Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 283, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1910 — Fire Horses “Come Back” [ARTICLE]

Fire Horses “Come Back”

Animal* In Denver Department for Ten Yeara Run Away From Life of Ease on Ranch. X _ Denver.—The story of Larry and Spot, two horses which were for ten years at the fire station of Blake street, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, will appeal to all lovera of horses. Both the horses were large, white animals with black spots. They were the pets of the boys at the station. For ten years they had run to every fire in their district and they had learned to answer the call of the gongs with almost as much Intelligence *8 the firemen themselves. ' They were never more delighted than when they were in the harness and making their way, full speed, down the street, their bodies quivering with the excitement and Joy of the run. But Larry and Spot were not young when they were put upon the fire wagons, and so, after ten years of hard service, they began to show their age and bad to be sold. The firemen when they saw that they must part With their old animal friends were as sad as If two of the boys were leaving them. • . A farmer living about twenty miles from Denver was the buyer of the horses, aad the night he went to the Are statioo to get the animals the heart of every fireman sank. Larry and Spot were led away with drooping heads. There** 8 many a fireman who had been around the station for years, and who had come to listen for the nicker of the creatures, who felt a bit lonesome that night Larry and Spot, however, were not ready to tf ve up the,r old friends, and the next morning at daybreak the men were swrt eDed to the of A. ’

hoofs outside of the firehouse. • One of the men sneaked down to the front of the station. There a strange sight confronted him. Larry and Spot were standing at the entrance with their noses over the chains, waiting to be admitted. Some of the firemen, when they were told of the incident by their comrade, ran down to the entrance and petted the horses. Larry and Spot were admitted and the firemen communicated with the farmer who had purchased the aniipals. He arrived later and took the horses back to his ranch.