The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-14

sperdicst PAGER in the Service.
"sntaEy" Pete is the na-ne Of one OF
the most intelligent and at the same
time the most eccentric specimen OF
horselcsn that was ever. c3rraIod with
in the District Governments =. ms.
Pete's headquarters are in the neat
little red brick building on Fifth Street
northwest. next door TO the Second pre-
cinct police station. which place in
Official CIRCLES is known as the am
bulaEtc stables" Here are kept under
the jurisdiction OF the Board of charities
four ambulances Of The latest pattern.
ready TO respond TO calls in any part OF
the city. at any hour OF the day and
night. The drivers Of the teams sleep up
stairs En- Two cozily furnished rooms and
are summoned by the ringing Of a huge
brass gong.
An Ambulance Horse.
For The past ten years OF more Pete
has drawn one of the white CanvaseG We
hicles TO the scenes OF fire and accidents,
and not once has the unfortunate person
within the vehicle had 10 suffer any delay
in reaching one Of the numerous hos
pitfalls. for Pete is an animal Of tremend-
Gus build and is the proud pOssessOr Of
long CXtremeties which would do justice
10 any race horse He needs but o word
from his driver. before he is of like a
shot and with the changing Of the gong
makes wild dash for the hospital
But while Pete is both reliable and
speedy he is what is termed & crank. -
h.
and allows but one man to drive him. and
that IS Driver Carney. But one Of Pete's
QuoeTcst acts. one which is known TO
nearly all the city officials, IS that he re-
fuses 10 wear halter in his stall
Objects To All HaIterS.
In the language Of his driver and care
taker. There amt no halter made that
will keep him in his stall" 1t goes against
the animals grain to have his intelligent
face encased in leather hood. When he
first cane into the department years ago
= common. everyday halter was strapped
on him His attendant however had
hardly placed the Objectionable harness
about his head when Pete gave a mighty
jerk, and settling himself back upon his
launches broke the halter into a dozen or
more pieces Since that time Pete has
cost the District Government a neat little
sum in providing him with halters.
After breaking his halters Pete waits
until deathlike silence pe.-vades the sta
bic and then lightly as possible backs
out Of his stall. and going into the next
one, II empty. deyOurs all Of the feed con
tanned therein. This he would keep up
until he had devoured all the feed in
sight, then at the sound OF che approach
ing hOstler's footsteps would make a wild
dash for his stall, sliding and slipping as
he ran. and be standing quietly and as
meek as a lamb when the hOstler put in
his appearance.
How He Won HIS Nickname.
1t took weeks OF careful watching on
the PART OF the hostler before he could
ind out what caused the enormous in
crease in the stables feed bill for Pete
was too sly 10 venture from his stall IN
Ill he saw the coast was clear. It was in
this way that the handsomeIy-built chest
nut-oolored animal one may see any day
drawing one Of the ambulances at q rapid
pace came TO secure the nom de plume Of
'Sneaky Pete
The name Is a common one nowadays
for Pete is known 10 every District official
from bis driver and attendants 70 the Dis
trict Commissioners. and is an especial
pet Of Captain Pearson. the police in
EpCAllA- Dlllel- NLO VIII ELt uQ LOT q COL
siderable tire when visiting the ambu-
lance stables and stroke the intelligent
ANIMALS glossy neck.
Pete Receives Visitors.
The reports Of "snealy Pete's" strange
actions recently reached the ears OF the
citizens and for several weeks IL used 20
be the delight o. a score or more Of them
to congregate IN the doorway and watch
Pete slide out Of his stall thinking the
coast clear. and make his rounds.
Times reporter accompanied Driver
Carney, Pete's attendant TO the stables
the other day to see If the stories told BY
him were true. The large door leading
into the stable had hardly been reached
when there was gathering OF horse hoofs
within the interior and with a wild rush
Pete dashed into his stell
See there. / Fnew darned well he would
be on his rounds. said Carney. d broad
smile Illuminating his countenance.
Wound Up by Taking "a Drink.
Now wait. ste. over here so he Won't
sec you" continued the driver, DRAWING
the reporter oyer 70 one side. Don't let
him SEQ vou. or he won't come OUT
IN Few minutes after having satisfied
himself that there was 10 one around. out
backed Pete slowly and cautiously. a,
bolted from oGe stau 20 another. and tfer
finished uD by walking out into that for-
ton OF ire stable wherein the ambulauces
are kept and took long drink out Of q
watering trough. after which he ambled
slowly back 10 bis stall
Halter Broken in Three Pieces.
pete VII break any halter that is
made" said Carney. with a laugh. Eve
had leather ones on him. and I've had steel
ones, hut III be hanged If he don't lust
s:1ash them into pieces. Would you ike
10 see how be does his work." querieI The
drsTor
Upon being answered in the sfirrna-
tive he procured what looked like an nm
usually strong halter and went into Pete's
stall The intelligent animal evidently
knew what was coming for he slammed
and UEunicd loudly. After considerabIe
paTleyIng. the halter was slipped on and
buckIed and the drive. came out Of me
stall with a bound. Vow watch him %
he cried.
within q few minutes Pete. thinking he
was alone. began his act Of smashing the
halter. Swayius bis body backward and
forward the animal made preparations for
a fnai pull
There 80 goes " yelled Carney, and sure
enough with a loud snap the halter part
I'd itself in three places and fell from the
animals head 10 the stall do0r.
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