The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-03-01
HOW HE CAN KICK
RUNT HAS TRAITS THAT WIN PR,v-
ILiGES FOR HIM.
His Ability ~ . Kicker Is Remarkable
Even For an Army Mule-A Gupshos
Puts Him Mt His Best-His Terrible Hat.
tie With the White Wolf.


| Even For an Army Mule-A Guushos
| Puts Him mt His Best-His Terrible bat.
tie With the White Wolf.
Runt is a mule His career has been
sheckered, and his life has been full OF ups
and downs. He is Is years old. He has
long since passed the time in life when
even mule has a fighting show 10 be
beautiful.
Yet Runt Is famous, and money cannot
buy him. Hewas born in Mississippi and
when years old Joined the regular army,
going to Fort Bliss, Tex. He serSed i've
years there and then was transferred 10
Fort Stanton, N NJ. When the Thirteenth
, regiment moved TO Fort sill, Runs went
with them. He served faithfully until
three years ago, when he was retired as a
veteran. The first hard service in the field
that Runt met was in 1884. IL the first
skirmish ne was wounded by his friends.
It was in August. Runt was one of eight
males hauling wagon of government
train from Carthage, n NJ, TO Fort Stan
ton Two companies of the Thirteenth
guarded the wagons. Twenty miles out Of
Carthage the Apaches attacked tke train.
AS the Apaches circled about, yelling anu
firing Runt got nervous Finally with a
kick and squeal he broke away from his
harness and galloped straight toward the
Apaches The Indians at once bore down
on Runt to capture him. The soldiers
made ready TO fire.
Don't shootl" yelled one of them.
"You'n kill Runt"
Blaze away!' said Sergeant Ray.
"He's got no business there.
The soldiers fired. The Indians scatter
ed, leaving Runt alone. Runt hesitated.
and a second volley poured forth. One of
the bullets struck his tail. With a snort
he lowered his head, planted his fore feet
firmly and began 10 kick. He kicked un-
til he fell over exhausted. The teamsters
then caught him and tied him to one of
the wagons. But his first campaign ruined
Runt as soldier. No matter where he
was after that, whether in harness, at the
feed trough or in pasture, il gun was
fired Runt would lower his head and kick
until he fell exhausted.
Runt lost his ear IL months ago. The
companies at Fort sin live far better than
any Others in the army. Beef is cheap and
game is abundant. Each company has
party of hunters continually in the field.
These parties hunt in the Wichita moCu-
tains White wolves ara mora plentiful
in those hills than perhaps in any other
part of America. in fact, elsewhere white
wolves are seldom seen. The white wolf
so called, is of a gray color, much larger
than the common wolf and far fercer.
Hunters dread him equally with the noun
tain panther.
Runt, of his own accord, joined one OF
the hunting parties going up into the
mountains. Steve Shipper, the most noted
bear hunter in the Oklahoma country,
was one of the hunters. The men set
their camp about % miles from Fort sill,
on the Signal range. Panthers and wolves
were so plentiful at night that the men
took turns keeping watch. The horses and
mules were picketed within the circle.
Runt alone refused to submit TO the hal
ter. He would back away and threaten to
snap the picket line until he was freed.
At night he would roam about III the fires
light, occasionally wandering out into the
darkness, but returning very shortly.
The fourth day before Christmas two
wagons loaded with game were sent 20
Fort Sill In the evening, after they had
gone, Shipper brought in big buck. Ie
was decided TO have u buck roast. y mon
stor spit was rigged up, big fire was
kindled, and soon the odor of juicy meat,
properly cooked, filed the woods. The
panthers, the wolves and the coyotes hur-
ried toward it. AS the time passed "a cir
Gle of wild beasts crouched on their
Launches or stole softly about on the edge
Of light, bowling yciping and barking
Old Runt was in great spirits. He cavort-
ed about, threatening several times 10
kick the buck into the fire. As the rich
odor floated forth the beasts prowling
about became bolder, and occasionally a
coyote would sneak into the open space,
only to retreat before brand of burning
wood. \ big white wolf bclder than his
fellows, twice spra1g into the circle and
snapped once at one Of the horses and once
at the skin of the buck. Runt was walk
ing slowly to and fro in the shadow far
from the fire. Suddenly there was howl,
snort. and the white wolf sprang through
the air and lit on Runt's shoulders The
mule trenbled and squealed. He backed
and shiyered and shook, but be did not
kick The white wolf sunk his teeth deep
into Runt's neck and used his claws, tear
ing the mules flesh. As the wolf clawed
Runt seemed TO become powerless, proba-
bly, through fear
The hunters crowded around trying to
get shot at the wolf. Finally shipper
seized a big burning stick and thrust it
over Runt's neck into the VOLTS face.
With a snarl the wolf opened his jaws. He
clung fast with his claws, however. As
Shipper thrust forward the burning wood
a second time the wolf shifted his position
until he crouched on Runt's back. This
gave Tom McGrath az opportunity To
shoot him.
"Bangl" went MoGrath's rife. The
bullet missed The wolf was untouched.
But with the report a great change took
place In Runt From a frightened, help
less animal he was transformed into n
fighting. kicking mule. He bucked and
kicked AID rolled. The hunters were
forced 70 beat a retreat ~ the wagons.
From there they watched the fight. The
wolf held fast, and as Runt rolled, the
wolf would creep quickly round or loosen
his grasp until the mule rose again
At length Runt in rolling worked the
wolf back ID his hind ouarters- Quick as
a fash the old mule sPrang 70 his feet,
lowered his head and let fy his heels He
caught the wolf full in the side The I'm
pact of the blow was like the crack OF
black snake whip. The clutch CT the wolf
gave way, and he sailed through the air,
landing in the heart Of the fire. He sprang
away, but shipper shot him before he
reached the outer darkness The distance
be was kicked " rs measured by the men
and found 70 be Il feet. Runt continued %
kick until ne was lassoed and bO5tled and
tied to one a the wagons The singed
SKIN of the white wolf is ia shipper 5 pos-
sessior, AID l. orc nf the tTcasnres of Tie