The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-19
LATEST AND CRAFTIEsT OF MULES
Knew when Work Would Re De-
manded of Him and Hid.
From the San Francisco Call.

From the San francisco call.
The LATEST mule in an California is the
one on the Farallon Islands that belongs
to the lighthouse keepers. He is the sue
cessor of the late lamented Jerry" and
Is known to his owners as "Patsey." In
many ways he is a smart mule, but he de-
votes most OF his talents to devising means
to avoid the little work that is required of
him. The strange thing about his plan Is
that he goes to more work to avoid work
than ii would take him to do it.
Patsey has been on the island for about
three years, and from the start seemed
pleased with his home He was brought
out on the steamer Madrona, and at once
given fun liberty. He roamed over the
island at will, and as no work was required
OF MIN he was the happiest mule in the
stall.
But day came when Patsey was not
happy. 1t was after he had been on the
island three months, and the Madrona
came back on her quarterly visit. He then
FOUND out what he twas there for As
soon as the supplies We're landed on the
Mharf Patsey had to haul them to the
lighthouse. And, oh, what hard work he
found II, after his three months vaca-
tion. Every pound was a ton, and his IN
Willingness made 1t about three. He has
never forgotten that day.
The next time the Madrona came back
Patsey was ready. The first visit of the
steamer made such an impression on him
that he even recognized the whistle as
the sound came over the water through
thick bank Of fog When the supplies
were on the landing Patsey was nowhere
to be found. Search for him as they
would, 1t was the next day before he was
unWlllnglY at work.
The next time the steamer came the
Keepers were ready for Patsey's trick
AS soon as he heard the whistle shiver
passed over him and he started for one
81 the highest hills on the island, never
stopping until he had reached the top,
all the time giving utterance to means
OF anguish To climb to the summit was
an awful task, and Patsey was wet with
persplration when he got there. OF
course, he was soon captured and brought
back, and no doubt ne found his work
much harder for his unnecessary exer-
else. But 1t failed to cure him, and every
steamer day the same performance had to
be gone through with.
on one occasion the Madrona happened
TO be IN the vicinity, possibly chasing an
blast OF the whistle. Patsey was not ex-
pecting anything of the kind and at once
became filled with fear.
There was no time to climb the peak, so
he flew over the rocks to cave. The
entrance was rugged one, but Patsey
managed to get in, and as he thought,
was out of danger of work.
1t was two days before Patsey was
~ anu a lOils SEdACu was necessary
to find him. And then the fun commenced.
1t was easy enough to get in, but getting
out was another matter. In fact, Patsey
could not do it unaided, which was the
| reason he staid there so long.
Blocks and tackle and several hours
| hard work was necessary to get the
| frightened mule out, and when at last he
| mustered up courage TO look at the wharf
| and saw no boxes there he was a most
| foolish-looking mule.
PatSey has got so that he knows when
! the steamer is coming without hearing
| the whistle. He knows when 1t is due to I,
| day. Two or three days before the time
| ne Will make himself scarce. OAe one oc-
| casion the vessel was several days in max,
| ing landing and poor Patsey was nearly
/ starved, but he never got hungry enough
| to overcome his aversion to work The
! Keepers get considerable amusement out
| OF Patsey's unWillingness to work. They
| don't mind it, particularly as they know
| where to find him now. The general yer.
| dict OF all visitors to the island is that
| Patsey should have been a tramp.