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 
