The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-04
THAT SUICIDAL MULE.
Tried to Kick Dynamite Cartridges
Close Call for Gunner and Mule.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
A young lawyer Of this city. whose office
overcome last winter by an ardent desire
10 help the Cubans Accordingly one day.
while the Maine was still second-class
bat,leship. he joined the insurgent army.
and was given charge OF dynamite gun.
His friends heard nothing Of him from that
time until q few days ago, when he re-
appeared. hale and happy. In his old
What was the closest call had?" he
said to the group that had gathered around
him TO hear some OF his experiences, Il.
wasn't In any skirmish with the Spanisrds,
although We went through some pretty hot
places. My closest call WAS as ridiculous
al It was terrible. and II was all On ac-
count Of . mule.
good-natured and gentle animal. that mule.
and for several months he lived up TO his
reputation. Ike did his work willingly and
quietly. He was just the right kind OF
thing like dynamite gun and caisson.
You know the caisson is SO arranged that
the jar nn na. sy Ss ossf
good. smart shock. though. would Set on
the whole shooting match.
Web. one day; without the slightest
nate. He was h.tehed 10 the gun and he
began 20 kick. When / saw his heels ny
ing up in the air within half q foo, Of the
The most natural thing TO do under the
circumstances would have been TO clear
out 70 q safe distance. bait 70 tell the
truth, ! was too frightened 10 run.
Il was pretty dazed and shaky. but I
remember one thought occurred 70 me like
soivsr. 1t Was not in my belt. I reInern-
was going to reconnolter the day before
He never returned IL Two or three Gu
bans were standing near
Cut his throatH / cried. pointing 10
nff mes IA =
machete and approached the animal eau
tiousiy. At the Sigh; Of him that muls
seemed possessed of thousand devils. His
eyes seemed TO shoot streasss Of IRE, ne
snorted and he went for ina; Cuban with
both foEe-feet The Cuban Ecanpered
back He seemed more afraid Of the mule 3
hee.s than OF the dynamite
There were some men on ahead who
had rsees. Run AHEAD ard bring ne a
rifle ! cried. and the Cuban started OF
Meanwhile tire mule was letting his
heels fiy again. He seemed bound 70 COM
mi. euicsde himself and take the rest Of rs
with him. He kept working in the han
ness so as to get within reach Of some
seemed 10 be half an inch nearer the c4ts-
son. Ii Was merely a question o. whether
the harness would bold | thought that
iavned Cuban would never come back with
the Ehe. stood with my eyes glued - the
spot where ! expected 10 see the NIUE
sTnash the catssoa al ans moment.
he t1Da.t tQG@BSTz iitt &4s isaF u ana
paced n rife in ny hands. Before I knew
i; almost had bead On the Beasts head
ard my nnger on the trigger. And just az
that rnonen. became calin and collected
ard began 10 reason wlth nyseIf Why
should shoot the beast until i am atsS7-
lutely sure that ne Is going Z, hit the Gals
SOM said 10 myself. It's no izse Killing
him and putting ourselves 70 TIRE sroubss
Of getting another and pe-hags no. 50
good a one IL be cant Do any sarm.'
Il SIN KEEP, bead OF The h-ssf- ard
=stchec his heels al ire same time. He
was within three OF four inches OF the csis-
son aox. II he doesn't get uch nearer
IN let him kick IL out. / thought
Well. sure enough. before lone, f5ough
II seemed an age al the time. thF brute
st1ovsd signs az becoming siuded His
kicks grew weaker and further between.
ana Ill ~ sudden he stopped ard stood
stock still completely played out In ha.s
ar hour be- started ost with the gun as
1asses and gentle "a lamb, ard he never
gave Us any tyouE.e after that R1s yoss
can b., kept a revolver IN my Bal. ias
rest os tae campaign"