The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-09
RETROsPECTIvEvI VIEW OFTHAT MULE

lIarrS's mule is dead.
Harrs's mule is buried.
But the end is not yet, for the mule is buried
upon the highway, and oticndcth the nostrils
of both the just and the unjust.
That mule was one of the oldest settlers of
Clarke county, Il "49cr," and has Il history of
its own. That mule, offcmalc persuasion, and
very ordinary size, was born in Pike, and en-
grated thercirom in the pleasant duty of as
sisting in hauling the supplies and baggage
of company of L. s regulars from the Mis-
souri, river to San Francisco, which journey
occurred in ISIS. During the trip across the
plains that mule cvinccd symptoms of play
fulncss by kicking and killing two soldiers,
who died without utterng word, fully con
scious of the disgrace of being killed by
mule with future before ii. After brief
vacation among the tulcs of California the
mule arrived at Fort Vancouver in 1919, hv
way of the Cascades. Up to 1865 the mule
performed garrison duty in water carts,
and various tcaming, kicking everybody
within reach, until she was condemned and
sold to one Harris, an lsraelitc and old clo
dealer, who enlisted in 1855, and after years
arduouS service was promoted to the position
Of first class private, and finally discharged
before his time was out ON II certificate of
character whereof the grade is unmcntion-
able Since then, Harris and his mule have
been one and inscparabc, the butts of all the
old jokes, stale, practical and otherwise, that
the garrison boys could concoct. The mule
distinguished itself by getting into the oil
GERS gardens nights, and the parade ground
day times fully demonstrating that she loved
old army associations regardless of the
cruelty of the Government in casting her OIL
dcharring her from direct access to her favor
lite garden truck. In the service of Harris
that mule underwent many trials, as well Il,
getting many people into trouble, always
perycr,c in everything. Three boys tried one
day to make her win race, but she wouldn't,
SO they poured coal oil upon her, firing her
back and youthful heart to attaining speed
often knots an hour, disappearing finally in
the forest in blaze of glory The head boy
went to the county Jail six months for that.
But the mule was still to entail misfortune
upon mankind. One day last week she en-
tered the government grounds through til,
sally port and Lieut.. Duncan cssaycd To uc-
celcratc her exit 10y persuading her with the
Hat side of II sabre. Stung by the blows and
the recollection Of the expressions of mill
tary tyranny fora generation, the mule let
loose broadsde of heels, which laid Lieut.
Duncan low in the grass, and before he could
roll ont of the way he received another broad
side ON the arm. The mule was rcycngcd
1t was the first lick she ever had at a man
wearing shoulder straps, and while proceed
ing down street. gloryiug reflcctiycly in the
satisfaction Of kicking an officer, she fcll dead
thinking ii the most fitting time to end long
and varied career. But some person, are So
eNil-mindcd AS to say that mule was shot
CcrtJ,n It'll the mUc died Of heart disease. or
serious rupture in the region Of the heart
fervcr,e to the last, that mulelay in the street
three days, causing four runawayS, and one
serious accident And finally one morning
early rScrs discovered the spot where she
laid uruamcnted with fires turned earth, and
the heels Of that mule sticking out in def
ancc, still significant ao the most prominent
feature of her existence in any form But the
mule is not done giving trouble to somebody,
Is Harris threatens To sue somebody or every
body tor the value Of that mule, and the atl.
thoritics would very much like to ret hold of
the person, who buried the dcfuuct kicker in
the highway, and there may be fun over it yet.
II"