Middletown transcript., 1873-07-05
Shoeing a Mule.


the New York Herald. thus describes re.
cent attempt to shoe mule in that village;
"Six negroes on the common road, op-
posi,e blacksmith's shop. for over 40
hour were trying 10 persuade a young.
tall, robust country mule to allow himself
10 be shod. They put rope collar round
his neck. aud 10 that attached a line
which, thrown out between his hind legs,
was intended to trip up each in turn aud
hold it in position while the blacksmith
Sam by namc--opcratcd on the hoof For
over au hour this extraordinary mule
fought the six men, kicking away the
trap laid for his cnslavement as easily as
be might cobweb. and describing high
up in the air forked tightening diagrams
with his heels-a sight fearful to behold.
Painting. yet patient, their hats kicked of
their heads, their shins bruised aud their
pants torn, the six gallcnt darkies stuck
10 that supernatural mule until finally
they secured his right hrd leg and had
his hoof laid on Sam the blacksmi,h's lap
ready for the sacrifice by this time all
the surrounding points Of vantage were oc-
cupicd by spectators wrought mp to the
most intense pitch Of exei,ement--John-
son men cheering on the mule. Maynard
men cheering on the darkiss. Sam the
blacksmith was tall well built fellow
lie had his back to the mules head and
was in STOPPING position over the hoof
In front Of him, about six feet from the
mules tail Ga perious distancc). was
circle of about twenty dnrkies awaiting
the operation Of putting the shoe OIL with
the most solemn interest Never did a
mule draw such pious reverence from
like audience.
sd lct him be-" said one; ''dar's no
use afussin' with such a good for muffin
mculc as dat"
'.fo God, exclaimed another, in a
low cautious tone, II do blieve in my So
de ole debble hi.self is IN dat dar mcule I"
"Wot you speak alike dat fo - ssid u
third turning On the previous speaker
"Da, meule hears eycrytln you say and
tiuks il ipsulln' Don't know wcddcr
the debble is iu him; but do conscqucn-
tally believe dar's a heap Of kick in his
hind legs still Guess whoever gets him
viii ,iuk 90 too ! wants my head insur-
ed when lse axcd to nurse him
III the meantime Sam hrl bis imple-
mcuts ready. anG the assstnu, tarrier ap-
preached and laid the shoe teudetly up n
+ the vcrgn hoof \ nail was inserted
while sam elevated his hammer 10 deliver
thr pregnant blow that was 10 drive it
safely homo. IL was moment ut breath.
less aganizing suspense with white. anil
blacks alike The latter anticipated n
triumph lor their race , tue former pre-
pared 10 keep their sides from splitting
asnuder, Sans legs shook. hut H.
brought down the hammer with all his
/ might, and nj the same moment m eNplp.
/ sion occurred that fairly batilel dpserir-
T ,ion. \ trip hammer falling on ton
weight of nitro.g glyecfino immured in a
tin box ceull hardly have produced any
more sudden and beaillcfing results
] Quicker than thought the mule drew his
i hind leg forward, and sprlnging il back
with Incredible force, struck the still
STOPPING SaM sqnfae N the hulbous cen.
ter Of his hind section, projecting him
forward in the air like 4 eaanen ball from
caiapault As sam disappeared III
space he knocked all tho darkies in front
Of him down like nlnepins, scattering
them over the road in all direction. anu
landing himself on top Of a snake fence
twenty feet away