The herald., 1893-07-16
THIS MULE HAD SOME BRAIN.
How He Saved Several Lives
on the Desert.
Uncle Dan of San Bernardin0 Tells
an Interesting Story.
A Tale of EARLY Days on the Mojave
Desert-A Description of a Close
Call of n widow and
Her Children.

Moreno Indicator: "Come, Uncle
Dan, tell me a story" 1 said one evening
to one of San Bernardino's ancient and
weather-beaten characters, relic o.
early days and famous yarn-spinner
He was in reminiscent mood tonight
but said he guessed had heard about
all of his stortes.
"How about that muller" said.
"I did promise to tell you about that
mule, didn't L? Well, you know that
in 'arly days 1 was actin as messenger
and guide from San Bernardino to the
minin' camps in the Mojave district. II
was in '51, If my memory sarves me cor
rect. that / was in Red Jacket when
Billy O'Brien and Jack Wood hired me
to take them across the desert. The
wdder of Jimmy Sanders wanted to 20
with us and take her two kids. Jimmy
died in his boots about year before
that. Tried to pull down a jackpot on
four kings when Dick Reddy had one in
his hand. Dick thought he wasn't fit
to live 'mongst white folks and plugged
him with lead. The boys was sorry for
the widder and gave her all their
washin'.
"When I come up I had brought the
widder letter from her sister in Mis-
souri, beggin' her to come home. 1
never enjoyed takin' woman and chill
dren across the desert nohow, and it
beiH' the month of March when she
winds was likely to blow, it was tick
lish job. But the widder begged 80 hard
that told her to come along. There
wasn't any horses in camp, go tied the
twins onto my old mule with the grub
and blankets, and the rest of us had to
foot it. Up to that time I had navi-
gated the desert and never lost my
bearin's.
"In the mornin' the sun rose bright
and the air was 90 clear that could see
the San Bernardino mountains 130 miles
away, go thought we was goin' to have
a fine trip. 1t was 80 miles to water and
we had to make camp before dark. Up
to con everything went smooth, but
when we started out after grub began
to feel anxious, for there was little
whirlwinds risin' in the distance and
there was cloud overhead that looked
as itit had gale of wind in 1t: If yon
was never out on the desert in a gale
Va WAhN yOo OnA h0NO nv luCdN Vi Wu6b
blow 10. It's no picnic. Why, have
shot jack rabbits after one of them
wind storms and found their backs
shaved as smooth as your face. The
drivin' sand had shaved all the hair off.
l saw the gale comm and told the
boys and widder to get under the sage
brush while grabbed the kids off the
mule. I put them under my great
coat, one on each side. and sot with
my back to a bunch of brush. The
mule knowed what was comm too, and
he laid down and tucked his head be-
tween his legs. 1t blowed terrible
gale for about an hour, then let up
littln We had -ahnnt ak miles to on
way agin. Our clothes was almost in
rags, bein' cut to pieces by the drivin'
sand.
1T was dark when we reached the
spring but the wind had died down con-
siderable and we made fire and cooked
supper. I rolled the widder and kids in
the blankets and tucked them away un-
der the sage brush and the boys and l
laid down and slept like logs.
1.-THE next mornin' we was in pickle,
for the sand had covered the trail. Ter.
rible clouds of dust was blowin', and the
sky was overcast 80 that couldn't find
any landmarks to steer by. l Iknowed
the direction of camp, and that was all.
l decided that the best thing for us was
to etay where we was, but Bill and Jack
was for returnin' to camp, but finally
persuaded them to stay.
"The next day we was no better off.
The boys kicked and wanted to start out
but didn't like to leave wster till we
had to. After consultin' between them
.o1, IA q voi M N hnuU
bein' sure they could ffnd the way to
camp. We divided the grub and they
filed thein,canteans and started. That
was the last we ever seed OF them.
1--WE staid at the springs three days
and then it cleared off 30 that 1 could
see the Panimint mountains which
give me my bearin's and we started
for camp. About 3 O'Clock the wind
rose again and hid the sun. The widder
was gittin' foot.sore and the twins was
tired out. Their poor little faces was
sore and their eyes full of sand, but
they was gritty little burros and didn't
wimper.
| II knowed we was wanderin' in a
| circle, but didn't let OH TO the widder.
| When night came we camped under
| the sage brush, shelterin' ourselves as
much as possible from the driven sand.
1 have always been a pretty rough fel-
| Ter, but when heerd them kids sobbin'
on their mothers breast and the widder,
who hadn't once peached on the whole
trip, weepin' with them, tell you it
| Just brought the juice to my old
eyes. The grub was all gone but few
biscuits and knowed we was goners.
l laid awake all night thinkin', while
the wind was howlin' and the sand
pilin' up around my blankets, and the
coyotes 5arkin' in the distance.
What could / do with that helpless
woman and kids? Finally bethought
me OF the mule. l said to myself, them
mules are the most KNOWN of beasts
and thinks I, I'll bet the mule knows
the way back to camp, and decided to
tie the widder and kids onto his back
and set him adrift. They might as
we'll starve to death on the mules back
as sittin' under sagebrush. Enyhow
the mule knowed as much about the
road as I did and if he happened to
know more, them helpless creatures
might be saved. l knowed If | told
the widder what l was goin' to do
she'd kick, go had to work it smooth.
"Next mornin' said to her that as
the grub was all gone and che was git
TIM go weak, she'd better ride with the
! kids. / got her onto the mule with one
of the kids in front and one behind, and
then I said for fear old Jack might shake
himself, guessed I'd better tie them op
| fast Then when thay WAS all ready