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

Kansas City Star: An element Cf
strength In a war between the United
States and Spain would be the superb
GRITTY of the United States In the mat
ter of mules. The United States is the
greatest mule nation in the world, and
Missouri Is the bright particular mule
state in the union.
1t is a 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. AS
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 to
draw her mule supply from the United
States, principally from Kansas City.
With war this supply will be cut off,
and the American mule, no longer be-
ing subject TO draft in n cause he must
despise, will be 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 TO see thousands or
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, it is needless TO say, has
developed in war the highest military
qualities-endurance, patience and
courage. The wal horse, euiogized 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 Ger the morning
STAR Usually the mule does not go
where glory waits him Though Cen
eral Fighting Phil. Kearny habitualIy
rode a mule), but is compelled to do
the heavy labor of the quartermaster 8
and commissary's departments. buu
I'm whatsoever lot-feed lot or any 9th
err in which he is placed, he does his
| duty. He has been accused OF a quick
and even vindictive temper, but i'll try
ing times il was never allowed to m
~terfere with the performance OF hls
public duties. And 1t was in the dark
est DAVIS 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 hubT, 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 ana
rode along enveloped in n light blpe
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 suuealed and kicked and played
with his fellows as if he saw already
spanning the horizon the rainbow or
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 i n
the sun of the equator, and hat palm
leaves and similar vegetation stirred
him TO his first high and vibrant note.
In Cuba he has found in peace and will
find in war a wide field of eXertion.
A great general has said that IAN
army moves on its belly" The army
with the best sustained Cracker line
must eventually wear out its opponent,
and it is the mule that sustains tho
"cracker line" TO slightly change tho
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.