The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-01
THE OLD MEXICAN WHEEL
AN INTERESTING STORY TOLD BY A
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
How Freight Was Moved Along the Bor
der in the Days Before Railroads.
The Cruelty to oxen-Amer-
lear Progress.

''Your city reminds me somewhat of my
home" said an old gentleman yesterday to
al APPEAL reporter.
"How is that2''
"Well, where / live, In Floresville, Tex,
and all through that country you can see
wheels laying around. Your vehicles are
broken by the rough pavements; ours have a
different story to tell"
EAST driving among the young bloodsg'
ventured the reporter.
'Oh, mol Seeing so many broken vehicles
reminded me OF home, but the causes arc
wholly different. Between San Antonio and
the coast, along the old wagon trail, the eye
Is often attracted 10y huge, clumsy, wooden
wheels laying half hidden in the grass;
sometimes partially burned, sometimes par
TALLY buried in the earth, but always bear
ing the marks of the knife that severed
their fastenings. These wheels are about
five feet in diameter, composed Of five lay
ers Of wood laid across each other and bound
together firmly with mwhile thongs. No
iron or nails or pegs were used in their con-
struction. The LAYERS of wood were
laid upon each other, holes were bored
through them at proper places and
through thcsc holes was pulled with great
force a thongof wet mwhidc stretched 10 its
utmost tension. There was much lacing and
tugging before the pieces were firmly held
IN place, but once complete and dried IN the
san, IL came as near being a piece OF physi.
cal immortality as IL Is possible for human
hands 10 make. The lucky owner Of a pair
Of wheels was looked upon rs having ac'
cumulatcd quite a competency, when ! was
n bow. IL was when Mcxicans did all the
freighting with their block wheel carts. The
twenty or more yoke Of oxen that were re-
= quircd 30 pull a pair Of wheels were es'
tcemed 81 little value In those days. Oxen
grew and wheels had 20 be made with the
most primitive tools, which ! assure you
meant much work. The wheels were at
tachcd to the stout framework Of the cart
that sat upon a bois dare axle Of immense
proportions. IL was a clumsy, illshapcn.
roughly constructed vehicle, but when, altcl
tedious months oil labor, IL was completed
the owucr thereof and his swarthy
family had FOREVER more n method
and means Of gaining n livelihood
10 them n luXuriant livelihood. Ih'
oxen used were forced TO pull by the horns
which was all very we'll Tor all excepting th'
wheel steers. These later had n drcary tint
OF H. The cart would lie piled with mount
aim Of freight, and Ia going down bill
almost the entire weight OF the cart Eel
upun the ulliilhlH uuIhti tEuHuihF WV
heads 10 the ground. In which position thel
arrived ut the foot Of the hill very offer
minus an eye. an ear or great patches Of ski
from their Jaws. The pOgr brutcs woul,
moan In agony, but the Mexican would up
ply his goad and force them along. In ~
ccnding hills IL was less difficult on thI
wheel steers, unless the great broad wheel
should become fastened la the mud, render
ing a halt unavoidable. Then the expcrienc
a.s.. .I.uu hill UunulN H. IfumVfrigall
reversed. As soon a. the strain Of the iron
steers became slackcncd the weight OF ia
cargo would raise the tongue OF the car
almost to the perpendicular, aud with II
hanging by their heads, would DO elevate
the wheel steers. Wolfe his patient animal
we're dangling Ia tnc air the driver, wit
decorous stolidity, would lcisurcly roll
cigarette into n cornshuck wrapper, light
and, after sending a biiurcatcd cloud fror
his %noslrils, goad his animals along.
Prom Port layacca 10 san Antonio, Oh
great distributing point ut that time Tor
territory greater than the New Englnn
States. on 10 New and Old Mexico, over hill
through prairie mud. through stream
gulchcs. arroyas, bnrmncns a1d swanips,
colony 81 these carts would steal along cac
guiernnlcss wheel emitting an agun ~
SIR . FOR grease or other lubricant that vi
never yonchsufcd. making q concert OF sol
orous horrors as though ten thousand d
mons were holding high aud hidcous earn
val. To keep no ing q little each day w
ali that tie Mexican cared Tor. Ills food co
little. his oxen fed on the grass, lac hl
cnrmls along the route In which 10 tai
refuge lrrm the Indiana his family ur
friends were with him and lime was not
factor. lie would deliver his goods son
tlme-any time. and II delayed ~ week
more by such % trihing interruption as u
advent Of a youthful patriot, the carayi
waited until prudence permitted rcsnmii
the Journey. Thus tle Mexican freight
lived and moved.
IAN mlucky star led the American inI
tie country. lie saw at a glance that the
Was money in it. aud entered the irciRltii
field. lie purchased army wagons ~
mules, be- creased biz wagons and fed ]
mules corn. hc left his family at home, ~
averaged only one man 10 the wagon 81
twelve mules. His wheels were narrow nj
sank deep IN the arroyas, but he hHdH'
them. Tic threw a few logs into q lagoo
crorcd his wagons on this improyiscd BIRDS
aud saved q circuiious haul hills that we
,tfcp Ice graded. and In every way was OF
stripping his slower competitor. III tccll
arOse. aud occasional conflicts resulted. ~
ally the American went a step farther J
added twelve more mules 10 hrs team. hitch
second wagon ON behind, and ~ this mi
ncr literally crowded the Mexican cart .
d the tmde. Skirmishes cnsued. Nh
would be stolen aud sent awi
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