This
is the story of a dog – a big gentle bird dog named Duke, and how terrible
fright caused him to get into a more frightening situation. Duke lives with Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meyer, 1621
Ekin Ave., though his real master is Jerry Meyer, who is at present with the
Army in Germany.
The
noisy and thundering storm of last Sunday night terrified Duke. He had, during a previous storm been close to
lightning, and now is unusually scared of storms. Sunday night Duke became so frantic that he
pushed open a screen door and fled outside into the storm like a scared rabbit. He ran until he found refuge in the fire
house at 13th and Market, a territory unfamiliar to him.
Perhaps
the big red fire truck there looked like sanctuary to him, remembering his
pleasant rides in the trucks Fred Meyer uses in his contracting business. Wet and soaking he jumped into the driver’s
seat, and when pried out by the firemen, hopped right back in, repeating this
performance many times. In desperation
the firemen put him out the back door only to have him re-enter when it was
opened. He immediately re-established
himself in the driver’s seat.
“WHAT
WILL we do with him if we get a call?” asked one of the firemen and then the
phone rang. There was a fire at the
State Highway Garage. There was no time
to deal with the dog. As the men hopped
on the seat, Duke hopped to the back of the truck. With sirens screaming and lights flashing the
truck tore off.
Duke
had always howled when a fire truck passed his home but now the hated thing had
become his refuge and remained in it. As
the fire truck passed Vincennes and Ekin, Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, who were out
searching for Duke, remarked to each other that they hoped the sirens didn’t
frighten the dog more.
At
the Highway Garage, Chief Tom Daniel was surprised to see a big dog emerge with
the hose. But Duke was no help. With the excitement, noise and activity, he
again sought a truck as refuge. This
time under a highway truck, where he remained throughout the night.
THE
NEXT MORNING when reporting for work, Leo Andres discovered Duke. Leo called Dr. Hollis’ office and from Duke’s
rabies tag was able to learn the owner.
Leo then called the Meyers and now Duke is back home, happily wagging
his tail and so glad to be in his own safe place and in the surrounding quiet
of the clear sunlight.
[from
New Albany Tribune 20 Jul 1962 – Mary’s Column: ‘Duke’ Poses Problem for
N. A. Firemen, By MARY STEIN, Tribune Society Editor]
