A SAGACIOUS HORSE.

Patea Mail, 17 May 1882, Page 4

A SAGACIOUS HORSE.

The Turf, Field , and Farm describes the wonderful riareer of a “fire” horse; which, for sagacity, almost rivals that of; the famous Loridon “ fire ” dog of bygone ; days Old .Charlie, a grey horse belonging 5 to the fire; department in Virginia city 7, Nev., contracted an attack of rheumatism, which temporarily disabled him from bis accustomed duty in the hose-cart. Charlie, it was thought, had done hard work enough during his years of faithful service, and the department concluded to part with him. He passed through several hands, and was finally sold to the owner, of a furniture waggon. Meanwhile he had recovered the use of his limbs, and began 5 to prove a very useful animal to his new owner. Three days after doing duty in his new occupation, the waggon was loaded with furniture from an auction store, and 5 was ready to start, when an alarm 5 of fire, was sounded. Charlie pricked up his ears, and listening to the sound for a moment; to discover the direction; of the fire, dashed off at full speed, scattering the . furniture from one side of the; street, to the other. He reached the scene of the conflagration before the,opposition hose : cart, and with a ; selfrsatisfied air backed the furniture-' waggon in his accustomed manner to the; fire-plug. His successor arrived soon after with the old hose-cart, the boy-s at once recognising Old Charlie. It is needless to say that the faithful animal was re-purchased by the department, and that Charlie in his old quarters received quite an ovation. He is still in. the. service.