The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-19
THE WESTERN MULE.
IRREGULARITIES OF THE eURRO USED
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
How They Are broken to Pack Carry
ing-strange Infatnation for Horses-in-
teresting. Amusing and Aggrsvsting
characteristics

teresting. Amusing ana fgg'h"""s
characteristics
"A man who has roughed it out
among the mountains" it was said at
Broadway sales stable the other day,
remembers the mules about rs well and
as long as anything"
II is lust about at this time, the speak
er told. when asked why the mind should
be particularly impressed by the familiar
quadrupcd. that a good many are round
ed up for the summers work after being
turned out all winter As natural to ex-
pect. mule that has had no restraint
for several months is inclined to show
the worst side when the hand of would
be master begins to be felt drove oil
100 or so i'm a corral fresh from the plains
will carry Just about as much downright
"cussedness" AS can be found in any
brute collection under the sun. The first
thing is to have them shod- Such
thing as one Of them consenting to the
lob is unknown, but frontier blacksmiths
have no fear or hesitation, and in trice
the mule is tied up and ironed.
The pack mules are smaller and IN
ferior in every way to the riding mule,
EXCEPT in toughness and rascality. Like
Joey Bagstock. the packers are sly.
Most of them are sired by Indian ponies
and are born on the open plains. a
wild horse j. gcntlcness itself beside
them. but as they are usually used for
carving packs their wickedness does
not 80 much matter
PACKING THE "CRlT1tR
The first time the pack saddles are put
on Young mule the excitement sur
passes description. The green beast
strone and wiry. Is la,soed and led into
a small open space. Before he know
what il is all about a moose of the larial
around hi-ueck l. slipped over his nose
this gives him shock. as II were, anc
me makes start for liberty But tho
more he pulls ths tighter the pinch OF
his nose. so he finally gives it mp an'
stands still.
More ropes are brought into use, an'
ho is finally brought to have a Leather
binder nut ogcr his eyes. The next stel
is to put The pack saddle on. The grea
kicking is done when the crupper
.lipped under the tail. Words canno
tell the way that mules heels iiasl
through the air in all directions Bu
strategy wins and mules do tire. Tn
milling ND Of the "sinch. as the girth
called. brings ont new struggle, but
is soon over and 10 an extent the mule
conquered.
Mules always like company, and wor
especially we'll with "a horse. With
horse ON the lead they will follow stead
is. and keep in the horses company
: night without attempt to wander away
They will even fight among themseiv'
70 get near a horse. At night the mul'
submit without moving muscle To ha'
ING the packs removed. \ good roll q
the grass is the first thing when relieve'
: and then they go to eating At any hot
+ of the night. if they are looked at, the
e noses will be seen on the ground. wit
their Jaws industriously IN MOTION.
. Packing" saddle is an art m itsel
I'm former years the Mexican sawbuC
=, saddle was used This invariably c.
. and chafed the mules back: but no
/, the California stuffed aparejo is Il
thing. rhis is fastened by two men, OF
2 ON either side. who brace themselv
with one foot against the mules ribs al
D pull on the lash rope withall their migi
The load is balanced properly. and &
y lash rope twisted and looped in sort
network. When all Is ready for the fin
a tightening the men give it to her. i
r poor mule actually groans under I
!. pressure. but even under this tightest
D tying the loads quite frequently slip o
Z of place