The sun., 1915-05-16
SPARKS OF TRUCK 70
UNUSUAL FIRE DOG
Never Runs to Fires and His
Chief Delight Is Chew
ing Tobacco.
COMPANY PROUD OF HIM

We have a remark able fire dog IN
this house. and I doubt whether you
could find his equal In any house In
the city; yes, and that goes for Brook
lyn too"
1t was Capt Lawrence Mcclure Of
Hook and Ladder 12, West Twentieth
street near Eighth avenue. who was
doing the talking.
The captain leaned against the big
automobile truck as he continued his
story. Yes. he In some dog. His
mother and father were presented to
the city by Mrs. Alfred Vanderbilt.
with the request that they be placed
with FIRE companies. II my memory
serves me right his mother Is at pres
ent attached to a fire company on the
East Side, but I don't know what has
become Of his father. Perhaps he's
dead. am not sure.
Sparks Is the name Of the mascot
here. You won't find mascots at
tached to many OF the auto COM
panies, because they are incongruous,
but the fact that we have a horse
here, the animal being used to pull
Deputy Chief Ross's buggy, serves TO
Sparks was about a month old
more or less. when he was brought
to this fire house as our mascot. The
first thing the boys did OF course was
to 60 in search OF food When they re-
turned there were no signs OF Sparks.
We made cursory search Of the
quarters. but the dog had disa sappeared.
We were puzzed to know how the
animal had escaped without attracting
any ones attention and had just
about given up hope when Fireman
Jimmy Canning had occasion to go to
his coat. There was Sparks with his
nose thrust into Canning's coat pocket.
"A hasty examination by Canning
revealed the fact that the inquisitive
dog was after q plug Of tobacco that
Canning had in his coat pocket. APP
parently the animal had smelled the
tobacco and wanted a chew. We de-
cided > test the dog to sec whether
| he really did like tobacco. One Of the
| firemen cut of a chew for him
Greatly to our surprise Sparks snapped
the tobacco up voraciously and chewej
on II to his hearts content. He really
appeared TO enjoy It, but ne was no,
head began to spin and his eyes tc
grow dim.
We imagined that the experience
would cure Sparks Of his liking for
tobacco. but II had no effect on him
whatever. The very next time q
member Of the company pulled a plug
OF tobacco out Of his pocket Sparks
begged" for a chew. Again II made
him sick. but ne Is . persistent animal
and now every time n man brings into
view a plug Of tobacco Sparks :.
around looking for his share.
Sparks differs from practically
ev.--y fire dog In the fact that he dis.
likes to run to fires with the ap'
paratus We can account for this &c
a certain extent by the fact that therf
is not much chance for q dog to keer
up with an auto truck. In any event
Sparks does not accompany tho ap
paratus to fires. His special duty is II
remain behind and guard the quarters
while We are absent. He IL a very
faithful dog In this respect. for HI
never goes of duty until We return
and relieve him. When we are absen
and he is alone in the quarters he viii
not permit any one not known to hin
TO enter the Are house.
There are times. however. wher
Sparks Is forced to go to fires ever
though he very much dislikes doinf
so. With his intimate friends. two
tomcats, Niger and Smoke, he Otter
indulgee In his favorite sport Of play
ing tag in and around tho big autt
truck. The agile cats prove too mucf
for Sparks and they soon tire him 81
that 1t is necessary for him to seek {
comfortable place to enjoy q nap
Usually he selects that part Of TIT
truck where the helmets and pixies ar
stored and soon falls asleep. Then
an alarm hits in out goes the biI
truck with Sparks sleeping soundly II
the midst Of II. After we have heel
running a while the dog generall
! awakes. but has the good sense not I
/. . attempt to Jump Off while the true
I is in motion.
"As soon as the truck stops. how
Q ever Sparks loses no time in gettin
. of. Sometimes he rides all the wa
home. but usually he trots behind tn
, truck to quarters.
: Although Sparks is only month
n old he IL very apt at picking up tricks
n For instance, he has acquired tn
n knack Of extinguishing lighted ciga
I and cigarette butts with his paw with
out injury TO himself Undoubtedl
= he must burn himself now and thel
but he is game and tackles the butt
a whenever he finds them.
A Another clever trick which the do
I has learned is that of attracting tn
d attention of policeman when he dis
covers bonfire burning in the stree
The dog circles around the fire harkn
a vociferously. keeping UP his summon
until a policeman responds and scat
8 tres the fire with his pghtstick. III
vigilance has prevented many fires."
!, FRANCE MAY GIVE UP COLONY
| Ns r~h luSe In nn Ia,