Evening star., 1898-09-17

to trespass again upon the park, and
caused them to be elected on the side of
the reservation opposite 10 that near which
they had been apprehended. By the time
they hal gathered together their flocls
row well dispersed among the MOUNTAINS
they We're willing enough to profit by the
lesson. The measure adopted NAV seem
harsh. but IL was the only one within the
superintendeatS power that would effect
lively prevent trcSpassing.
These little detachments were always
accompanied by small train of pack
mules. For a detachment of ten men it
would be Tecessary to have along fCur or
hve of these hardy little animals, to carry
the necessary supplies for the men, The
pack mule is a small. wiry beast that de-
NelopS wonderful amount Of Sagacity ard
ability to look out for himself. They are
IoaGed with about iJo pounds of luggage
oacG, being as much As they can carry over
such rough trails. and WITH the scant,- for
age that they can pick up on such trips as
these. They are not led. but are trained 10
follow on behind the troop or detachment
Generally one or two experienced soldiers
are detailed as packers or muleteers 20
see that the mules come along az right
and the most capable and docile mule Is
put in the lead, the others following in
single file. On account of the width of
their packs. it is rot always possible for
the mules to 60 between obStructions that
afford sufficient space for a horse and
Flder, and they learn with a wonderful
ricety just what size of hole they can slip
through
Stories of "KeIIy.' the Mule.
There was a particular mule in Captain
Woods troop that was always giving trou-
bic. This mule was Kelly" and he pos
sessed a wonderfully original and independ
ent mind, even for mule If the mules
broke away and left the beaten trail, Kelly
was always sure to be in the lead; if there
was any way by which he could shake his
pack loose, Kelly was sure to find il out
and SO 1t was in all other species of deviltry
known to mule nature. One day, in max
ing an ascent from an unusually deep
canon by rough zigzag trail, Kelly be-
came tired and decided to arrest the march
Tor awhile. So at convenient place he de-
hberately threw hinrNslf over backward and
started down the rough, stony mountain
side, striking alternately on his pack and
on his feet, until, having gone in this high
iy novel way distance of some 800 yards
he brought up by landing in the top of a
scrub oak tree, considerably shaken up II
Is true, but otherwise not seriously injured
On another occasion it became necessary
for the detachment to cross a deep mar
row gorge, using for bridge the trunk of
a huge pine that had been blown down
across the chaSm. The sheepmen had
adapted this to their needs by securing two
small saplings, about thirty inches apart
along the top of the tree to prevent their
sheep from slipping off in crossing The
horses in the detachment were readily led
ACROSS, lOE a Well-lrdlneu cavalry horse will
lolloW ms rider almost anywhere. The
most tractable pack mules followed; not so
however. with Kelly" who having nro.
ceeded peacefully about halfway across
the stream suddenly seemed to awaken 10
the fact that this sort of bridge was not
orthodox, and, as there was not room
enough for him to turn around, he execut-
ed a "backstep "a distance of some fifteen
or twenty feeD until ne was on solid
ground. Nor could he again be induced TO
venture upon the bridge, notwithstanding
all the other animals had crossed to the
other side AT last a lariat was attached
TO his saddle, and he was hauled across by
sheer force.
Necessity for Military Protection
The park has now been under military
protection since May, 1891. when it was
first opened, and the beneficial results are
very marked and freely commented upon
by those familiar with the country The
boundaries of the park have been carefully
marked out, and the trespass of sheep and
cattle prevented. Many of the lakes and
streams, once fshless, have been stocked
with trout and other fish. Forest fires have
become almost a thing of the past, young
trees are growing up with astonishing
visor, lawlessness has given place to order,
and the natural haunts of the quail and
deer have been restored to them.
At a time when much discussion is be-
ing carried on concerning the preservation
of our remaining forests. and theories free
ly advanced as to the best methods for its
accomplishment, it will be well to take a
glance at the facts here presented. The
first great requirement for forest preserva-
tion is protection; no mere printed notices
be they posted upon every tree, will accom-
plish this. The class of men by whom the
monstrous depredations in our forests are
committed is the class to which force and
force alone appeals. And the sight of a
blue uniform, entopped with the broad
brim of a campaign hat, and engirdIed with
woven belt, well stocked with car
trdges is to them more potent argument
than all the enactments contained I'm the
great volume called the Revised Statutes
of the United States"