The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-03
TRUE TO HIS LOVE.
A Mule With an Instinct That
Was Almost Human.
His Companions Name Disappeared and the
Despoiler Grew sick-Met Again On
Golden Gate Avenue.

A most peculiar story illustrative of the
affection OF animals for one another was re-
lated yesterday by Captain Taylor, the weIs-
known Superintendent of j. B. Haggin's
Kern County stock-farm, who is now at the
Palace.
Some time ago." said the Captain, III
conversation with a CALL reporter, I'VE
had young mare that came of good stock,
and while yet young developed great beauty.
She was not a fier by any means, and so
we could not hope TO obtain fancy price
for her; but she possessed the most beau
tiful name and tail that | ever saw in all
my experience. Both were wavy and
glossy, and of extraordinary length, the
| tail, in fact, reaching quite to the ground.
For this reason she hecame general OBJ
ject of admiration on the farm, and two or
three suggestions to sell her were promptly
Overruied. She was allowed to run at VIII
in the pasture with lot of animals, among
which was an ugly, lop-eared mule that
was about as hOmely a specimen of his
tribe as could be found in all that region.
GREW AFFECTIoNATE.
"Now this mule, ugly as he was, and
sort OF outcast among all the other animals
on the place, was seized evidently with great
admiration for the handsome mare, and he
endeaV0red in every way to work himself
into her good graces. He paid her every
attention, and made no cOncealment of his
admiration. He would hang around her
from morning Till night with an air of the
utmost patience, and by every art known to
mule endeavOr to show his affection.
These constant attentions, however, were
evidently distastefu, and as a reward the
mule was greeted with kicks. With per-
slStency that was admirable he continued
his attentions, and strangely enough the two
animals IN the course of time became fast
friends and iIseparable companions. MONTH
after month they could be seen TO gether
from morning till night, and the mule seemed
never to tire OF rubbing his head Affection
ately against the mares glossy name.
SENT TO MARKET.
"a last we determined TO sell off lot -
horses, and among others the mare was
picked out TO be brought to San Fran
cisco. We realized that she would COM
| mand good price as carriage animal, and
$500 was the sum we figured on. AS a con-
sequence We drove her to the corral. and the
trouble began. The moment she was fast
ened IN she became FESTIVE and fretted con-
stantly. The mule, too, became rebellious
and kept up such racket that We deter
mined to sell him also. Accordingly, we
drove him to the corral, and when the ami
mails were shipped he was placed in the
same car with the mare. All went well
uutil San francisco was reached and the
horses unl0aded Then was presented
spectacle that was absolutely ridiculous.
The mule had eaten every hair of the mares
beautiful name and tail, and a more laugh
able sight could not we'll be imagined. To
! punish the vandal would do no good, so
they were taken to auction, and the mare
brous ht just 500, while the mule went 10 q
contractor for $40
NIGH UNTO DEATH.
"a few days later the latter grew i'll and
for time his life was despaired of. la this
emergency veterinary surgeon was called
in and announced that the mules stomach
was knocked out. An ineis0n was promptly
made and bunch of hair at least six inches
in diameter and packed tightly together was
removed. The result was that the mule inn
proved rapidly and in few weeks was able
| to haul cart.
He toiled sullenly for time and seemed
| to have forgotten his old friend, until about
| two weeks ago, when he was passing along
Golden Gate avenue, dragging a seavenger's
cart and apparently 0blIvious TO his sur
rOundings. His ears were Tapping idly in
the afternoon sun and while his driver
dOZed over his pipe he seemed to be dream
ing of the old days on the ranch. Suddenly
on turning a corner a change came over
him. lie front of r private residence stood
carriage drawn by two glossy horses with
| flowing names, and In an instant the mule
and his old companion recognized each
other. They exchanged notes of welcome,
and the mule, in spite of the efforts of his
driver, made a dash in the direction of the
carriage. The cart cOllided with the car
riage ana damaged the paint work to con-
siderable extent, and the animals displayed
the greatest JOY.
1t was with considerable difficulty that
they were separated and the mule driven
away, / have not heard of them since -