Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-18
The Army nIuic.

Kansas City Star: An element q
strength In a war between the United
States and Spain would be the superi.
ority of the United States In the mat.
ter of mules. The United States Is Nh.
greatest mule nation in the world. and
Missouri Is the bright particular mule
state in the union.
1t Is n remarkable fact that In this
contest Spain Is also a mule country.
The ceremonial team of the royal fam.
lily of Spain is composed Of white
mules. But in this point Of COMPARE
son, as in every other, the superiority
of the United States Is manifest. AZ
the United States has more men and
more guns, so IL has more mules. Spain
has, during the three years contest
with the insurgents, been forced 10
draw her mule supply from the United
States, principally from Kansas City.
With war this supply will be cut of,
and the American mule, no longer be-
ing subject 10 draft in a cause he must
despisc, will he used in the service of
his own country.
The mule became prominent in his
tory at the time OF our civil war. The
long cared champion seemed to spring
from the earth. Many volunteers from
certain sections of the country who
had never before seen n pair of mules
harnessed lived 10 see thousands II
them hauling army wagons. Team
sters, also, seemed to be created for the
occasion. While the art of driving
mules is n separate and distinct
science, thousands of fully qualified
drivers appeared. ready TO climb into
the saddles, armed with the resonant
"blacksnake" and a full, rich and roll
ing vocabulary.
The mule, il is needless to say, has
developed in war the highest military
qualities-endurance, patience u
courage. The war horse, eulopiled by
Job and many writers since, has never
displayed the practical traits OF the
army mule, which have never been pre-
served in blank verse or flowing
rhyme. The mule is ever active, alert
and watchful, and his clarion voice
"%rouses the soldier e'er the morning
star" Usually the mule does not go
where glory waits him Though Cen
eral Fighting Phil. Kearny habitually
rode a mule), but is compelled To do
the heavy labor of the quartermaster's
and commissary's departments. But
I'm whatsoever lot-feed lot or any 9th
err in which he is placed, he does bis
duty. He has been accused of q quick
and ever vindictiye temper, but In try
ing times il was never allowed TO in
t~erfere with the performance of bis
public duties. And II was in the dark
est days and nights of the war, as his
soldier associates will now remember.
that the bright qualities OF the mule
appeared. In the darkness and storm.
with mud to the hubG, he leaned to
the collar and "snaked" the heavy
vain, calm and imperturbablc, al.
though his director wrapped himself
with curses and with a garment and
rode along enveloped in a light blue
halo of profanity. And when the mud
DIV march was over, the mule, who for
DAYS together had dined and suppcd on
end gates. released from harness, and
his long vacant interior decorated with
n few quarts of corn, ran and raced,
and sauealed and kicked and played
with his fellows as if he saw already
spanning the horizon the rainbow OF
peace.
In warm and southern regions the
services Of the mule are indispensable.
While he can live anywhere, he seems
n sort OF tropical beast. 1t Is believed
that his ample ears first unfolded in
the sun of the equator, and that PAIN
leaves and similar vegetation stirred
him TO his first high and vibrant note.
In Cuba he has found in peace and VIII
find I'm war n wide field of eXertion.
A great general has said that an
army moves I'm IT'S belly" The army
uihi' nv" -
with the best sustained cracker Inc
must eventually wear out IFS opponent
and IL is the mule that sustains tho
"cracker line" To slightly change ths
saying of General n. II. Forrest, it Is
the party that sets there the fastest
| with the mostest mules" on whose
banners will be twined the laurels OF
victory.