Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-10-16
The REVOLVING MULE.
John Phenix's Invention still
On File in the war Dcpart-
mcnt.
[Chicago Herald.l

mcnt.
lChicago Herald.l
"The last time l was In Wash
lpgton," said a veteran army Of
4er to a correspondents. "thoss
llows up at the Navy Depart.
snt were in quite a huff over an
4ott looking TO change in their
lfprms, and there was as great
Q<nmotion as the one that exis-
4 during President Pierce's ad-
Listration, whom they talked Of
7rging the styles OF uniforms
the army. That event was at
eoed by some very amusing in
lehte, bat the most laughable
E6 the part taken By the. late
aptai1 Derby, or John Phoenix,
~as known in journalistic
49 Nkerary circles. He was q
(c1ant at the time, and
I{0 "A in California. JEFF
y no was Secretary Of War,
q general invitation to
ID the army who were
raughtsmen TO send in
ms for the new uniform
IL had been decided TO
One such invitation was
70 each Office. Lieutenant
9s6y wss ready with his pen--a
Sally ingenious ARTIST. In reply
@nt to the War Department,
xactIy . design for 4 new un-
q, but peculiar addition to
old uniform. the amendment
hsisting merely Of aring attach
\ 10 the seat Of the trousers Of
- private soldier. Each officer
70 carry, instead Of a sword,
&fong pole with hook in the
like Z shepherds crook.
pole and the ring enabled
81 to keep pfivates from run
away ID battle. Fugitives
"a be easily caught by It and
ht back; stragglers could
ept ir line. Moreover, the
would be very useful in the
{ nv service to fasten soldiers
the saddle, TO prevent them
Nom falling Of, and in the artil-
Iery service the rings were to be
|gn6d for draught purposes, in the
|tbsence Of mules. These specifi-
eal1ons were accompanied by the
|m9st grotesque pictures, repre-
|so ing officers hauling back
|coNardly recruits by the ring,
salry securely fastened to the
- OF their steeds by the same
lee. and artillerymen harness.
% cannon, drawing them
Ggh narrow deliles or up an
I5ity inaccessible to mules.
1Dther sheet of Bristol. board
In illustration in gaudy
~ Of 'Derby's Rotary Mule
esr accompanied by o
inscription to this effect:
ths back Of young and
mule strap 4 mountain
ksr. the muxxIe pointing to.
ths tail. A similsr piece OF
1Incs IL fastened with iron
80 undef the animals abdo-
ne muxxle aimed between
b legs in the front. There
Dpr gunners-two at each
16and Z 'persuader.' a. he
Jed, whose business il il to
Ade the mule to stand firm
not retreat by stumng him
oats after each discharge
: tin sausage stufer. When
hans or other legitimate game
oar in view, the mule is, by 81
* movement on the tail.
{ousht TO the front. At the
ommand 'Firer the top howitzsr
discharged. The recoiI throws
y mule on his back. bringing
81 second gun into position.
Ills discharge suddenly throws
he mule on his feet again, when
y Runnera swah out the mules
lroat with hay and reload.
The illustrations which accom-
anied these directions--in
sown, red, blue, aud gold, and
lilI on file in the War Depart
nsnt : represented the rotary
nule il seven different attitudes.
boxing contented and happy all
y time. This was felt to be
kifageous ON the part Of q sub
liern. The clerks in the War
Department laughed at the funny
etter immoderately, but their SUI
bsrior looked serious. Jefferson
Davis, the Secretary. vas terribly
Indignant aud had resolved to de-
end his wounded dignity.
Charges and specifications were
7rawn up against Lieutenant
Derby and the officers we're actu-
Illy named for his CONTINENTAL
Fhen William L. Marcy, Secre-
larry of State--a man OF consider
hls mnse and self-poise- -said to
hs Secretary Of War: "Now see
Mere, General Davis, don't you dc
l. This Derby hiss undoubtedly
superduous development ol
humor, but he is shrewd and in
uepjous and really a fine draughts
nan. You can organize a cour'
that will convict him, but yor
will be the butt Of ridicule on ac.
count OF it all your life. Bette
die the suggestions Of the crook
and-ring and the lively rotar,
mule and say nothing. And h
did il. Poor Derby subsequent
II became an inmate OF an insan,
ssylnm and later died by suicide