The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-15
THE CIRCUS MULE.
At Last He Finds His Match In q
Texas Cowboy.
master Meets with Man Who
Walks on with tho

fffZc.
The cowboy in riding ability is
thought by many to be almost like the
mythical centaur-a part Of the horse
that he travels upon. Of course good
many erroneous impressions are enter
tanned in regard to the reckless cow
puncher's qualifications as an eques-
TRAN. But it is a fact that some of
these fellows are very fearless and are
excellent riders 1t is common boast
among them that they can ride ANY
animal that wears hair"
A few days ago Adam Forepaugh's
circus made its appearance in one of the
western Texas towns, says the Kansas
City Union. The day the circus came
was-as is usual in small towns-a great
holiday. The people turn out from far
and near to see the wonderful procession
in the morning and the still greater
performance in the afternoon The big
elephant, which, of course, was the
largest on earth. the savage lions and
Bengal tigers with their tanners locked
in the cages-all were there, and cash
one contributed to make up the excite
ment that is always created by 1.-The
greatest show on earth in a small town.
At the afternoon performance. after the
acrobats had turned their double somer-
saults over three elephants and five
horses. and the iron-jawed lady had
been pulled several times, swinging by
her teeth, to the top of the tent-then
it was that the irrepressible little trick
mule was led forth. Here is where my
story begins.
The ringmaster drew himself up in
very important manner and announced
in loud tones that there was a standing
offer OF ten dollars to anyone who
would ride the gentle little mule. The
ringmaster, as everyone knows, is a
very necessary attache of circus and
is generally up in his business. This
one, however, missed his mark on this
particular occasion. He had evidently
forgotten what people the circus was
among at that time or had likely never
informed himself about the native
western Texan as a rider. Nevertheless,
the proposition was scarcely announced,
when long, cadaverous cow puncher,
Hank Anderson, stepped forth and said:
Mr.. Ringmaster, I'll jes' go yer one
on that little talk you're maxim
Hank had evidently been imbibing
some of the ardent fluid, but was not
intoxicated enough to effect his activi-
~. He seemed to be just about reck-
less enough to attempt most anything.
AS he lazily approached the ring his &C
quaintances in the audience-who
knew him to be one of the boldest and
most expert riders in all of that coun-
try-greeted him with such shouts as:
"Thats right, Hank, stay with 'em; that
little jack rabbit can't throw you"
The dernure looking little mule was
patiently waiting in the ring. 1t
seemed to know what was about to take
place. Hank mounted and-his long,
lank legs We're tightly wrapped around
the little animal. The beast turned his
head and eyed its rider with most cum
ming and devilish look and started out
around the ring jumping around as fast
as spinning wheel. Then it tried walk
ing on its fore feet, then on its hind
ones, then up it went in the air and
seemed to perform somersault when
it hit the ground perfectly stiff legged.
AS the dust cleared away Hank could
be seen perched upon the mules back
right side up, and a triumphant smile
seemed to steal across his countenance.
The hull in these proceedings only last
ed for few moments. Then the de-
termined little beast was again up in
the air going through the same
maneuvers as it did at first, only in
more vigorous manner. Again Hank
remained firmly in his seat. The mule
then resorted to the scheme of lying
down and rolling over and over. These
tactics proved also unsuccessful, as the
rider would simply dismount and wait
until the trick mule had risen to its
feet, when he would mount again quick
as a flash. Finally the little beast
seemed to draw itself together for
last and mighty effort; it gathered its
legs up closely, bumped its back and
shot up in the air like Il rocket. This
was repeated numerous times in rapid
succession, and each time old Hank ap-
peared on top, smiling as coolly as If
nothing had taken place.
At last the mischievous little beast
fell broadside upon the earth from sheer
exhaustion and rolled its little eyes up
at Hank with submissive and con,
quere,i look which seemed to say:
Il have thrown many rider, but at
last have met more than my match
The ring1naster turned over the ten
dollars and said that he was satisfied and
that Hank had accomplished his task.
The way the audience yelled indicated
that it. too, was satisfied. The mule
walked away with its head dropping
and plainly showed that it was perfectly
willing and satisfied 10 let Hank walk
of with the honors and thus end an IN
pleasant struggle.