Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-01-25
sfzOEENGf 4 MCLE.

Cnt, with Andrew johnson and other
Congressional candidates in Tennessee.
writes:
If there had been any sanguinary i'll
feeling among those who came to
attend the meeting, scene that took
place before its assembling must have
routed it completely. That scene will
last in the memory Of those who saw it as
long as life remains. 1t occurred on the
verge Of the town and came near spelling
all interest in our own circus. Six ne
groes, on the common road opposite II
blacksmith's shop, for over an hour were
trying to persuade a young, tall, robust
country mule to allow himself to be shod.
They put rope collar round his neck,
and to that attached line which, thrown
out between his hind legs, was intended
t, trip up each in turn, and hold it in
position while the bheksmith-S Sam by
narne-operated on the hoof. For over
an hour this extraordinary mule fought
the six men, kicking away the trap laid
tOi iiN tIloteAN Niitlll tdSAIN rs IlG lljlBUL
cobweb, and describing, high up in the
air, ioi kcd lightning diagrams with his
heels "a sight fearful to behold. Pant
ing, yet patient, their hats kicked off their
ead,, their Sims bruised, and theirpants
tore, the six gallant darkeys stuck to that
supernatural mule unit! they secured his
right hind leg, and had his hoof laid on
Sam the blacksmith's lap, ready for the
sac ilice. BY this time all the surround
ing points Of vantage were occupied by
spectators, wrought up to the most in
tense pitch Of standardization men
cheering on the mule, Maynard men
cheering on the darkeys. Sam the black
smith was a tall, WE'LL built fellow. lie
had his back to the mules head, and was
in "A STOPPING position over the hoof. In
front Of him, about six feet from the
mules tail (a perilous distance), was a
cilclc Of about twenty darkeys, awaiting
the operation Of putting the shoe on, with
the most solemn interest. Never did
mule draw such pious reverence from
like audience.
ia ha' let him be- said one; 'dar's
no use a-cusain' with such good -lor-nuf-
fin meu!e as dat
Fo' Cody exclaimed another, in low
and cautious tone, ! do b'lieve in my So
d Old debblc hisself is in dat dar mcue.'
Wot you speaks alike'dat io'?' said "A
third, turning OH the previous speaker.
Dat maule hears everything you say,
and links it insultin'. Don't know wed
der de de5Jil is in him, but | do conse-
qHeutalIy b'Iieye, dar's heap o. kick in
his bind legs still. Guess whoever gets
linn will tink so to. | wants my head
insured when Is aXed to nurse him.
IN the mean time, Sam had his imple-
ments ready, and an assistant farrier APP
preached and laid the shoe tenderly on
the virgin hoof. A nail was inserted,
while Sam elevated his hammer to deliv-
er the pregnant blow that was to drive it
safely home. 1t wasa moment of breath
less and agoaizing suspense with whites
and blacks alike. The latter anticipated
Il triumph for their race; thc former pre-
paled to keep their sides from splitting
a.under. Sans legs shook, but he
brought down the hammer with all his
might; and at the same moment an ex-
p'o5ion occurred that fairly battles de-
sc.iption. A trip hammer falling on a
tDn weight Of nitro-g -glycerine, immured in
II tin box could hardly have produced
any more sudden and bewi,deiing results.
Quicker than thought the mule drew his
hind leg forward, and springing it back
with incredible force, struck the still
STOPPING Sam square in the bulbous CEN
ter Of his hind section, projecting him
forward in the air like a cannon ball from
catapult. As Sam disappeared in space
he knocked all the darkeys down in front
of him like ninepins, scattering them over
the road in all directions, and landing
him elf on top Of Il snake fence, twenty
feet away. The roar that went up from
the assembled multitude might have
been heard in the next county. The
mu!c grew alarmed, took to his heels,
and amid the cheers Of the Johnson party
crossed the country for home and free
dom. Poor Sam had no shape to him
when he came to, and it will be many
lng day before the terminus Of his spinal
c).u .umn torgets that visitation Of mule
power