Firehorses
FAREWELL, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS!

By Frederick J. Bowlen, Battalion Chief San Francisco Fire Department 1938

Foreword

The horse has been the most faithful servant of mankind down through the ages, and Battalion Chief Frederick J. Bowlen, of the San Francisco Fire Department, has rendered a fitting tribute to this noble animal by giving an authentic story of one of the many services which the horse has rendered a fitting tribute to this noble animal by giving an authentic story of one of the many services which the horse has rendered.

Although this duty has been now generally replaced by mechanical horsepower, the world owes a debt of gratitude for the many years of faithful service which our four-footed allies in fire fighting performed in the Fire Departments throughout the world.

From my experience of twenty-seven years as Veterinarian of the San Francisco Fire Department, my duties naturally gave me the opportunity to gain an intimate knowledge of the firehorse.

It is fortunate that Chief Bowlen has preserved for the future such an accurate and interesting account of this almost forgotten era, which was so familiar a few years ago.

The author has my best wishes for the success of this story and my appreciation for his effort to preserve the memory of some of my best patients.

William F. Egan, Veterinary Surgeon
San Francisco Fire Department (Retired)
Member, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

On To Chapter I