1915-02-10yy

The Spectator had shared the story first, but the Times was not going to let the demise of “Old Jim” happen without a story in that paper as well.

On February 9, 1915, Jim, one of the most familiar horses with the Hamilton Fire Department, received his last big treat before receiving a hypodermic needle in his jugular vein, a needle which would end his life.

The food was supplied by the family of the man who used Jim to get him to fires more rapidly than any other horse, Fire Chief Alex. Aitchison:

“It was an annual treat for Jim to have the daughters of the late A. W. Aitchison call upon him about Christmas with a bag of his favorite loaf sugar and some of the best apples that could be found which they knew would please the favorite horse which served their father in the many speedy journeys around street corners.

“Yesterday, when they heard that the old horse was to end his days, they decided that the only real, right thing to do was to see that he had some favorite delicacies. The youngest fellow went to the station yesterday morning and bid the old fellow good-bye, and the youngest daughter went down with delicacies for her old friend.”¹

¹ “Last Treat to Good Old Jim, Chief’s Horse”

Hamilton Times.     February 10, 1915.

The Times reporter was on hand when the beloved horse received his last visitors:

“Jim was glad to see them although a little short-sighted, and though he stood a little lame on one leg, but the minute the bag of loaf sugar was opened and some pieces laid on their palms, he knew who had come to see him, and it did not take him long to make up with his old friends.”¹

Jim had been with the Hamilton Fire Department for 22 years, and Jim and Chief Aitchison were a solid team, responding to alarms with perfect co-ordination:

“Whether nibbling hay or whatever he was doing when the alarm rang and he would hear ‘Come on, Jim, old boy,’ he was at the chief’s rig in an instant, and if it was in the night, before the chief could get to the bottom of the brass pole, he was gnawing at the door to get it open.

“It was not an uncommon occurrence for Jim to go around the corner of King and James streets with the buggy on two wheels, and he had been known to take the late chief around the City Hall corner at an angle of 30 degrees.”¹

Jim was the horse pulling Chief Aitchison in April 1905 when the chief’s buggy collided with another fire department wagon at the corner of King and John streets, throwing the big chief into the Sir John Macdonald statute.

Chief Aitchison died of head injuries as a result of the accident. There was a big public funeral for the chief, and it was poignant to witness Jim’s participation:

“Many people will remember the faithful beast on that day. When the late chief was buried, it will be remembered that it was Jim who gnawed at the door of the hearse, and who carried his head lower than any other, bearing the chief’s trumpet and hat.”¹

After answering his last call, Jim was given the following tribute in the Times:

“Although fire horses may come, and fire horses may go, old Jim will remain long in the memory of those who thought so much of him”¹