Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-09-02
WONDERFUL FIRE HORSE.
Prince, Pet OF Olanthe T<an) City
OMcials, Does Not Brook Neglect
of Any Sort.

Prince is the horse upon which OIathe.
| Kan. depends in cases of local confla-
| grafton. Prince was purchased from a
farmer living near Council Grove, Kan,
four years ago, and since he has been
on duty at the city fire department head
| quarters day and night. He is superb
ly formed dark bay, weighs 1, $50 pounds
and pulls the 3000-pound hose wagon
on gallop. Prince learned his A, B,
Us, so to speak, under the tutelage Of
ex-Chief Frank Nelson, of Olathe. In
the past two years, however, his educa-
ton has progressed rapidly under the
care of the present incumbent, Fire
Chief Fred Garwood
Attached to the wall Immediately in
| front OF Princes stall is a large gong,
to the lever Of which two pull-cords are
attached-one passing upward along the
wall and across the ceiling 20 point
| Immediately over the seat OF the hose
wagon. the other suspended downward
from the gong so as to be within easy
reach of person standing upon the
floor-the gong being used for ordinary
training and actual service alarms. But
Prince has appropriated the gong to
other purposes, and these without any
preliminary training whatever, as will
appear.
One day Chief Garwood, who, Incl
dentally, is also city clerk, was SO abb
sorbed with his books in his Office i'm
mediately over the fire station that noon
passed unobserved by him. A sharp tap
Of the gong smote upon his ear, but, be-
lieving it to be the prank of some mis-
chievOus boy, he worked on. At inter-
walls of minute or so the taps continued,
and Mr.. Garwood, in no peaceful stats
Of mind, laid aside his books and tip
tOed downstairs with grim determina-
ton to spank the offender. Scarcely had
he reached the foot of the stairway when
succession Of loud rings greeted him.
Rushing into the station now fully bent
on doing harm to the intruder, he found
to his establishment no boy there Prince
had the cord firmly grasped between
his teeth and was assiduously ringing
for his long-delayed midday meal He
had worked out the solution of difficult
problem in procrastination.
From that day Prince has utilized the
gong to call his chiefs attention to the
slightest delay in the serving of his pro-
vender, be it oats, hay or water
Some time ago, in a season of ex-
tremely inclement weather, the horse
kept up at intervals throughout each
day succession of gong taps which
were entirely unaccountable for, and
finally Mr.. Garwood secured the gong
cord in such manner that Prince could
not reach it. This action aroused the
ire of the horse and stamping and kick
ing succeeded. 1t finally dawned upon
the mind of Mr.. Garwood that the horse
was pining for exercise, which, being
given him, put an end to unreasonable
taps of the gong.
One cold night last winter as the chief
lay asleep he was suddenly awakened by
succession of loud alarms from the
gong below, closely followed by the rap
i'd and heavy tramping of a horses feet
upon the floor. With visions of the as
sembling of the volunteer members of
the department, Mr.. Garwood called out:
Cali right, boys, I'll be down with you in