The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21


A bossin' one O. Gods creatures outside its
natural line"
Thus Will Carleton describes the fate of
one of New Yorks old fire horses who had
become unfit for service, in of his
poems in his book called city Ballads"
Mr.. Carleton deals with an old horse which
had been Il favorite with the men in the de-
partment, and which, after spending the
greater part of his life in running to fires,
was sold to a mikman who drove him to
his wagon. Many who have read this half
humorous, half-pathetic poem no doubt look
upon it as the purest fiction, but it is not.
Incidents of this kind not alone occur in
New York, but right in the indianapolis de-
partment. They happen very often So
Mr.. Carleton, in describing the fate of
Flash" has told the story which is typical
of the life of all fire-department horses.
Only last week Carney, the oldest horse
in the local department, was traded in on
new team, and shipped away from here
This big, black horse was known to every
member in the department and to many
outside of II, for he had been in an engine
house for fourteen years, and all of the
men had learned to have a regard for this
animal that was most affectionate, and
when Ii came time to give him UP il was
like parting with old cOmrade.
The men who follow this work are so
closely associated with the horses that they
they do the men whom they are with, and
there is not a driver who has not had his
favorite team some time or other. Carney
was always a favorite with his driver, and
the old adage that is familiar to all fire.
men, which says, ''Once fireman, always
a fireman" applies to this horse. for he had
a natural liking for the work from the first
time he heard the gong ring and was led
under the harness. From that day he
learned his duty. and until he was sold
there was never a time that he was not
DlaCp under the harness
Carney was not colt when he went into
the fire department, for he was nine years
old when he entered the service, which
made him twenty-three years old when he
was sold. 1t is seldom that horse as old
he is bought; as a general thing,
the horses that the city buys are from five
TO six years of age. Chief Frank Daugherty,
who was at that time at the head of the de-
partment. took a liking To Carney the first
him. He made no mistake, for it was for
this work that Carney was intended and
he soon distinguished himself. The first
place he served was at No g. on West
Washington street. He was too heavy TO
run to a hose wagon, so he was put in the
engine there and stayed until 1885, when the
new La France engine came into service.
A LONG SERVICE.
Running eight years TO the No 6's engine
at that time was no small task. for they
went to nearly every fire west and south
of the city. it seldom an alarm came
in that he did not respond to it. Few horses
could have stood the work as Carney did.
but there was never a run too long for
him, nor did he ever seem TO get tired. for
he wanted TO run as hard coming back from
a fire as he did going TO II. and his driver
always had considerable trouble in holding
him in on the return. Carney was never
so proud as when In front Of an engine run
ming TO a fire, and when the road back
he seemed to realize that people were adj
miring him. for he would prance and toss
his head all the way to the house.
Like all horses used in the fire depart
ment. he brought direct from the
country. and while he was not young in
years he was in experience, so il was
necessary for him 70 be broken 10 the city
ways after he had been initiated into the
discipline OF engine house. Many OF the
new horses will neither eat sleep, nor
drink for three or four days after they first
come into the department. and before they
get accustomed 10 the business they gem