The Washington times., 1911-10-23
ROVER IS MOURNING
DEATH Of FIREMAN
LONG HIS MASTER
Captain Browns Faithful
Dog Detected, And Often
Refuses Food.

Rover" for nine years the faithful
companion Of Capt. Timothy Brown, of
Engine Company No. 1. killed by the
falling Of wall In the fire which de-
stroyed the offices OF the American To-
bacco Cornsany on PennsyIyania avenue
last Saturday. Is mourning the loss of
his master. Today the faithful animal
goes about the Brown home, lss c
street southwest, with head bowed. He
misses the cheerful voice OF the man he
loved. At intervals he refuses to eat,
and sometimes let's his breakfast Al,
dinner 30 by untouched. He wanders
aimlessly through the house, from room
to room. looking in the corners, climb
Ing to the edge of the beds. and moves
about In the backyard where the cap
tain had a little workshop.
The gentle pats by the members Of
the family give temporary balm. but
this does not seem to satisfy the
canine who for years followed the cap
tain in the thickest Of fires in WASH
ington.
Unusual Intelligence.
During the life of Captain Brown his
faithful dog followed him everywhere
he went. Scorching flames did not
bother him one bit He climbed ladders
Of the fire department with all the
ease and grace of a veteran fireman
No sooner would the captain mount a
ladder and wind his way to the top Of
a building than he would find Rover"
at his heels.
the hremen to duty. ROVE would
Jump upon the wagons and 60 with the
boys" Besides showing this amount
OF intelligence. Rover" watched with
SSre over the hSrses ,S at Engine
houses where the captain saw duty.
He slept most of the time In the stalls
with some Of the horses. Strange to
say. not one of the horses objected to
his companionship. but on the contrary.
enjoyed his company. Should the
horses become entangled in any OF the
chains that kept them from leaving
their stalls. Rover would let the fire.
men know by bark. He never bark
ed unless there was some meaning to
IL. and when he did. some of the fire.
men always responded to his cali.
- Always At Fires.
Lieut.. Thomas Butler. of Engine
Company No. 4. recalls one Of "Rovers"
feats. About a year ago at fire on the
southwest corner of Indiana avenue and
First street. Captain Brown and Lieu
tenant Butler went to the third floor,
where the fre was confined. They hard
ly had gotten inside the building when
they found Rover" on the job. The
morning Captain Brown was killed on
Pennsylvania avenue, Rover was
there.
c. w. Marmaduke and II. J. Clarke,
at the nreboat. recall an incident q
number of years ago, when their boat
was called upon TO extinguish an
oyster boat fire. II was SO cold that
the water that hit their clothes froze
Rover with his fur stifY with ice.
stuck bravely to the task until the fire
was over. Then he hunted warm
corner in the boat and remained there
until the coat Of ice on his back had
melted away.
Loved BY Firemen.
The dog Is dear to the hearts of all
the fireren in WASHINGTON. On his col.
lar is the Inscription. Rover. Washing
ton Fire Department" This identifica-
tion is enough. He is not molested by
the police.
but Rover Is not the dog of old.
He has seemed to age Wonderfully since
the death of his master. Up until last
Saturday his nine years of life did not
seem 10 bother him. Lut now his worry
has begun to tell on him. When the
faithful Did dog dies lie will be given
an imposing burial by the firemen OF
Washington.