The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HORSE.
Beats the Firemcn Sometimes in the Race
When the Alarm strikes.

Tho Fire Department horse lies down to
sleep at night Just like any other. His bed o.
straw is spread in his stall regularly at -
O'clock and a feed Of hay is given to HIM But
though he might be lying down and fast
asleep. he IL wide awake and on his feet ut the
first tap of the gong. He wakes up as quickly
as the fireman. and he is sure footed or he
would not he in the department at all; So he
lose. no time in getting up on his feet. The
same electric current that sounds the gong
drops a pin in the side OF the stall uIon which
the ring OF his bride strap is held. and sets
him free. and the instant he ,luds his feet lie
JUMPS for his place at the engine; lie may get
there even before the nremcn.
lu some fire houses the stalls are at the rear
of the house. but when possible they are placed
ON the sides. alongside of or near tho appnra-
tus. that the horses will have n shorter dis
lance to traverse. The mems sleeping quar-
tiers are on the first floor above the apparatus
floor their lounGing and smoking room is
commonly on the floor above that. though
III some houses there is n space at the front
of the dOrmitOry floor where the men sit to
play cards or dominoes In the day or the even
ing. There are two or three sliding poles in
the house by which men com" down from the
first or second floor; pole at the front and
one or two more at the Sues. There
on the floor of the house; on tho
morning watch from midnight to .
of course reach the engine before the horses
And IN day or evening alarm in a house
whore there was room tor the men to ait AZ the
front of the dormtory iloor. IN" men that might
be there would get /" ID" rH@inr before the
horses could they would be All ready, q usc 10
the POLE, and the pole would land them CLOSE To
the engine. But NJ might. with horses lying
down and asleep ana III" men, excepting those
on watch, also nhnd and asleep, the hOrSrs
might get to the moi" first.
1t might be. for cNIHule, that there would
lie range OF beds ON IA" uour above right
along over horses stall there is a sliding
| lloor. coming dow about midway between the
horses stall at the side Of tine house and the
| front OF IN" engine. At the stroke of the gong
| the fireman Wakc~, Jumps m. and gets INTO his
| boots and bolts for the sliding pole. all these
operations Tat tuLrth"! occupying bul a
| second or two. But the hurs, was Weakened by
| the sam" stroke Of the gou% and he was on his
feet almost A. quickly. II" iu"sn have to put on
| his boots, he wears his shoes all the time. and
| he's ready. "nI he makes break for he Hpua-
hunk direct over the horse stall, 10 reach he
| front Oi ,h" engine ON tn" apparatus nOOr
/ would uI rpiII~r HaIH to 20 the same distance
n the hor-o with tn" length OF the Siding
! pol" added II" drops down that pole So
quic ky lint Il scarcely counts in the distance
| but he mILAi lose q fraction of second Al Ia"
Ioul 81 II H"""u-' his first duty when he strikes
| the uuOT is 10 get ont OF the way OF the man
| who il following close behind him and coming
iu,t; and IN any event h. ius"s little time here
it can scarcely he counted, butlt Iust little
in taking "A fresh start from the ZOO O the pole"
/ on course at right angles to IN" ore he has
| just come down; while the horse may have an
unbrOken course, In u situation Ike this the
| horse sometimes heats the man; sometimes
| the man may beat the horse, and sometimes
| the man coming like shot down the sliding
| pole may brush his back against the ribs OF the
| horse tearing past 1t on his way to the front OF