The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-05-29
SAVED BY A MULE.

Doctor William A. Hammond, in
an article on "The Will and its
Derangement," printed in the
Touths CompaniOn, tells the good
story: One afternoon some thirty
years ago, while stationed at Fort
Webster, near the Rio Gila, in
what is now Arizona, | conceived
the idea of taking a ride down the
canon on very fine and large mule
of which | was the envied owner.
The commanding officer, Major
Observation-Disclosures O major.
general, who was killed at Antie.
tapl-endeavored to dissuade me
from my intention on The ground
that it was not safe for an officer
without an escort to 60 beyond the
limits of the post, as Indians had
been seen in the vicinity within a
few days. He even threatened to
prevent me by positive orders; but
finally on the principle, probably,
as be was fond Of saying, that he
was mot bound by the army rcgu-
lations to furnish sense to every
fool under his command l was al.
lowed to 60.
| accordingly mounted "Juana." "
as my mule was called, and with
pistols in the holsters, and sabers
and spurs jim Cling, l emerged from
the salIy-post into the open country.
The road ian through the bottom
of q deep and narrow ravine or
canon, to where couple of "pros
pectors' we're washing the bed of a
creek for gold. My object was to
pay them visit.
The name Juana is in Spanish
the feminine equivalent of Juan,
and corresponds to our Jane or Jean
or Joan. The reader may there
fore not unreasonably suppose that
my mule was mare, but if he or
she has any snch idea, great mis-
take will be committed. The ami.
NAL was of the masculine gender,
big ches,ed, strong limbed and en- q.
dowed with greater powers of en-,
durance and force of character than
| have ever seen exhibited by any
other of its hybrid species. He
had, moreover, the reputation Of
being the most self,willed and obsii
nate mule in the country. When
he had once made up his mind to
a certain course of action no per-
suasions, entreaties, vituperations
or punishments had the slightest
effect in causing him to change his
determination. His former owner
had given him his name. This in
dividual, a good natured Mexican,
had a wife named Juana, whose will
was law in the household, and be-
fore whom her husband bowed
down in abject humility. Thepoor
man 70 his utter CONSERVATION
found his wife's most striking quail
tiles duplicated in his mule, and
with the recklessness of despair be
had carried ont the comparison by
giving the beast her name.
Juana cantered leisurely down
the road, shifting the air and toss
ing his head gaily till, when we had
gone about two miles, he suddenly
gave loud snort, pricked up his
ears, and planting his fore-feet
solidly on the ground, came to u
dead stop. Now when Juana stop
ped in this abrupt manner it meant
absolute cessation of forward mo-
ton in the fullest sense of the ex-
preston. So decided was his in
ertia on this occasion, that he sank
down on his launches, causing his
back to become a steep incline
plane, while his forc-legs, straight
and rigid, stood far out in advance
Of his body. He had evidently pre-
pared himself for the struggle with
bis rider, which he seemed to think
was inevitable, but out of which he
certainly intended to come victori,
Gus. | patted him on the back and
neck, and in my most dulcet tones
requested him to go on. He shook
Lis name and head, and signifed
by his whole manner that not even
to oblige me, would he bulge a
step.
Finding that Establishments were
Intellectual, I dug my spurs into bis
fanks till my legs ached; but all
was to no purpose. There he stood
as firm as a rock. He did not rear
or kick. His resistance was entire,
ly passive, but it was intense. 1t
was the will of an apparently un.
reasonable brute against that OF
an apparently reasonable men. AS
often happens, the appearances
were deceitful. Ipulled him round
and he galloped back to the fort as
rapidly as his legs could carry
him.
The next morning it was ascer-
tanned that at q point scarcely a
hundred yards in advance of where
Juana had gained his victory, some
twenty or more Apache Indians
had ambushed the road; and but
for the mules keen nose and ears
and frmness in resisting an obstl
nate man, short work would lave
been made of both of us.
After this Juana was never accus
ed OF obstinacy. 1t was taken fol