the
time. II ever dirt is left on tho animals
forelegs. where he can see II. he fuses
around till the driver rubs 1t of. When
Colonel is all trimmed up and is paraded
for inspection before the heads OF the de-
partmept he steps up and struts like
negro dude. For four years Colonel has had
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horse. When the Colonel and his mate start
for q FIRE and hear the gong on the Chiefs
wagon Changing behind them they know-that
is. Colonel knows-that 1t is time to hurry.
Colonel spurts like good fellow. He has
never yet been able to beat the Chiefs steed for
the reason that the latter has only light vehi-
Gle to draw. while Colonel and his mate have to
haul a ponderous engine. As the faster horse
draws alongside him Colonel almost leaps out
of the harness. The driver cannot do anything
with him. But as soon as the Chiefs rig trails
by Colonel relaxes trine. l sometimes think
that II an equal mate could be found for him he
would outdo the Chiefs beast. But II he once
did so really believe that he would be spoiled.
His conceit would know no bounds. Conceit.
by the way is a common trait in horses. l
once had team that was illmated. and the
better OF the two made life burden for the
poorer horse When the latter was slow in get
ting out OF the stall. or hestated on entering
dangerous place. the better horse. that called
Tom. would kick at him. neigh. seemingly In
derision. and on returning to the barn would
snap at him.
tom was an intelligent animal In many
ways. In all he put in ten years in the Fire
Department. and he knew all the ins and outs
OF the business. He liked fire. liked to be
around 1t. Usually. as you may know. our runs
are made for nothing. Some OF the alarms are
false. while others are sent out because OF
tri1ing blazes which few pals OF water ex-
tinguishes. When Tom left the engine house
the first thing he would do would be to look all
around to note II there were any reflection. II
there were none he would not strain himself
to hurry. You see he had about decided that
there was no neod Of hurrying except once In a
great while. But II there we're a reflection
couldn't hold him. He would get the bit In
his mouth and tear away like mad. He would
go through passageways none too wide for the
engine. at a furious clip. and would fairly drag
his companion along with him. You know
most horses. like all other animals fear fire.