The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-12-31


The Belair Tines Of last week, under the head
of"A Crisis In the Affairs Of the Delta Railroad"
gets on the following mule story; sour readers
will be glad 10 learn that one Of the most threaten
ing crises the Delta management will be called
upon 20 meet has been SUCCESSFULLY tided over and
whs; II one time seemed likely 10 result In serious
entertainment has been arranged 20 the satisfae.
tion Of all concerned. From what We have been
able 10 gather Of the particulars, 10 appears that
Of the principal stockholders In the road, who
Is In the findings trade, had quantity Of damaged
shoe-pegs on hand, and a. measure Of economy
they were turned over 10 the corporation ut low
figure, 20 be fed instead Of oats 10 the mule that
does the general utility business at the Towson.
town end Of the construction work. The supposi-
tion that the mule, having been LEFT partially
blind By virulent attack Of pink.eye, would not
DO able to tell the difference and thus large saw
ing would be made In the cost Of building the road
For few days everything went on smoothly; the
mule behaved just beautiful, giving no sign Of dis
content, and the corporation was beginning TO con-
graduate itself on the success Of its hnesse. But
mule nature is deceptive. We have known one TO
conduct himself with absolute perfection for near
ly three years In order 10 get fair shot At the
middle stud In q mans shirt.front.
"whatever the nature Of his reflections, 90 out
ward appearances this mule was all amiability and
ears. On Saturday week, however, having bided
his time, he concluded that favorable opportuni-
~ had arrived TO kick for change Of diet. The
sontown T. note the progress Of the work and were
grouped In earnest conversation. The mule. as
was bis wont, was engaged In drawing loads Of
sand TO be used In bailasting the track, aud when
near the group Of officials the loaded cart 10
. sudden halt and the matinee began--and that
mule put up the finest line Of broad gauge kicking
on n narrow gauge basis that has ever been wit.
messed In that section. When the first shock came
the officials we're sure the locomotive had blown
up but 49, Nnt later they realized the greater
danger yAReaeed them, and they stood not
upon the order Of their going. The President
dived beneath too-b leaving his feet exposed.
thus raising an edectual barrier between himself
and the flying debris. The Chief Engineer sought
safety In n coal-hopper. and the General Agent
dashed head foremost into friendly excavation
In the sand bank but could only get his head and
shoulders In, leaving considerable superficial area
exposed TO inecssant hail Of cart bolts splinters
and gravel ballast. Bob Hanna sprang into .
ditch near by. got stuck in the mud, and had 10
stand and dodge and take the chances. In the
meantime the mule was attending strictly 90 bust
uess, and In nineteen seconds Bob had lodged
both wheels, one shaft. the single tree and Sec
ton Of the tai. board, and there enough wreck
.iaG piled mp the end Of the General Agent to
set him up In the kindling wood business. Find
ing no further obstruction in his rear, the mule
paused for n moment. glanced about him with an
interested air. then backed up against the em.
bAnkmsnt and began 90 kick his way through 10
Towsontown. There il n great deal of sham and
false pretense about the place. and he very natur
ally supposed the job had been put up on him
there In less time than Il takes 90 tell IL the town
was flied with confederation and hying sand and
gravel. The people thought tornado vas bear
ing down upon them mole fashion and they were
terror stricken. An editor who hadn't said .
prayer for thirteen years brought TO his knees
in abject fear; annihiiation was inevitable AZ
this jdnc,sre ;hs business cad o. ;he mule emerged
from the sand. bank. and all seemed lost. Foriu-
naiely. however. feel store stood directly IN his
route and when this reached mule nature
could no further 20. lie stopped. he took posses
sion. and he vas modified.
The officials Of the road were ex,rea;ed from
their uncomfortable positions; IL was voted 10 re-
store the diet q oats. and all IL peaceful and
the work goes all right. But IL vas a close
shave all around. TowsonioWn never had such
scare before.