FIRE HORSES. 243 



There is a handsome gray horse in the Central 

 Station, in Boston, who has a great liking for ice, and, 

 when out for exercise, he can never be persuaded to 

 pass an ice wagon without first thrusting his head in 

 behind and helping himself to a small piece. It is 

 needless to say that the firemen make great pets of 

 their four-footed companions, and are a little inclined 

 to exaggerate their good qualities, — " the finest pair 

 in the department" being discovered in almost every 

 engine-house. There is, too, a favorite horse at each 

 station, — not always the strongest or handsomest, but 

 the most affectionate, docile, and sociable ; and the 

 visitor is always taken first to this animal's stall, 

 whose virtues are thereupon extolled with generous 

 enthusiasm. 



From December to April every engine-house in 

 Boston contains an equine guest, as an extra horse for 

 making up a " spike team," in case the streets are 

 blocked with snow. Usually this horse is not owned 

 by the department, but is loaned by an ice company or 

 a contractor, — his keep being reckoned as payment 

 for his services. The new-comer does not serve as a 

 leader : one of the regular team is put in that post, 

 the extra horse taking the other's place at the pole. 

 Some of the engine horses show great intelligence 

 and discretion as leaders. On one occasion a spike 

 team was dashing through a narrow street, where 

 there was barely room to get between a wagon on one 

 side and a light carryall, with women and children in 

 it, on the other. The driver found that he had no 

 control over his leader, and feared a bad accident; 

 but the horse threaded his way so carefully and accu- 

 rately that the engine swept past the carriage without 



