“Napoleon, the local celebrity of the genus English bulldog got into the limelight and the W.C.T.U. [Women’s Christian Temperance Union] fountain in front of the
city hall simultaneously yesterday afternoon, and at first persons in the vicinity thought Nap was trying to commit suicide.
One of Napoleon’s duties is to answer all alarms of fire, and when the bell rang yesterday afternoon he was on the job as usual. Napoleon is not a thin dog; in fact he is getting to be quite comfortable looking and when he returned to the city hall after making the long run he was as thirsty as any fireman.
Napoleon seldom has an idea, unless it is to ride on street cars, but yesterday he had the idea he could stand on the edge of the horse trough of the W.C.T.U. fountain and rink from its cool and slimy depths. Nap got all four feet nicely placed and was leaning over to drink when a fly lighted on his right ear and the added weight caused him to lose his balance. There was a mighty splash, and two young men who were conversing nearby with their backs to the fountains were generously spattered with aqua a la Potter’s Falls. They turned in time to see four brindle feet pointing upwards towards the heavens and also in time to be spattered again as Napoleon the Unexpected regained his feet and shook himself.
Nap calmly finished his drink and departed with his usual stateliness and deliberation.”