Fredericton, N. B.

"OLD BILL" IS GONE-ANSWERED HIS LAST ALARM

Incurable Illness Made Necessary A Merciful End For Gallant Horse

"Old Bill" has answered his last alarm - The gallant old snow-white smoke-eater, who was loved by citizens and firemen alike, after ten years in the Fredericton Fire Department was mercifully put out of the misery of an incurable ailment on last Thursday. "Away back on the hill", Bill was laid to rest and in some time in the near future a suitably engraved stone will mark the grave of the last fire-horse in the Dominion.

In the Fire Department Bill head an enviable reputation. Brought from the west by William Clark of this city, he was the third delegate to match up with the original "Doll", a grey mare who had already seen some years in the service. For his fine build, sound condition, and the beauty for which he was noted far and near, Bill was accepted and went on the roster of the department

After weeks of training, the "rookie fireman" answered his first alarm in May 1929 the spectacular Normal School fire which ruined the building where the present fine structure stands. At that time, the fire horses, perfectly matched, spirited, yet well disciplined, commanded almost as much attention as did the blaze itself, in the succeeding years he served faithfully, never having missed an alarm through illness or any other cause.

To Retirement
Then, early this year in the face of marching progress and mechanical modernization of the department, Bill and his mate were retired. "Doll", a beautiful sorrel mare who had teamed up with him on the retirement of his original mate, was sold. Bill, however, In view of his long and faithful service and his age, was retired to a spacious box stall especially constructed, in the rear of the Fire Station, and rations of plenty of oats and hay, as well as candy and other treats supplied by his many friends. Once in a while his menu was garnished with a shiny button, nipped from the coat of one of the department - this was his greatest delight snapping off any that came within convenient reach. If a piece of the coat came with it he did not care.

After all, the chief of the department and one of his staunchest friends was a tailor.

Interesting Career
There are many interesting tales connected with Bill's service in the department. Once he was nearly kidnapped by visiting firemen attending a convention here. Only the fact that they couldn't get him in a five passenger car along with the six passengers who were already in it, and the fact that the sound of hoof beats receding from the station, brought the station crew out of recreation room on the run, saved the day. The fire horses were a big attraction for visitors who came to the station to see the "come to the harness". The well-trained animals stood in special stalls, the fronts of which were two doors that snapped open when an alarm sounded and their driver pulled a ring at the front of the building.

They rushed out of the stalls at a gallop, slid to a stop under the harness that was suspended on a special rack. This dropped to their backs automatically And in scant seconds they were galloping out of the station accompanied by the rumble of the wheels off heavy hook and ladder truck. Last January when the new motor truck arrived and the horses went into retirement, they made the feature section of the Toronto Star Weekly - "Goodbye to Canada's Fire Horses," pictures and all. Bill was pretty proud of that accomplishment.

Recently his only work had been occasional Jaunts through the city for exercise drawing a light backboard. The close air of the fire station since it was closed up, the fumes of gasoline and oil from the motor trucks worked ill with the aging horse and he developed a severe case of the heaves. For some time he no longer slept, stamping around his stall all night. "Hood O'Neill, who had driven and cared for him since his entry into the advice, consulted a veterinary, but found that nothing could be done.

So Bill has gone to a well-deserved rest - gone wherever it is that good Fire Horses go, because he was one of the finest.