The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-28
WESTERN MULE
SWIMMERS"
Another Old.Time Industry of
the West Passing in Decay.

the west Passing In Decay.
The rapid growth of our State and ad-
joining frontiers is taking from them many
of those unique means of travel known only
to our West. The 'way-b Ick East means
of conveyance in the early times was very
tame affair. and those long voyages by water
along the Atlantic Coast to Americas
greatest city afforded none of the same ex-
elements experienced by Western stage
coach or mule freght-team, writes Ed A
Frey 10 the Omaha Bee.
A mule train is only eaualed in slow mov-
ing by the bull-train. The former is made
up of from six to eight spans of mules with a
"jerk-l line" on the nigh side of the lead, and
the couductor of the train curses in pure
English and talks to the beasts In mongrel
Spanish. The 'jerk-line" answers the pur-
pose OF reins, and it matters not how great
the load or how many mules in that division
of the train, the safety Of the burden lies
with the lead team and California brake
on the lead wagon. A single train Is COM
posed OF not less than two and often three
"trail-wagons," which are led in the proper
tracks merely by small connection with
the lead team. The wagons are great affairs
and carry two tons each. thus making
freightng outfit at l cent pound for 100
miles paying cargo.
In crossing any considerable stream or
making long hill the trail-wagons are
dropped and each one is taken singly. All
this takes time, and fifteen miles day
is fair average speed. Sometimes one has
scarcely settled o'clock breakfast when
the hill four miles distant Is reached for
dinner; and then again watering places
must be reached and the days work may be
completed in that distance only. But this
distance is possibly made up the next day by
long drive, no dinner and weary legs. The
mules are let loose, and, after taking OF the
more substantial oats or corn, feed Oh the
tender prairie grass often takes them miles
from camp. Then is when the Mexican
swears in pigeon English or the Yankee
tries to entlce the mules by mongrel Span
isll.
The cooking is all varieties, with dish of
Mexican emilia cOliara (red pepper as
morning tonic. The biscuit tastes OF old
lard and cheap baking powder, and its con-
dition when cold would answer very well
for defense against Indians on the war
path. A little pure mother soil and taste
Of wagon grease, often dished up III slippery
tin plates, may seem to go back on my hue
tasting, particular reader, but | will VEN
ture the assertion that he was never hungry.
remember one time being obliged to wait
four days at the hotel Of frontier town In
this state where there was plenty. But the
flies and cooking seemed too thick and |
came near starving. In the afternoon our
IrelHnL tram SldTtSU VI ltS lOuS, tCLipuS
Journey of $50 miles. We struck a late camp;
aud il was dark before finishing the meal
of ham, biscuit and black coffee. L don t
think | ever relished meal more than that.
The tin dishes were silver plate beside the
hotel quantity and quality, and believe
any one who has passed through similar
experience will bear me out In saying That
the rough camp meal is no stomach Killer
after once getting into the ropes.
In the early days of freighling between
Niobrara and Omaha party oil old timers,
composed of Ii. We,terman, Chris Benner
and Tom Huffman, struck camp over on the
east branch of Brazil Creek. Benner was
Chief cook, and the camp having been made
late no particular attention was paid to the
material used in following Instructions Tor
'strong cup of coffee" Hungry, foot-Sore,
thirsty, the trio sat down to steaming
repast. The coffee was poured and the con-
tents drained without tasting: Ii was re-
marked that the coffee was strong. but
no particular attention was paid to the mat
ter. The evening meal completed the pipes
were brought out and the TOBACCO sought.
But in place of tobacco they found coffee,
which refused to burn as the tobacco had
cooked.
The long freight-trains of less than de-
cade ago have gone out OF business or
moved west" And what few are In exist
ence are but remnants OF what was. Even
a dozen years ago these freighters growled a
good deal because there was no business.
Railroads have cut off the profits, and, like
the railroads. these freighterS looked for the
s'long haul" Indian agencies knocked the
former profits and business when Indians
were made their own freighters: and rail-
roads came later. until now the freight haul
has simmered down to few miles and few
cents.
These freighters were happy-go-lucky
fellows, distinct from the cowboy, yet fun
of generous impulses and free with their
money Some Of the managers aud owners
turned their attention to other business as
they observed the downward tide, and some
of Nebraska's heavy Western capitalists
once owned great trains and began life as
"mule-skinners" and bull-whackers." OPP
portunities aud circumstances made men OF
the sensible and far-Seeing, while great
number drifted away into the easy-going
reckless channels-good-natured fellows,
liking the frontier world and its lonely life,
but liking the merry-making red eye better.