The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-26
Oldest Fire Horse in Service Is
ChIOrOformed.
With Topeka Fire Department
for 81 Years.
WAS An INTELLIGENT animal
Would Rather ScOreh Near Fire
Than Disobey Orders.
For Ten Years He Took Chief
Wilmarth to Every Fire.

The oldest horse in point of service
IN the fire department. old Ban was
chloroformed Sunday. After serving
the department for more than 81
years and after he had nearly learned
the location of a fire after an alarm
ne was given a painless death, only a
rev minutes after he had been given
his last dinner of the best oats on the
grain market
Old Ban" undoubtedly was the
smartest horse in service in the To-
peka fire department He knew every
man, liked some of the firemen and
mated others He could smell a fire
as soon as he emerged from the head
quarters engine house and very sell
dom was it necessary to guide him to
a lire after he had once seen the
flames from the street.
For ten years from 1891 to 1901 he
took Chief Wilmarth to every fire in
the city both night and day. He was
the trickeSt and most stubborn and
still the most valuable and intelligent
horse in fire service in Topeka In
the last few years he has been pen
stoned IN fire alarm service but al
ways he has been worShipped by ev-
cry fireman and officer in the depart
menr.
Favorite of Chief WiImarth.
His real name was Bancroft" but
the firemen called him Ban" for
short. Chief Wilmaruh was the only
man who called him Bancroft and /
when the old horse heard that name (
he prIcked up his ears and stretched |
under his hOofs. Until his last day at /
the fire department headquarters he |
stamped in his stall. paved the floor |
and jerked on his strap when an |
alarm was sounded in the building |
The look in his eye signified sorrow
as the other horses pranced out of 1
the big front doors and drew their /
loads to the fire, and he with no one /
but the Waterman remained in the /
engine house
Ban" was % years. old. He was
purchased by the fire department in i
1891 and only within the last year he /
was retired from all service and allow /
ed to do nothing but eat and sleep. /
Sunday he was chloroformed.
The firemen tell many interesting
stories of "Bancroft's" intelligence.
His prize trick was turning corners
For ten years Chief Wilmarth drove
able to break him of the habit of go
ing around corners faster than going
straight down the street. He would
run at break neck speed until he
reached corner and then putting
more strength into his legs he would
switch around the corner even faster
han he had pulled the chiefs buggy
Town the street.
wagon skid. Many times the buggy
has sided from one side of the street
% the other before it would right it
self. But a short ''whoal" from Chief
sVilmarth would bring Bancroft to
dead stop. The only time he would
lot obey was at the corners.
"Banss Wanted to Be Shod.
Ban" had another habit of going 10
he horse sheer If at any time OF the
lay he could free himself from his stall II
lie would make a run for the door and II
f he was success full in making an exit II
Ten to him-'.Hike down to MAYORS,
hate To- /
ION and Van Buren,. Here he would II
stand in front of the shop until a fire
nan came after him. If Ban had his Il
way he would have been shod every
lay
When it was time for the manicur-
ng of his haofs the fireu,en would turn
lin loose at headquarters station, and
rel Ito hiIn-"Hike down to MAYORS,
Ban" Away he would go down the
itreet and stand in front of the shop
lntn one Of the employees would let
lin in.
un any horse in the service But re-
urning to the station he would not go
aster than a walk unless the chief in
listed He seemed to know that he
lad done his duty. He did not get
Finded Or exhausted He was Just STUD.
'orn. Many Topekans have seen Chief
Nilmarth coming back from hre-tae
lorse always on a lazy walk
The veteran fire horse was not afraid
Z fire Many tunes he mas OeeLi hnoNA
O stand so near a burning building
hat the hair on his body was scorcEed
nd burned But he would not move
nless ordered by a fireman or officer
Bancroft has been out of active
ervice many years but always he was
favorite of the fremen- No one VIII
Hiss him more than Chief Wilmarth- |
ne veteran. fire fighter was about as
filing to cnIoroform the horse as he
rould be to sign an order for the ex-
cution of a relative But 1t was thought
etter to end his days
soon Bans old duty of pulling the
hief to a dre win be taken by a pow
rful gaoline engine mounted in q
peedy motor car
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