The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-27
The Conquest or tho NIulo.

The western pack mule Is small, sinewy,
and, like old'Jooy Bagstock; slough, sir,
fought but de-e-vlish sly " Most of them
are bred from Indian ponies and are born
on the open plains. Having previously
been lassoed and branded, when. three
years old they. are driven (or inveigled)
into d coral aid exhibited for sale at bron-
'clios. 'An" untamed horse is model Of
gentlencss beside them. Sometimes they
are accustomed'at once to the saddle by one
of those wonderful riders who can stick on
tho back Of anything that runs, and more
rarely they arc broken to harness but Or
dinarily their backs are trained to bear the
pack, which Is generally the only practical
bic method of transporting freight through
these rugged mountains. The first time
the pack-saddles are put on, the excitement
may be imagined. a'he green mule, strong
In his youth, having been adroitly tsropedH
or lassoci, is led out into al open space.
stepping tlmidly, but, not seeing any cause
for alarm, Quietly before he understands
what 1t all means, he finds that moose of
the rawhide lariat about his neck has been
clipped over hibIn ose,and discovers that his
torMentoys, have an advantage. He5 pulls,
shakes his head, stands upright on opposite
ends, but all to no avail. The harder he
pulls, the tighter the nooso pinches his
nostris, 80 at last he Genes down and
keeps still. Then a man approaches slow
ly and circumspectly, holding behind him
leather binder which he seeks to slip
oyer the mules eyes. But two long ears
stand'in the way, and the first touch of tho
leather is the signal for two jumps-ono by
the beast and one by the man, for packers
are wise enough in their day and genera
tion to fight shy of the business end of q
mule. The next attempt Is less matter of
caution and more of strength, and here tho
animal has so much advantage that often It
must be lassoed again and thrown to the
ground. 1t Is fine. sight to witness the
indignation Of such fellow He falls
heavily, yet holds his head high and essays
to rise. But his fore-feet are manacled by
ropes and his head is fast. Yet he will
shake almostifree, get upon his hind-fcet,
stand straight up and dash down with ali
his weighGin futile efforts for liberty. &c.
cured with more ropes, allowed but three
legs to stand upon and cursed frlghtfully,
he must submit, though he never does it
with good grace. 1t Is not always, how
ever, that this extremity is resorted to.
Some animals make little resistance while
piAS otiohf,o tiihe 10 pCliR puG upon LlclE
backs and the fastenings adjusted-all but
one but when an effort is made to put
that institution called crupper under a
young mules tail, language fails to express
the character of the kickingl The light
heels describe an arc from tho ground to
ten feet above 1t and then strike out at q
tangent. They cut through the air like
whip-lashes and wo, lid penetrate All impe-
diment like bullets. But even mulc-tlesh
tires. Strategy wins. The crupper is
gained and the first hard pull made upon
tho sinch Gas the girth Is termcd,, which
holds firmly every hair.brcath, and will
finally crease the contour of the mules
belly into the semblancc of Cupid's bow.
But this one pull suflices to set him spring-
ing again-bucking, now. with archcd back
and head between his knees, landing on
stiff legs to jar. his burden off, or falling
full weight on his side and rolling over to
sciape 1t free. lie will sit on his launches
and hurl himself backward; will duck his
head apd turn,ha somersault T. finally will
stand still, trembling with anger and ex-
haustion, and let you lead him away, con-
tQuered. q 5ft