Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-06-21
THE WESTERN MULE.
IRREGULARITIES or THE suRao user
IN TIE MOUNTAINS.

10" ihey Are broken 10 Pack Carry
'ng-rstrsnge infatnatisn for Har.es--in-
terestine. Amusing and Aggravxti.p
characteristics.
man who has roughed 1, out
among the mountains it was said at a
broadway sales stable the other day.
remembers the mules about as wen 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
4uadruped. that good many are round
ed up for the summers work after being
turned ont 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 a would
be master begins to he felt A drove OF
100 or 80 in a corral fresh from the plains
VIII 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
job is unknown, but frontier blacksmiths
have no fear or hesitation, and II 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
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 a young mule the excitement sur
passes description The green beast,
strong and why. is lassoed and led into
small open space. Before he knows
what it is all about moose of the lariat
around his neck is slipped over his nose;
this gives aim a shock, as it were, and
he makes start for liberty. But the
more he pulls the tighter the pinch on
his nose, SO he finally gives it up and
stands still.
More ropes are brought into use, and
he is finally brought to have 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
tell the way that mules heels fash
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 il
is soon over and to an extent the mule is
conquered.
Mules always like company, and work
especially well with a horse. With q
horse on the lead they will follow steadi-
iy, and keep in the horses company a,
night without attempt to wander away
They will even fight among themselves
to get near horse. At night the mule.
submit without moving muscle to hav
ing the packs removed. A good roll OF
the grass is the first thing when relieved
and then they 90 to eating At any houl
of the night, if they are looked at, thei
noses will be seen on the ground, witt
their jaws industriously in motion.
Packing saddle is an art in itself
In former years the Mexican saw bucl
saddle was used. This invariably Gu
and chafed the mules back; but nov
! the California stuffed aparejo is til,
! thing. This is fastened by two men, on
on either side, who brace themselve
1 with one foot against the mules ribs ano
| pull ON the lash rope with all their might
! The load is balanced properly. and tn
lash rope twisted and locped in a sort o
/ network. When all is ready for the tina
tightening the men give it to her." TIL
poor mule actually groans under TIL
pressure, but even under this highest o
tying the loads quite frequently slip on
of place.
I CONTINUAL REVELATION.
The mountain mule is continue
revelation. New phases Of character ar
continually unfolding in the most posi-
tive manner One, for instance, will b
amiable and pleasant until led up to
saddled, when all at once he will appal
entity be possessed of the evil spirit itself
Another will resist all attempts to saddl
and pack until the others have bee
attended to. when he will be as docile a
could be wished for Another, perhap
used for riding, will not let match b
lighted by any one on his back withou
an outbreak, but will not object to smok
ing. Some will wade through a strear
without hesitation, and another wi
vigorously object to wetting his feet
When in the water, il one falls dow
and any water gets into his big ears, h
will lie and drown without struggle
They are very private and particula
about their ears, ohjectine to havin
them handled.
1t is not easy to gain mules conf
dence. They are absurdly timid, and
one of drove is scared the rest are ais
panic stricken. An old black log alway
makes a mule shy. Snakes terrify an
bears paralyze them On the plains n
squirting or whipping can drive mul
up to an Indian. Take a number {
mules and throw their reins over som
of the others ears and they will stan
all day in the belief that they are s.
curely tied. st. Louis Globe Democra
Forest Restoration.
Systematic planting on nationi