New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-22
OLD AGE OF POLICE HORSES
STRONG MEN CRY WHEN TINE CONES
TO PART WITH THEM-SERGEANT
COFFY TALKS HORSE"


A reader wro-e TO The Tribune TO protest against
the sale Of the superannuated police horses TO ped
le-s and junkmen, TO drag miserable existence
IN mean Streets and it was Sergeant Richard
Coffy whom The Tribune representative ap-
pealed for calculation Of the subject Sergeant
Cory, big. bluff and good natured, long in charge
Of the horses and equipment Of the department.
perfectly willing to talk horse
Yes. I've seen EN- cry many time when their
horses solo, said he: I've cried many a time
myself; Couldn't help it,
NO. they don't go to pedlers Junkmen- They
cost too much for that generally They usually
bought by farmers round about, who come in 10 the
horse auction to get horses for farm work East
ern farmers don't raise their horses any
more at all It costs 500 a year to feed colt and
it's cheaper 70 buy Western horses. Most Of the
horses in the horse markets raised in the Mid
ole West; Michigan. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
When electricity came into general use for
streetcars. z good many horse breeders went out
Of the business. Then the Spanish and Boer wars
took lot Of horses that pay 800 for
2 horse that We were getting for s175 six or seven
years ago.
so the farmers buy our old horses, and it's
pretty good way for them to end their days 1t
takes them off the pavement. anyway, and gives
their feet a rest. Our horses always bring good
prices. all of their looks They are fed
so well and kept well that they look very hand
some, but at the end OF few days the purchaser
is apt 10 be very sick Of his bargain. There was
Pug went for slG7 so the other day, and he wasn't
worth s. so for he hadn't a sound foot under him.
and he was over twenty-five years old He went
10 the superintendent Of hacks in the park. VINO
Will use him in a wagon. driving about TO look
after the nacks That'u be only gentle exercise for
Pug
I'm glad he got a good berth. for there were
plenty OF rnilIonaires came in and spoke about
buying him 10 send onto farm TO end his
days in peace: yes. as many a dozen Of EN-
in one day. but when the auction came off there
wasn't one Of EN- showed
T tell you said the sergeant warming up 70
his subject all some OF them horses want Is the
use Of their tongues. They can do everything but
talk They learn their business. just the same as
the NERVES na'arn. They know when it's time 10
90 out and they know when it's time to come in.
and If you don't keep mighty close eye on EN-.
they'll come in without you When II gets toward
time for the relief. they're a-jumpin' and a-har1n
that extent looking for the relief that il amt
very pleasant TO sit their backs: but if the man
gets of TO take rest he'd better keep finger on
the rein till he's ready start. They know the
whole route just well the men. There's
Sinner. He's been in the police since 1854 Ser
geant Wallace rode him eighteen years ago. and
to-day Wallace can't step his foot inside the sta
bic door without Sinner turning around in his
stall and talking TO him
There's George. No 129. She's been in the ser
vice sixteen years No one has ever ridden her but
Joseph Miller, and she's never lost day from
sickness That is the most remarkable record for
health in the department. She's lamb with Miller,
but II any else tries ride her she'll worry
ais life out biting her bit and looking around and
fretting generally. Miller said Septem-
Der Is. It's sixteen years to-day since / began 10
ride George told him she'd have to be con-
demned before long and he said he'd save up
money TO buy her himself. he would be sure
she'd never be abused
The mounted policeman ALWAYS cares for his own
horse. which adds 10 the attachment between them,
and this complete understanding between man and
horse is supposed TO conduce largely TO the eff
cheney Of the force.
horses" said Sergeant Coffy they re with them
more than they are with their families They get
day unless they should have 70 go 10 court. and
they have TO sleep part Of that
The intelligent horse that ever the
force was Dan Dan is dead-blood poisoned by a
forkthrust from a careless hostler, but his mem
Z have left the station house at o'clock in the
morning TO go 10 the upper district On that morse,
exercise and he would trot ahead for block or
two When he got past corner where ne thought
] might turn. he would stop ana look oack- ~ -
came past the corner, he would trot on IT L
turned. ne would come trotting back after me Ike
dog. I've seen that horse do what never saw
my other. Coming home TOR dinner, when ne q be
Fithln twenty feet Of the able door and was iaE
nehind him perhaps, IL / turned away, he would
urn and follow me instead OF going in to his
feed. He was trained by ex-Chief McCullagh
Pc corner Of Forty-seventh-st- and Lexington-ave
pan was down far as Forty-thrd-st Mct'ul-
came tearing back like wild horse and ragged
ground till the crowd began 70 get so big that Nc
tullagh came out Dan would stand anything
that wore brass buttons. but he had for
CITIZENS Let man In plain clothes come near
am and he'd bite and kick He was something of
Z scamp. though. When he began TO get old and
nis feet began get stiff. sometimes he wouldn't
1 r you mount. That rascal kept me walking one
- 81 the way from the corner Of Westchester-
- ,i.nd Southern Boulevard over To Jerome-ave.
has MUDDY. and was pretty warm, He might
rs a,e walked me all the way home If he hadn't
ho,ssnt sight Of lime a man was mixing for
ne saw II sfeanine ana his curiosity was