Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-11-27
Interesting Facts. about Army Mules,
LFrom the Cincinnati Time.l

more, q great mule ana wagon depOl
has been established. The American
lag at that point waves in triumph
over 5000 mules and 5000 wagons
With arrivals every day. A thick
cloud Of dust hovers over the region
round about, and the air is resonant
with multitudinous brays, informing
led with the hoarse cries Of the mule
breaker.
Coming down from Port Deposit in
a buggy, by the river road, in the out
skirts of the city, we came on n vast
corral of United States wagons, incIo-
sing a space Of five or six acres. In
side of the inclosure we noticed per-
feet forest of long ears and compact
mass Of black hides working ard sur
ring to and fro. There are quite a
number Of these pens near Perryville,
each containing 1900 or 1000 mules,
collected from all parts of the country,
and stored in these pens to await the
process of breaking.
Some distance from the pen we
found the breaking ground, where a
bout 100 lusty darkies were engaged
in the work Of taking the mules thro'
n rudimentary course of instructions
preparatory to fitting them for duty
in harness. The process Of breaking
IS exciting and interesting, and not
unattended with danger. The mule
is driven into a "chute' just the width
Of his body, with strong wooden bars
on each side, which prevents his kick
ing out literally, and at the same time
admit Of his being handled through
the cracks. a rope is then fastened
to his jaws, and another tied as a girth
around his belly; after which one is
attached to his fore foot, and passed
under the girth and out at the rear,
in which condition he is turned out for
the preliminary exercises, consisting
ola series of frantic plunges, with
some ground and lofty tumbing, vci-
ous attempts to bite, and strike with
his fore feet. The exercise contin-
uos for longer or shorter period of
time, according to the intelligence and
obstinacy of the subject. But your
mule is not altogether such Il fool as
he looks, and after coming to grief a
matter of II dozen times by means
of the check rope, he wisely concludes
that plunging and rearing is not remu-
nerative, and lies still, either reflect
ing or groaning piteously. lfunusu-
ally obstinate through the first course,
he Is trotted round the course at dou-
hle quick time, and his hide copiously
anointed with stout cudgel After
the first course, the mule then being
supposed to have absorbed something
Of the rudiments of his education, it
is reconducted to the "chute" where
he is invested with harness and again
led forth, and another series of gym
nastic exercises takes place. After
becoming somewhat accustomed to
the harness, the mules are htchcd up
TO the large wagons, and driven around
the course. The operation Of hitching
mp is a delicate one, requiring great
care. The negro approaches cautious
ly and gingerly, with his eyes fixed
on the mules ears "A suspicious move
ment Of the auricular appendages is
seen, and the startled African springs
backward as quick as lightning, just
in time to escape flashing pair of
heels. Again he approaches, and fl
nally succeeds in hitching up,
A brace of broken mules are usually
put in the rear, with team of wild
ones in front. Different phases ofmule
character are developed in the process
of starting. Some plunge and rear
all the time, others lie down and OBJ
stinately refuse to move; others kick
out Of the traces, face on the driver
riding the saddle mule, rear up and vi
ciously strike at him with their fore.
feet. Again one will remain properly
quiet for time, and then spring for
wsrd to the full length of his traces
with such violence as to bring him to
his knees. Nothing but the natural
obstinacy Of the mule prevents n gen
eral smash up. Fortunately while one
plunges forward, the other through
sheer perverseness, will pull back
Sometimes a forward mule will turn
round in his traces, come to dead
halt, and stare at the driver in the
most ludicrous and side-splitting man
ner. In shoeing mules, Il broad leath-
er belt is passed around his belly, and
the mule is hoisted clear, when his feet
are drawn back and fastened when he
helplessly submits to the operati on of
shoeing, entering sundry protests in
the way of snorts and groans. Cur
rying is anoperation which hardly pays
for the danger incurred The mule is
altogether too handy with his heels to
render it a desirable employment.
Sometimes currycomb is fastened to
an eight-foot pole, when the groom
stands out of danger and rakes him
down from "long taw." Watering the
mule is not the least interesting of the