Portland's Fire Horses

From 1882 when Vigilance Hook and Ladder Company requisitioned the first fire horse in Portland until 1920 when the department became fully motorized, no sight was more awe-inspiring than a pair of big matched geldings in harness, breaking at a gallop from the bays of the engine house. These draught animals were brave and bright, sometimes beautiful, but most importantly they knew their job. They were an integral part of the battle against fire during the era. An old hand at training the horses once claimed that with enough sugar cubes you could train a fire horse in a week; this is probably more a testimony to the intelligence of the stock than the simplicity of their task.

While good instincts were expected from any fire horse, it was individual behavior quirks and acts of bravery that would make firemen lament the passing of their favorites as the era came to an end. Four of the most noted fire horses are listed here:

Colonel, a white gelding, was reputed to be the fastest fire horse on the Pacific Coast . He would become so excited at the sound of the gong that twice he left the engine house before his driver was ready. Pulling his hose cart and following the steamer, Colonel deduced from its direction the box it was responding to, and then he galloped on to the hydrant nearest and waited to be hitched. So thoroughly ingrained was his sense of duty that once, when confined to his stall because of a lame leg, he kicked the side out of the stall in order to respond to a sounding alarm. Colonel put in 21 years of service and lived to be 33 years old, dying in 1915.

Jerry, a big roan with 21 years service in 1911, was perhaps Portland 's most heralded fire horse. He was lead horse on Truck 2 at Fourth and Montgomery . He got off to a shaky start in 1892 when he was sent downtown with an engine to pump out flooded buildings. He bolted, killed his harness mate, destroyed the steam engine, and dislocated a shoulder. In his early days, Jerry threw every ounce of his strength against his collar as he and his straining partners pulled their brilliant red truck at break-neck speed over the mud, cobblestone, plank, or wood block streets of Portland . Later, when progress brought the smooth asphalt pavement, the eager Jerry tempered his speed somewhat, particularly during the rainy season, following numerous bad falls on this slippery new surface. After taking a fall on slick pavement while responding to a fire at the Hazelwood Creamery building, he ruptured an artery in his leg. He gathered himself up and finished the run but was laid up for quite a while. .

Jerry, with his teeth, could pull the rope, which opened the firehouse doors when an alarm sounded. He had also been trained to grasp his master’s cap by its visor and to tip it politely when a lady passed. He died in harness after making a long run to a fire.

Blind Dick - Some of the horses collapsed under the strain after a few years. Some burned in performance of their duty. Still others dropped dead in the collar after a run to a fire. Some were like Blind Dick, who hauled the supply wagon when he grew too old to run with a steamer. When his handler came to his stall and told him he had just been auctioned, Blind Dick lay down and died.

Dolly, a pure white mare working at 21st and Nicolai put in many years of service. Her driver could drop the lines and she would dutifully follow him like a dog until he would again take his place on the engine. Dolly was always to first to be under harness, ready to go.

Prince, a jet black of unusual intelligence was formerly the chief’s horse and has a record of knowing about a much as there is to learn in horse language. He has learned the language of the gong perfectly. At the sound of the bell at the noon hour he will leave the stall instantly. If three taps are struck, he will return quickly to his hay as if nothing has happened. If more than three strokes sound, he will rush under the harness and chafe until he is on the run.

Roachy, a favorite of the men at Station 9 in Sunnyside, was dying in his stall when the alarm sounded. The old horse pricked up his ears, raised his eyes in a beseeching, wistful manner, and made a gallant effort to respond to the call to duty. He struggled in vain and gave up his life then and there in a last endeavor to reach the harness. Firemen wept at the sight.

Mack, Dad, Bill, Eagle, Hank, Queen, Chief, and Bismark were other noted and memorable fire horses.

Automobiles – motorized apparatus first appeared in 1909. In April of 1920, the Portland Fire Department became fully motorized and the era of the horses had passed.

"Old Fire Horses Get Good Homes" - Article from the Oregon Daily Journal from the early 1900s. - Mayor Williams favors suggestion of Humane Society Officers that steeds doing long public service should not be sold to harsh masters.

Eleven aged horses, which have served Portland in the fire department between 15 and 20 years will not be sold at public auction and turned out into the world to whomsoever may purchase them and be subjected to hard work the remainder of their lives. At a meeting of the executive board to be held at 4 o'clock this afternoon, W.T. Shanahan, secretary of the Oregon Humane Society, will offer to place the old horsed in homes where they will be given care and comfort, and Mayor Williams, H.W. Goddard, and H.C. Wortman, the latter two constituting the purchasing committee of the executive board, will recommend that the offer be accepted.

"I can place the horses with good , kind, people, where they will e cared for as befits their long service to the city," said Mr. Shanahan.

"If Mr. Shanahan says he can provide homes for the old, faithful fire horses, I favor giving them into his care," said Mayor Williams. "If sold, they would bring but a mere bagatelle, anyway, and I would like to see them cared for. Of course, the charter provides if they are sold, it must be by public auction. In that way there is no telling where they would go. They might be sold to hard masters and made to do hard work and be abused."

"I would like to see the old horses loaned out to good people so they would not have to do much work," said Mr. Goddard. "I am favorable to Mr. Shanahan's plan."

Mr. Wortman concurs and will advocate the plan at today's special board meeting.