Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-14
A SUPERIOR MULE.
RUNT HAS TRAITS THAT WIN PRIV
ILlGES FOR HIM.
His Ability as q Kicker Is Remarkable
Even For an Army Mule-A Gunshot
puts Him at His Best-His Terrible Bat
tie With the White Wolf.

Puts Him at His Best-His Terrible Bat
tie With the White Wolf
Runt is a mule. His career has been
,heckered, 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
sven a mule has a fighting show to be
beautiful
Yet Runt is famous, and money cannot
iuy him. He was born in Mississippi and
Shen years old Joined the regular army,
Eoing to Fort Bliss, Tex. He served five
years there and then was transferred to
Fort Stanton, n. N. When the Thirteenth
regiment moved to Fort Sill, Runt went
with them. He served faithfully until
three years ago, when he was retired as q
veteran The first hard service in the field
that Runt met was in 1854. In the first
skirmish he was wounded by his friends.
1t was in August. Runt was one of eight
RULES hauling wagon of a government
train from Carthage, n. NJ, to Fort stan
ton. Two companies of the Thirteenth
guarded the wagons. Twenty miles out OF
Carthage the ApacLes attacked the train.
As the Apaches circlcd about, yelling and
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 shoot" yelled one of them.
you'll kill Runt.'
Blaze awayp' 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 snort
he lowered his head, planted his fore feet
firmly and began to kick. He kicked I'M
til he fell over exhausted. The transfers
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, if a gun was
fired Runt would lower his head and Kick
until he fell exhausted.
Runt lost his car IL months ago. The
companies at Fort Sill 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 tho Wichita noun
in those hills than perhaps in any other
part of America II 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 fiercer.
Hunters dread him equally with the noun
tain panther.
Runt, of his own accord, joined one OF
the hunting parties going up into the
Chippnr tho noted
bear hunter in the Oklahoma country,
was one of the hunters. The men set
their camp about 90 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 picketcd 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 in the fires
light, occasionally wandering out into tho
darkness, but returning very shortly.
The fourth day before Christmas two
wagons loaded with game were sent to
Fort Sill. In the evening, after they had
gone, Shipper brought in Il big buck. 1t
was decided to have n buck roast. A mon
ster spit was rugged up, big fire was
kindled, and soon the odor Of juicy meat,
properly cooked, filled the woods. The
panthcrs, the wolves and the coyotes hur-
red toward it. AS the time passed cir
Gle Of wild beasts crouched on their
Launches or stole softly about on the edge
of light, bowling, yclping and barking.
Old Runt was in great spirits lie cavort-
ed about, threatening several times to
kick the buck into the fire. AS the rich
odor floated forth the beasts prowling
about became boldcr, and occasionally
coyote would sneak into the open space,
only to retreat before brand OF burning
wood. A big white wolf, holder than his
fellows, twice sprang into the circle and
snapped once at one of tho horses and once
at the skin of tho buck. Runt was walk
ing slowly to and fro in the shadow far
from the fire. Suddenly there was howl,
a snort, and tho white wolf sprang through
the air and lit on Runt's shoulders. The
mule trembled ana squoaled. He backed
and shivered and shook, but he did not
kick. The white wolf sunk his teeth deep
into Runts neck and used his CLAWS, tear
ing tho mules flesh. As the wolf claw"d
Runt seemed to become powerless, proba-
bly, through fear,
The hunters crowded around trying to
get a shot at the wolf. Finally shipper
seized big burning stick and thrust it
over Runt's neck into the VOLTS face.
With smart the wolf opened his jaws. He
chung fast with his claws, however. As
Simmer thrust forward the burning wood
a second time the wolf shifted his position
until he crouched OH Runt's back. This
gave Tom McGrath an opportunity to
shoot him.
"Bangr' went McGrath's rifle. The
bullet missed. Tho wolf was untouched.
But with the report a great change took
place in Runt From frightened, help
less animal he was transformed into
fighting, kicking mule. He bucked and
kicked and rolled. Tho hunters were
forced to beat retreat to the wagons.
From there they watched the fight. The
wolf held fast, and as Runt rolled, the
wolf would creep quickly round or loosen
mis- grasp until the mulo rose again.
At length Runt in rolling worked the
wolf back to his hind quarters. Quick as
n flash the old mulo sprang to his feet,
lowered his head and let fly 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 of the wolf
.,-.,. a,1 no sailed fbro1r oh he air