The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-21
THE WESTERN MULE.
OF THE BURRO USeC
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

How They Are Broken to Pack Carry
ing-Strange Infatuation for Horses-Ip-
terestns, Amusing and Aggravatine
characteristics.
A man who has roughed il out
among the mountains" it was said at a
Broadway sales stable the other day.
remembers the mules about as well and
as long as anything"
1t is just about at this time, the speak
er told, when asked why the mind should
be particularly impressed by the familiar
quadruped, that good many are round
ed up for the summer work after being
turned out all winter AS natural to ex-
pect, a 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. A drove of
100 or so in 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 a
thing as one of them consenting to the
job 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 is gentleness itself beside
them, but as they are usually used for
carrying packs their wickedness does
not so much matter.
PACKING THE "CRITTER."
The first time the pack saddles are put
on young mule the excitement sur
passes description. The green beast,
strong and wiry, is lassoed and led into
a small open space. Before he knows
what it is all about a moose of the lariat
around his neck is slipped over his nose;
this gives Kim a shock, as it were, and
he makes a start for liberty But the
more he pulls the tighter the pinch on
his nose, SO he finally gives it up and
StdllUS SIlll.
More ropes are brought into use, and
he is finally brought to have a leather
binder put over his eyes. The next step
is to put the pack saddle on. The great
kicking is done when the crupper is
slipped under the tail. Words cannot
tell the way that mules heels flash
through the air in all directions But
strategy wins and mules do tire. The
pulling up of the ''sinch, as the girth is
called, brings out a new struggle, but it
is soon over and to an extent the mule is
conquered.
Mules always like company, and work
especially well with horse With
horse on the lead they will follow steadi
ly, and keep in the horses company at
night without attempt to wander away
They will even fight among themselves
to get near a horse. At night the mules
submit without moving muscle to hav
ing the packs removed A good roll or
the grass is the first thing when relieved
and then they go to eating. At any hou
of the night, if they are looked at, theil
noses will be seen on the ground, with
their jaws industriously in motion
Packing saddle is an art in itself
In former years the Mexican sawbucI
saddle was used This invariably cut
and chafed the mules back; but now
the California stuffed aparejo is the
thing. This is fastened by two men, one
on either side, who brace themselves
with one foot against the mules ribs and
pull on the lash rope with all their might
The load is balanced properly, and the
lash rope twisted and looped in sort OF
network. When all is ready for the fina
tightening the men give it to her." The
poor mule actually. groans under the
pressure, but even under this highest OF
tying the loads quite frequently slip out
of place.
CONTINUAL REVELATION.
The mountain mule is a continual
revelation. New phases of character are
continually unfolding in the most posi-
tive manner. One, for instance, will be
amiable and pleasant until led up to be
saddled, when all at once he will appar
emily be possessed of the evil spirit itself
Another will resist all attempts to saddle
and pack until the others have been
attended to. when he will be as docile as
could be wished for. Another, perhaps
used for riding, will not let a match be
lighted by any one on his back without
an outbreak, but will not object to smok-
ing. Some will wade through stream
without hesitation. and another will
vigorously object to wetting his feet.
When in the water, if one falls down
and any water gets into MS big ears, he
will lie and drown without struggle
They are very private and particular
about their ears, Directing to having
them handled.
1t is not easy to gain mules conf
dence. They are absurdly timid, and if
one of drove is scared the rest are also
panic stricken. An old black log always
makes mule shy. Snakes terrify and
bears paralyze them. On the plains nc
squirting or whipping can drive a mule
up to an Indian. Take a number of
mules and throw their reins over some
of the others ears and they will stand
all day in the belief that they are Sc
curely tied st. Louis Globe Democrat
Forest Restoration.
Systematic planting on national
scale must wait and will be sure to wait