Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-02

the center or main port;bn OF the nparejos
are two wide strips of leather which Join
In the rear and form what Is called the
c-lppcr This passes urdcr the mules
tail and kocrs any load which may
be carried frog: slipping forward The
nparejos is simply nm ingenious coEtriv-
sncc 70 protec: the mules hack Under
meath the apare,,oS two blankets are placed.
and all are held II place by what l. known
ms cinch. The clnch consists OF girth
10 inches wide and from Is TO - inches
long. passing on the outside over biGn-
kcts, aparejos and all, and fastening al the
side In the same manner NJ a saddle gir;h
When all of this Is placed I'm a position
on the mule, the pack or load Is wrapped
in canvas strips In two bundles and bound
on the sides Ivy means OF n lash rope. But
one knot Is tied in this rope, all the bind
ing being done by means Of what Is called
diamond knots and sings A diamond
knot Is formed by crozsiiR the rope ms you
cross your fingers and carrying the ends
in different directions then returning rad
crossing them again until the proper
number OF twists have been given 90 hold
the pack in position 80 as not ia any way
10 injurc the mule.
Mules are brought by the quartcrrnaster
and sent TO the barracks, where Mooney
takes charge of them. As coon ms brought
in with his aids, called pokcss. Mooney
throws blind over the mules eyes Tho
mule generally commences 20 raise an Obj
lection about this tirne. but IL makes little
difference. II Is ease Of have 10 with
him. Ths more he kicks ard iun-cs back
and forth The better Mooney likes Il. II
h.. ftth+ . ho1f h.. T.
mule, but IL he fights couple of hours
he is peach -
Finally the aparejos Is placed ON his
hack; then be is led in line with the other
mules in the train hc is to be placed In,
watercd and fed, and for two or thru.
days, longer IL necessary. he is loaslc.l and
unloadcd until all objections on his part
are overruled. In the meantime the b,il
mare To lead the troop is frequently taken
and led around the grounds, all mules he.
longing 10 the train she leads bciag un-
hitchcd and driven after hcr. In less than
n week there's rot n mile I'm the Puck
which would net follow her 10 Jericho II
she led the way.
Mules can pack from 500 20 200 rounds
!. tl's stuh Is put ON properly" sid
Mooney. In this war mules will carry
a4a iiS PRIV laioIir anu ammunition Ol Inc
army. Cuba Is mountainous country.
and IL would be impossible 10 Use wagons.
! never saw but one mountain n mule
could not climb. That was Chillsoo; fass,
IN Alaska- N comes nearer being sirnight
up than any place ever saw where people
had to go. IL is J., 80 fec, from the bot
tom TO the top. Indians get 9 cents II
pound for carrying supplies up. saw ono
Indian carry 22j pounds 10 the top. but
he had hard time Of IL. took l25 mules
up there with me 20 carry supplies across,
but no mule In the world could climb IL.
IL Is 50 steep that no one walks back ,.Oyyn.
There Is guide rope along the side. The
packer takes his load up. lays It down. re-
ccives his money. sits down In the path.
grabs the rope and away he goes You
just slide down.
but. speaking Of mules, why. they are
next 10 human beings. a little hard to
drive somrimcs. but awful casy H. lead.
They'll follow one bell leader after "a few
days training anywhere All you have io
do Is TO show them you mean business.
Then they'll take their medicine Tlsey
are like cl,ildrn TO me