The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-08-05
slx-MuLE ARMY TEAMS.
One Of the sights In These Dsys in
Tampa-Mule Recruits.

One Of the sights In These Day. In
Tampa-dule Recruits.
Tampa Special: There are about
5000 mules with the army in Tampa.
Most Of these are divided among the
different regiments, where they are as
signed to ambulances, to baggage wag-
ons, and to carry packs. About 500 re-
main with the quartermaster, who
keeps them in huge corral, where
they are under the supervision of
Bob" and Rafael" two Cow punch
ers," brought here to command this
division Of the army. They know
about all there is to know about mules,
and the many scars that Rafael carries
attest a somewhat too intimate ac-
quaintance at times. In all cases
where mules are used men of expert
ence are required to handle them. The
six-mule army team is common sight
on Tampa streets. The driver rides
the near" pole mule and guides the
entire six by means of a single leather
rein, called the Jerk line" This con-
meets with the near" side of the
mules brides. SO that he pulls steadily
on 1t to guide the team to the left.
When he wants to go to the right he
jerks the line; that makes the near
mules push against the "off' ones, and
they consequently turn the other way.
This sounds simple enough, but in re-
atty the skill required can come only
from long practice. The mules are we'll
aware that there is novice at the
Jerk line" and will do as they please,
especially when the long lash used by
drivers Of the six mule team does not
reach its destination with the deadly
aim Of the old hand. The whip is, in
tact, about as important as the Jerk
line" There are times in the mules
life when his latent obstinacy comes
to the surface, and hundred "jerk
lines" would be of no effect. The sting
Ing lash then comes into play. It is
long, round, pliable and thick, made
for business and used for it. The
strap which is connected with the
wagon brake is hitched to the drivers
saddle, and he is obliged to manipulate
that. too. Even in it's perfection mule
driving is an art in which something
must be left to fate. One of the best
army mule drivers on the plains al
ways shut his eyes tight when he came
to dangerous pass and kept them
shut till safer trail was reached. He
was considered the safest driver in the
service. The driving Of the pack mules
Is nearly always simplicity itself. A
gray mare with bell on her neck is
led In front and the mules How. No
explanation is given for this except
that mules are fond of horses, and a
gray one is more easily seen. The mule
In way is docile and easily taught.
It takes only short time to break in
recruit mules" and when they get
to work they show wonderful endur-
ance. They also eat less than the
horse, and can go longer without wat
er. The army mules daily ration con-
sists OF nine pounds of grain and four
teen pounds Of hay. The fearful noise
made by the mule. which comes in
somewhere between donkey's bray
and horses neigh, is called by face
tons soldiers the quartermaster's
band" There are in the corral at
Tampa now and scattered among the
troops many members of that band of
prize mules which was captured from
the Spanish government on board the
ship Catherine. They are branded with
a "V" on the fore quarter, above
which has been placed our "U. S." and
~" on the hind quarter, which is
the initial of the Spanish quartermas-
ter who purchased the mules in Texas
tor the Spanish government.