Life — September 17, 1903 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Fire Horses in Early 20th Century New York This page discusses the fate of New York City's fire department horses. The article explains that retired fire horses—once vital to the city's emergency services—faced grim outcomes: one in four was killed or permanently disabled during service. When no longer useful, these horses were sold at auction to knackers and peddlers who would beat them to extract remaining value before sending them to Farren Island (likely a rendering facility). The accompanying cartoon satirizes this callousness through a domestic scene where a wife suggests selling her husband to buy jewelry, mirroring how the city discards its worn-out servants. The photographs show fire horses in active service and at auction. The piece critiques New York's disposable treatment of animals that once served the public faithfully.