The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06

tricks, but the advantage of the last one
the dog learned is that it is a useful trick
At each engine house whenever a snow
fall occurs 1t is necessary for one of the
nremen TO take a broom, an ak and
bucket Of salt and go to all the fire cisterns
in that district and clean off the snow, get
the lid loose and sprinkle salt all around it
SO that il win not freeze. thus making IL
easy to get the top off OF the cistern If
a large fire should occur in the neighbor-
hood
Tom has learned the cistern route, and
can go TO every one of the caps. as the
lids are called, by herself. If new man
comes TO headquarters. and is sent out on
the route before he learns it he has simply
to take the dog with him, and she will
show him where every location is.
When the man leaves the engine house
Tom Will go to the first cistern, and as
soon as she sees him working there she
will start off for the next one. The man
follows, and will find her sitting on top
of the cap waiting for him, and when she
sees him properly working she goes on to
the next one, and thus until the route is
completed.
Toms gender cannot be determined by
ant Chief Barrett, whose first name is
Thomas, but, as girls in many instances AT
present affecting masculine styles IN
names, Tom does not mind II IN the least,
the name Of so worthy man as the assist
ant chief.
There have been many dogs in the fire
department.. but none OF them has ever
eQualed this one in the matter OF intelli-
gence. and il is hardly probable that there
is = dog in town who Is Toms equal when
ION my a.
carry on a conversation with her, and
while. Of course. she cannot answer. she will
sit and listen very attentively and lock one
right in the eyes, turning her head from
side 10 side as if she understood every word
that is being said 10 her
No dog has been given more newspaper
notorfety than she has. and her reputation
extends all over the country Not long ago
a man who lives In California was being
shown through the house. whenever a
visitor arrives Tom is delighted, for she
will follow all over the house at his heels
out of mere curiosity. This man noticed
her. and he wanted to know in what house
q dog by the name OF Tom, VINO could 90
many tricks. was located When told
that this the dog he was greatly
pleased. for he said he had heard OF her
at his home and had determined 10 see her
when he came TO Indianapolis.
This dogs tricks are very numerous,
though she has very little training. me
little she has had has been given her by the
various members or the company ana they
would only take her a few minutes each
Gay. After she once knows what she Is
wanted 20 do she never forgets IL, nor VIII
she balk I'm doing a trick. No one enjoys
her tricks more than she does herself, and
for this reason she never has TO be com
PEELED TO do anything. The trouble Is TO
make her quit when she once gets started,
for she seldom tires out.
One of her best tricks is ringing the
Iell on the water tower. This bell is
about the size OF the ordinary engine bell
and Is for the purpose OF clearing the
street when the tower is responding 10 an
alarm. Tell Tom TO ring the bell, and no
matter where she Is she Will run right to
the tower and pull the rope. How she
learned this Is a mystery. for no one ever
trained her TO do IL. She can be told TO