The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
RUNT NOT A COMMON MULE
TRAITS THAT WIN PRITFLEGEs ron
HIM AT FORT SILL.
His Abiiity 49, = Kicker Remarkable Evea
Tor an Array Muie-His First Encounter
with Apnches Spells Him ss = SoidieH

been full Of ups and downs. He is 10 years old,
He has long since passed the time in life when
even q mule has q fighting show to be beautiful.
His hair is long and scraggy. and is a faded
brown in color. His head seems lop-sided, for
half OF his left ear IL gone and what remains ID
mangled and torn. He bears four brands aside
from sight other scsrs. He Is blind In one eve
and cannot see clearly out of the other. The tip
of his tail IL missing. He lie lean and his ribs
show plainly beneath his long hair. In short, he
IL TO all appearance q worn-out old mule who at
best was never much good
Yet unt IL famous and money cannot buy him.
He was born In Mississippi and when three years
old Joined the regular army, going TO Fort Bliss,
Texas. He served ave years there. and then was
transferred TO Fort Stanton, New Mexico.
When the Thirteenth Regiment moved TO Fort
Sill. Runt went with them. lie served faith
fully until three years ago, when he was retired
as a veteran. The fret hard service in the field
that Runt met was IN 1884. In the Hrst skir-
mish he was wounded BY his friends. 1t was in
August. Runt was one Of eight mules hauling
q wagon of q Government train from Carthage,
New Mexico. to Fort Stanton. Two companies
Of the Thirteenth guarded the wagons. Twenty
miles out Of Carthage the Apaches attacked the
train. As the Apaches oircled about, yelling
and firing. Runt got nervous. Finally with .
kick and q squeal he broke away from bis har-
ness and Ralloped straight toward the Apaches.
The Indians at once bore down on hunt TO cap
ture him. The soldiers made ready to Gre.
Don't shooti" yelled one of them. you'll
kill Runt."
"Blaze awayl" said Sergeant Ray. Hes got
no business there"
The soldiers fred. The Indians scattered. lesv-
ing hune alone. hunt hesitated, AND q SECOND
III. tau Utth a anark n. i,,-ar~H ~. ho.A
nI.n,od nj. tora,.ot AIT "a $500 % 80,
He kicked untn he fell over exhausted. The
teamatera then caupht him and tied him "a one
y, Oh. w.oons pnt b,. arst c.mn.,an mined
Runt as a soldier. No matter where he was
after that. whether in barnesa. Mt the feed
trough, or in pasture, If . gun was fired Runs
would lower his head and kick until no fell s1-
One Fourth OF July the chaplain. aportly man,
Runt to ride him out Of the post on TO
tbs nrajria N viau On. n.r.d. ua nas..d th.
tno p,airlo0 70 vie~ lhe paraae nc passed tho
~guard-house Just before the sunset gun was
drew up in front Of the soldiers and Indians.
po nVS% wen, sf Raa ,es ; sass' a gun wen. hi, heel,
and OF went tho chaplain. Runt kicked until
Range The chaplain walked home.
Tho Ia a, th. noe, cond.mr. 20 y. n,,,,. al
strayins on to the parade ground, The
pound was, formerly Immediately back Of the
SaSfst on the aDs' parade SHn sr ssnSfe and in was isT iosc Esi
mp, In the pound. Runt conducted himself
quietly until the reyeille gun vas fired at 4:3o
The noise reused, the Colonel. who hurried to
the guard-house, thinking the post was attacked.
We post was alive with soldiers, skirmish,
ers started out, and came back-with Runt.
since RraEed undi9turbed on the parade ground
Or elsewhere. His hatred OF q gun is known TO
al the women snd children as well as 70 the
him, but when the troop are at drill or retreat Is
near, Runt Is left alone. His heels are re-
Runt lost his ear eleven months ago. The
companies at Fort Sill live far better than any
stSsrs IN .nf EACH sc%y com nesr u has sse q pa arS q s1 Spo Is
ers continually IN the field, b supply
heb troop with deer turkeys Tab6its, and
aunt in the wichitA Mountains White wolves
are more plentiful in those hills than perhaps in
white wolves arc seldom seen. The white wolf,
'Ss o@ o Oh : gray o1ior' mucn larger than
READ ire d0R him equ wT5 with sha Tar tSe Mountain neuGeI; p nGp :
h9nt. OF ms own accord, Joined one or the
uniting parties going up into the mountains
ast pecemoeT. Steve shipper, the most noted
bear hunter In the Oklahoma country. was one
u the hunters; The men set their camp about
range, Painters and wolves were SO plentiful
iho ooIo that tne men took turns keeping watch
" nLsIf, untneIs wouiu CreeP, up Until they
,,eached the edge OF the circle or ,ight from the
Tres when they would halt and snari and cry.
the horses and mules were picketed within the
ircle; HUNT alone refused to submit to the hal
or. ne would oack away and threaten 10 snap
ne picket line until no was freed, At night he
yGnid roam about IN the nre,s light occasion
ILy wandering out into the darkness, but re-
urning very shortly. frequently, he would APP
the man on guard and stand beside him.
ppping his nose on the watchers shoulder.
Ihe fourth DAY oefore christmas two wagons
oaded with game were sent TO Fort Sill; In the
after they had gone, Shipper brought
. q big buck lt was decided 20 have 4 buck
cast; A monster spit was rigged up, q big fire
Fas ktndled, and soon tho odor OF juicy meat
cooked. nl.ed the woods. The panthers,
ne wolves, and the coyotes hurried toward IL
IS the time, passed a circle OF wild beasts
rouched ON their Launches or stole softly about
n the edge OF light, bowling. yelping. and bark
1g. Old Runt was In great spiris. Hecayorted
oouL threatening several times 10 Kick the
uck INTO the nre. AS the rich odor noated
orth the beasts prowling about became holder,
nd occasionally q coyote would sneak into the
pen space, only e. retreat before : brand OF
urnlng wood. "A Dig white wolf, holder than his
allows, twice sprang into the circle. and snapped
nee at one OF the horses and once at the skin OF
he buck; Runt was walking slowly to and fro
the shadow Tar from the IRE. suddenly