The sun., 1903-12-26
LAST OF A GOOD FIRE DOG.
HE NEVER SHIRKED A CALL, AND
DIED on DUTY.
Maybe II the Scrubwoman Hadn't Tried to
Hold "Nisger" Back He'd BE Alive
Now-Overstrenuous with the Horses
in GOinE to . Fire, and He's Dead.

Maybe " tne SCTuDWOU1uu tauut ITttu
Hold "Nisger" Back He'd BE Alive
Now-Overstrenuous with the Horses
in GOsns to Fire, and He's Dead.
1t was a blue Christmas at best for the
crew Of Engine 7, in Beekman street. Mig
ger" the fire house mascot, is dead. He
had been a member of the company for
only two years, but there wasn't a better
fire dog in the department. Company 7
rose last night as one man to say 80. To
other folks, including the firemen OF other
companies, he may have been only mutt,
but they thought a lot Of him over at En-
gine 7.
Like many another good fireman, Niger
died on duty. and he left clear record
behind him. He had answered every alarm
with Engine since he joined the company;
that is, except for about two weeks early
last fall, when he was on sick leave. He
got under the hoofs of one Of the horses
then, and that left him helpless for while
but he got over it, and reported back for
duty.
He went to his last fire on Christ mas
eve. Box 81 at Frankfort and Gold streets
sounded Niger was upstairs in the mems
dormitory chewing the scrubwomans mop
in way he had of pretending it was
rival come into histerrlt1ry, and bothering
tried to hold Niger back by the collar
when the engine left the house. but he
didn't intend to shrk, and by pulling and
swapping convinced her that she'd better
let 60 or she'd get bitten. She let go and
Niger dashed downstairs and after the
engine,
He caught it within block, and as the
horses didn't 60 fast enough TO suit him he
barked very close to their heels as hint Of
what they might expect if they didn't move
quicker.
Paddy, one of the big horses. resented
the hint and kicked at him. The kick
knocked Niger under the rear wheel of
the engine. and both wheels of the tender
went over him. The fremen couldn't stop
then, but as soon as they got the order
dead.
At the engine house last night the men
sat in circle and talked of Niger. -the
mutt
He wasn't much of dog for looks"
said Lieut.. Bundrick. but he was a born
fire dog, sure. No, he wasn't Of any par.
ticular breed Guess he had bits Of all
the breeds in him. He first wandered into
the house when we were in Chambers street
about two years ago.
we laid him on table and got the glass
out, and adopted him.
'Twasnt any time at Ill before he earned
20 be real fire dog: When he heard
the gong ring he'd prick up his ears and
run to the pole hole. If the man OF watch
yelled we CO. oa Ngge, Sv went ven ,oass ni
they were hitched and nipped at their legs
when they we're slow,
And he Used to know the fire patrol
Hubletz. He'd hear the bell and see
it corning up Chambers street and run to
meet it. He'd run in front of it till it passed
70 know that if didn't go to the fire he had
no right to.
He was mighty loyal 10 I. He'd go TO
fires with us and follow our run right into
smoke or water, no matter how bad it was,
but though he saw lots of other fremen,
he'd never follow any but one of our men,
He'd go anywhere we would and you
couldn't keep him away, Once he stood
by while we worked sixteen hours at
fire. At blaze in Allen street last winter
we had to go into a cellar that was three
feet deep in water. Nigger swan around
in il while we were there and came out
covered with icicles
"One of the men tied him up in a tailor's
shop to the legs of table but he pulled
got free Then they told a man to hold
him but he broke away again so We had to
give up and let him do as he pleased.
Niger never went on the records as a
life saver, but he helped the men out OF
smoke filled halls several times. He had
way of putting his nose to the ground and
smelling his way to the exit that was nearest
and the firemen say he knew the way bet
ter than they did
The company can't leave the house long
enough to give Niger funeral. but they
wish they might