Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-12


cisco. and other cities, and was glad Of
an opportunity to do so IN New York.
A VENERABLE MULE.
Turned Ou, to Die twenty-five Years Ago,
but Still Alive and Kicking.
New York Sun.
Dismay and increduilty were pictured
on the faces of the keepers on Black
wells Island when they heard that the
commissioners of charities and correc-
ton had been asked for the death war
rant of the venerable mule, Jennie, to
whose going on the island only the
memory of the oldest inhabitant can 20
back, and whose birth is lost in obscure
ty. It seems that an employee of the de-
partment stables wanted permission to
kill a crippled horse, and whether mad
vertently or not, had gotten his list.
Jennie has an interesting history. About
forty years ago her owner had a mild at
tack of lunacy, and was consigned to the
insane asylum. He had travelled across
the continent from San Francisco with
Jennie, it is said, and had become SO at
tached to the beast that he could not be
persuaded to part with her, and the two
were carried to Wards Island together.
The mule and the lunatic were about the
same age and we're devoted friends. LII
all kinds of weather they roamed about
the grounds together. One day Jennie
was taken across to Harlem to be shod
The boat was moored and the animal
tied to tree by the bank, while the
keeper went off to find the blacksmith
When he came back for the mule she
was no longer in sight. The broken
halter was lying on the ground and Jen-
ME was found that afternoon, still wei
from her swim, with her old friend on
the island. At length the lunatic died
and Jennie fell into the hands of the
board of governors and was set to work en-
Randall's Island. She dragged brick
carts and lawn rollers for awhile, he1
size and age uniting her for heavier
work, and was used for distributing
bread in the morning among the various
buildings. She was saddled, too, some
times, and ridden by the children and
their nurses. In 1860 the keeper of the
stables asked permission to kill her as an
incumbrance. Isaac Bell was then one
of the Charities commissioners, and
through his influence and interest in the
matter an order was issued declaring
that Jennie should be retired from &C
tive service, and live in the comparative
luxury of the island stables and grass
plots as long as she pleased. The mule
was moved once more, this time to
BlackwelPs Island, and took her quar-
tiers in the stone stable at the south end
of the almshouse grounds.
Keepers and inmates have been chang
ing ever since, but in all the twenty five
years the venerable mule has seemed to
grow scarcely day older. She still
draws light loads when the keepers
harness her for exercise, and the Irish
man, in striped jacket, who is her in
voluntary groom, stands in as great awe
of her hind legs as ever. With the rest,
however, she is good humored and do
Gle, and has long been caressed and
humored as pet. Keeper Miner, who
remembers Jennie when she was bread
carrier in 1857, at Randill's Island, said
yesterday that no one had heard of any
proposals to dispose of the mule. co.
of Mr.. Bergh's men was out this after
noon and shot lame horse" he added.
There's no reason for killing Jennie yet.
She is as gray as I am and must be
nearly as old, but she will last good
many years longer. There she is, down
by the west shore of the island, and you
can Gee if she has lot of life in bel
YET"
The mule was grazing, stopping to
mediate every minute or two with all
the sapience of the donkey in the "Sen.
tirhental journey" Her head was griz-
zled from the ears to the mouth, her coat
rubbed into motley appearance
of bare and covered spots, and
her tail worn to wisp by toe
frequent switching. She started of
briskly, however, for a sexagenarian, and
whinnied loudly. The commissioners
decided yesterday to keep her till she
dies, following the humane proceedings
of the board of 1880. She will then be
stuffed probably, and exhibited as hav-
ing been the oldest mule on record.