Jess, who was the fire company’s dog, was anxious to get as many of the
dogs as he possibly could interested in joining the “Fire Brigade.”
Membership in this organization was open only to dogs who were brave
enough to risk their lives to protect life and property when these were
endangered by fire.
Jess had been the first dog to join, having become a member by adoption
of the city “Protective League,” and a life member of the city Fire
Department. Jess had a good record in his home town for courage, and
this helped to establish him in this place, and at once he began
working for the interests of the Brigade.
He read to the dogs a report of some of the cases he had found among
their fellow dogs, saying he felt encouraged that there would be no
difficulty in enrolling a large percentage of the dogs.
Only that day he had heard of another case. A big retriever was often
left in charge of a large home when the family was absent. He was never
confined. He always had the range of the house. On this occasion the
folks left early, to be gone all day. Not long after their departure,
the neighbors heard the dog barking. Looking toward the house, they
saw smoke issuing from the roof. The alarm was turned in, and soon
everything was out of the house.
But the dog refused to leave. Returning to the gutted house, he
stationed himself on guard until his master came home. The smoke and
the excitement, however, were too much for him. He survived the fire,
the falling timbers and the heat, but his lungs had become so inflamed
from the smoke that he died.
“Such heroism,” said the Fire Brigade’s chief, “gets into our blood and
makes all of us want to do something great.”
[Illustration: Bill Saves His Master]
The only requirement, in order to become a member of this noble order,
was to report some act performed in prevention of fire or loss of
life. All of the dogs agreed to keep their eyes open for opportunities
to do something in this line.