Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-27
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The Conc aest of the Mule.

1 Of ON an illustrated article by Ernest
Ingersoll on Rocky Mountain Mules,n il
Scribner forAprll )NEg VOL A
The western pack-mule is small, sinewy
and like old Joey Bagstock, slough sir
fought but dee Wish slyl" Most OF them
are bred from Indian ponies and are born
OH the open plains. Having previously
| been lassoed and branded, when three
years old they are tlrNsnIo Inveigled)
into q corral and exhibited for sale al
bronchos. An untamed horse is model
of gentleness beside them Sometimes
they are, accustomed, at once, to the saddle
by one of those wonderfufridcrsw ho can
stick on the back of saaythflg that runs,
and more rarely they are Ibroken~to har-
ed to bear the pack, which is generally the
only practicable method of transporting
freight through these rugged mountains.
The, first time the pack-saddles are. put
on the excitement may b. inasined The
green Imule stfongin yqiitb, having been
sdroitly "ropeR or iassoed ,isled Out into
an open space, stepping timidly, but not
seeing any cause for alarm, quietly; before
he understands what II all means, he finds
that moose Of the rawhide. lariat about
his neck has been slipped over his nose,
anthdiscovers that histqrmentors have an
adsaptage| HetpuM. tsbakes his heac,
stands upright on opposite ends, but all to
no avail. The harder he pulls, the
tighterthe moose pinches his nostrils, so
at last he comes down and keeps still.
Then man approaches slowly and r.
cnmspectly, holdlag behind him a Leather
binder which he seeks to slip over the
mule eyes. But two long ears stand in
the way, and the first touch of the leather
is the signal for two jumps-one by the
beast and one by the man, for packers are
wise enough in their day and generation
t fight shy of the business end of mule,
The next attempt BIS lees u matter Of
caution and more ofstrengtii, ssnd here the
animalla so Inuch advantages shat often
it must be lassoed again aud thrown to
the ground.
1t is fine sight to witness the indigna-
ton of such a. fellow He falls heavily,
yet holds his head high and essays to rise.
But his fore-feet are manacled by ropes
and bis head is fast. =, Yet he will shake.
almost free, get upon his hind-feet, stand
straight up and dash down with all his
weight In futile efforts for liberty. Sc
cured with more ropes, allowed but three
legs to stand.upon andeursed frightfully,
he must submit, thougffheneve does it
with good grace. 1t is not always,
however, that this extremity is resOrted
to. Some animals make little resistance
while the strange thing is being put upon
their backs and the fastenngs adjusted all
but one; but when an eff TT is made TO put
thai institution called a crupper under a
young mule tail, language fails to ex-
press the character of the kickingl The
light heels describe an arc from the
ground to ten feet, aboveit aud then strike
out at tangent They cutthfongh the
air like whip. lashes and would Epenetfate
an impeachment ike bullets, But even
mule-fesh tires. Strategy wins. The
crupper is gained and the first hard pull
made upon the sinchh LAS the girth is
termed) which holds firmly every bair-
breadth, and will finally crease the
contour of the mules belly into, the
semblance of Cupid bow. But Ibis one
pull sufiices to set him springing again
bucking, how, with arehed back and head
between his knees, landing on stiff legs to
jar his burden off, or alling full weight
on hi, side and rolling over to scrape it
free. He WILL sit on his launches and
hurl himself backward; will duck his head
aud turn somersaut; finally will stand
still, trembling with anger and exhaustion,
and let YOU lead Ihimpaway, conquered.
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