The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-05
End OF HESPER, POLICE hero
Old MEDAL WINNER COULDN'T
RECOVER FROM FALL.
Peiieemenweuidnr sheet Their Cemrsd.,
80 me Veterinary Had 60 ne Called
In-Had Served 10 Years and HAD
saved Lives Both on Land ana Sea.


saved Lives Both on Land ana See.
A distinguished and learned membar
Of the Police Department died in harness
yesterday. His name was Hsspar and
he had served the department for fifteen
years. He had been in this world OF few
oats and much work for two years before
he had the =. ID. on his saddle. so he really
was a veteran. All the men Of the
mounted squad knew Hesper and his rec
ord. and when he fell and hurt his knees
a few weeks ago up in West Chester IL
would have been brave Official indeed
who would have ordered the animal shot.
They put the injured horse In a COM
Portable stall and rugged up a Sing for
his bruised knees and did everything
they could 70 make him comfortable
veterinary from Headquarters came
up TO tho West Chester police station and
looked Hesper over and shook his head
obviously but said that he would wait
while before hs did anything final
The horse grew worse. however AMI
Yesterday the captain called the men
OF the West Chester station out onto The
noor and told them that Hesper must
be shot. He asked for volunteers Not
man came forward. 80 the captain
sent for the veterinary again and when
he arrived he got a cold greeting FROM
the Reserves They begged him not 10
shoot Hesper but try some airer way
OF finishing matters. and he Cunsented
just how the horse was finally DESTROYED
no one knows. because none OF the men
went into the stall with the veterinAry
and they didn' question the doctor when
he came out
Hesper had his reward for all fhe wears
OF service last Nav when he got the blu.
ribbon in the Decoration DAY parade
About the prrudest man in this town
on that day WAS Sergeant West. Hesper's
rider. as he went up to the grand stand
and got the ribbon for his horse ana IA
addition 20 that received "A medal in He.
per's name from Mrs James Speyer
But soon after that West was protno'et
To "A leutenancy and Hesper went INTO
new hands. They say, thoss who knoN
the ways OF horses. that Hesper dIdn
hold his head up in the old manner when
West no longer rode him and that II ever
horse felt that he was growing old IL
was that same He-per OF cDurse that
may be- the sentimental imagination that
the police are noted as pOaserr
Those who were in the habit ~ going
down tn Rockaway Beach about six years
ago may remember Hesper for he used
TO have the beach patrol in those DAYS.
and when he took his daily swim all n.
hathers came along 20 watch. II was
Sergt Pepper who taught Hesper 20 take
To the water and at the same time made
him useful in hauling out folks who had
gone beyond the lIfelines THIS got 10 ha
a sort Of second nature with IN. horse and
there are many rescues 70 his credit thar
are not down in any books. but that will
probably be not forgotten by the folks
whom Hesper saved
The horse learned his trade in Central
Park. his first ass gnmsnt. and stopped
many runaways there. Then he went 20
Prospect Park in BROOKLYN and Rockawav
and finally up to westchester and Sergl
Vests care.