FIRE HORSES’ LAST DASH

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 8

FIRE HORSES’ LAST DASH

Stepping out from a crowd of expectant people outside High street, Kensington (London), fire station a few weeks ago, Major Percy Simmons, chairman of the London County Council, rang tho big alarm bell. It was still ringing when tho doors were flung open, and out sprang Nora and Lucy, tho last of tho 327 horses used by tho Metropolitan Fire Brigade ' before motor engines came. There was no real fire for them to dash to, and they did not know that it would bo tho last time they would make London’s heart beat faster. Because they are going into retirement and more motors are to take their place, it was arranged that they should feel once more the old thrill, and to take their farewell of tho metropolis. “Hurrah! Good old Nora!” “Dear old Lucy!” yelled the crowd as the excited horses, eyeballs gleaming white and nostrils distended, plunged through the thick traffic of Kensington High street. Within a few minutes they were bock again, prancing and tossing their almost humanly wise heads in a cloud of steam, “ Well done, Lucy!” cried a woman dressed in rich furs, and running up to the mare proffered on tho palm of her hand some knobs of sugar. Lucy at once ceased pawing the ground, and accented the gift with tho docility of a faim “Dobbin." Oilier women pressed forward, and Nora got her share of sugar; and presently Major Simmons and Colonel Eric Hall (chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee of tho London County Council) gave them a banquet of loaf sugar and diced carrots, served daintily on plates. Tho feast over, tho beautiful marcs set ont, amid affectionate shouts of farewell from scores of men, women, and children, for tho L.C.C. Fire Brigade leadquartera at Southwark, there to rest in a quiet stable, whore no clanging bell will set their blood aflame. During the morning they had been besieged by dozens of women from the West End, who brought them sugar, and smoothed and patted them. Some, more daring than the rest, kissed them “ good-bye ” on the nose. The firemen made no secret of their sorrow at losing the horses. “You see,” explained one to a reporter, “ we have been pals together for years; and they were pot quite like horses to us—they became like real mates.” Innumerable offers to buy Nora and Lucy have been received at the station. One man said he was prepared to give £I,OOO for each of them, because, he said, “ they must have saved many a life in London.” Although no horse will be used again by fire brigades in the metropolis, sixteen are dill worked by the London Salvage Corps.