Evening journal., 1898-08-23
sIx-MULE ARMY TEAMS.
rhey Are One of the Interesting sights
In These Days In Tampn-Mule
Recruits from Cuba.

There are about 1900 mules with the
army in Tampa. Most of these are di-
vided among the different regiments,
where they are assigned TO ambulances,
10 baggage wagons and to carry packs.
About, 500 remain with the quarter
aster, who keeps them in huge
corral, where they are under the SUI
pervsion OF Bob" and Rafael" two
Cow punchers," brought here TO COM
mand this division of the army. They
know about all there is to know about
mules. and the many scars that Rafael
carries attest u somewhat too intimate
acquaintance at times.
In all cases where mules are used
men Of experience are required to han
die them. The six-mule army team is
a common sight on Tampa streets.
The driver rides the "near" pole mule
and guides the entire six by means Of
single leather rein, called the Jerk
line" This connects with She "near"
side of the mules brides, so that he
pulls steadily on it 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 "oif"
ones, and they consequently turn the
other way. This sounds simple enough,
but in reality the skin required can
come only from long practice.
The mules are well aware when there
is a 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 destina-
tion with the deadly aim of the old
hand. The whip IS, in fact, about as
importunt as the Jerk line" There
nre times in the mules life when his
latent obstinacy comes TO the surface,
and a hundred Jerk lines" would be
Of no effect The stinging Lash then
comes into play. II is long, round,
pliable and thick, made for business
and used for II. The strap which Is
connected with the wagon brSse is
hitched TO the drivers saddle. and he
Is obliged TO manipulate this, too.
Even in its perfection mule driving
IS an art IN which something must be
left TO fate One of the best army
mule drivers on the plains always shut
his eyes tight when he came TO n dam
gerous pass and kept them shut till
safer trail was reached. He was con-
sidered the safest driver in the service
The driving of the pack mules Is
nearly always simplicity itself. Agray
mare with n bell ON her neck is led
In front and the mules follow. No ex.
planation Is given for this except that
mules are fond OF horses, and gray
one is more easily seen.
The mule, IN a way, Is docile and easi
a., ~ taught. II takes only short time
3 10 break in recruit mules" and wher
r they get 20 work they show a wonder
s full endurance. They also eat less thar
e the horse, and can go longer withou
8 water. The army mules daily ratiol
4 consists of nine pounds OF grain ant
@ fourteen pounds of hay. The fearfu
T. noise mnde by the mule, which come
a IN somewhere between donkey's bra.
S and horses neigh, Is called by face
b tious soldiers "the quartermaster'
band"
There are In the corral at Tampi
S now and scattered among the troop
g many meihbers Of that band Of priz
e mules which was captured from tn
z Spanish government on board the shil
s Catherine. They are branded with
r "" on the fore quarter, above whicl
p has been placed our ~. s." and "U
= On the hind quarter. which Is the initia
p Of the Spanish quartermaster who pur
h shnsed the mules In Texas for the Span
I ish government.-N. Y. Sun.