Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-10-04
The Pensive Mule.Driver.

The picturesque and cosmopolitan ap-
pearance of the canal mule driver al
ways makes him an object of interest as
he Journeys through the country, and,
with the hope of learning something Of
the inner life and higher aspirations OF
the nomad, a reporter of this paper yes
terday applied to one of them the harm.
less pumping process. There certainly
was nothing very promising in the inter.
esting specimen which the reporter con-
yersed with, but a brisk application OF
soap and water would have wrought
wonders in his appearance. His coat
was a garment fearfully and wonderful
ly made, and might have passed in s
museum for the veritable one which
Joseph wore of old.
''Well, began the reporter, show are
the boys along the tow-path getting
along this season."
"Oh, this seasons good un," read
lily answered the muleteer;. Its never
nothin' to brag about"
..How do the drivers work." further
gueried the scribe, ''by the trip or by
the day."
'Both ways. A man can git dollar
a day, or he kin hire out by the trip, and
git about twenty dollars a month. But
when he works by the day he gets moth
in when boat unloads, and workin'
by the trip his pay goes right on, so it
makes it even."
''HOw long does it take to make .
trip from Buffalo to Albany and re.
turn?'
depends on the load. About three
weeks on IN average. The current
goes east, so it's easier goin' to Albany
than comm back"
''How many trips can a boat make in
season?'
''About nine or ten."
''This boat YOU are driving is loaded
with wheat. How many bushels does
it hold?'
About eight thousand.
'Is the rate of payment larger this
year than last?'
"Oh, yes. They git six cents a
bushel this year, and only three and
half last; and no tolls to pay neither.
Bizness is mighty good this season."
''How are your hours of duty .di-
yided?'
oval, thare alters is two drivers.
Each I'm has six hours day and six hours
night driving. His mules change when
he does
"Is pulling canal boat very hard
work for the mules?'
"a mule kin stand it better'n boss.
Take boss and it only takes few sea-
sons to wear him out. Now you mayn't
believe it, but that off mule there has
been pulling boat twenty-three years
''But isn't mule harder to driver"
oval, yes; they git kinder rambunc-
tious sometimes. Whoa, therer' he
suddenly shouted to his mule, who way
attempting to execute fandango upon
the tow-path. After the brute became
quoted, he proceeded: Something
GURUS about them mules. You can
ca'c'late their age pretty close every
time by the way they wobble their ears.
Take young mule, and he twists 'em
all shapes all the time; when he gifts old
he quiets down, and holds 'em kinder
steady. They're mighty good for tell
ing the weather, too; when a mule
keeps his ears pricked up it's sure
sign of rain
drivers sometimes have a cart be-
hind the. mule" proceeded the loqua-
cious driver. "but too many mules gifts
drowned. When a mule rares up in
front of one of them things, he's mighty
likely to tumble in the canal. It's a
snap for the driver. though
"'Drlvlng nights is pretty lonesome
work. isn't it?''
Nov yer shouting. All alone in the
dark, and no one to talk to 'cept q
mule; it's mighty lonesome. Then
when it rains an is stormy it S not much
fun peggin' along an hollerin' at your
MULE"
show many months of year does .
driver work?''
"Oh, eight or nine months is fair
Sometimes nine or ten, though, when
the weather is good
''And what do you do winters?'
Haul up at either end, and get what
YOU can. Sometimes you can work on
the railroad, and sometimes nothin' at
all"
GLOW many men are there on 3
boat?"
Give, centrally. There's two drivers,
two steersmen and the Cap'n.''
1.-THE steersmen, of course, get high.
er wages than tie driver??'
: "Oh, yes; steersman can get about
forty dollars month. That's the
place the driver is alters tishin' fur 1t
takes about four of five years driving tc
get there, though"
Then the mule began to elevate his heels
in manner that rendered position
in the rear extremely precarious, and
the reporter sought a safer ground
than on the tOw-path within two feet
of the kicking apparatus which makes
every well-organized mule respected
Rochester IN. ~ Democrat and Ctron.
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