The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-08-25
SIX-MULE ARMY TEAMS.
in These Days in Tampa-MuIe
Recruits from Cuba.

There are about 5000 mules with the
army in Tampa. Most of these are di-
vided among the different regiments,
where they are assigned TO ambulances,
to baggage wagons and to carry packs.
About 500 remain with the quarter
master, who keeps them in a huge
corral, where they are under the SUI
pervision 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 a 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
Il 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 the 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 off,
ones and they consequently turn the
other way. This sounds simple enough,
but in reality the skill required can
come only from long practice.
The mules are well aware when there
is a novice at the Jerk line" and viii
do as they please, especially when the
long lash used by drivers of the six
mule team does not reach its destna-
ton with the deadly aim of the old
hand. Tie whip is. in fact, about as
important as the Jerk line" There
are times in the mules life when his
latent obstinacy comes to the surface
and a hundred Jerk lines" would be
of no effect. The singing lash then
comes into play. 1t 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 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 a dan
gerous pass and kept them shut till
a 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 A gray
mare with bell on her neck is led
in front and the mules follow. No eN-
PLANTATION : gwen for this except that
mules are fond of horses, and a gray
one is more easily seen.
The mule, in way is docile anG east
ly taught 1t takes only = snort time
to break in recruit mules" and when
they get tt work they show wonder
full endurance. They also eat less than
the horse, and can go longer without
water. The army mules daily ration
consists Of nine pounds of grain and
fourteen pounds of hay. The fearful
noise made by the mule. which comes
in somewhere between a donkey's bray
and a horses neigh. is called by face
tious 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
"N'' on the fore quarter. above which
has been placed our IT. s" and It"
on the hind quarter. which is the initial
of the Spanish quartermaster who pur-
chased the mules in Texas for the Span
ish goyernment.-N. y. Sun.