Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-16
PACK TRAINS
Led by n Bell Mnre-Muies FOLLOW
With Blind Confidence.

(New Orleans Times Democrat)
In the government service" said an
ex-sedier, 1.-The pack trains are led by q
bell mare, and the mules learn TO follow
~ with a blind confidence that is aston
fhing. After the surrender OF Santiago
ne army OF occupation had several pack
-a'n5 that were kept I'm big corral near
the camp. One day General Breckenridge
came to visit General Shafter who at
that time had shifted his headquarters
10 point near san Juan liill, and how
TO provide him with a saddle animal was
a serious question. The climate Of South
Cuba had proven very hard on our
horses and they were nearly all dead
or disabled. in fact the only respect
able looking beast we could scrape up
was bell mare belonging 10 one OF
tho trains, and the order was accord
ingly given 10 saddle her up. The Gene
raj mounted aud was riding away toward
7 headquarters. when suddenly most
hldeous and unearthly tumult broke
/ loose from the corral The mules had
caught sight OF their leader and were
fpgnticapy' endeavorng 10 get out and
follow, each one braying at the top or
lis lungs, and every bray IN diiierent
key. IT was the most horrible row ever
heard IN the province since the bonn
bqrdment Of Moro Castle. and for the
time being It looked as II tho crazy mules
were going to tear down the stOcAade.
General Breckenridge was starued and
refined up 10 investigate, but mean
while q dozen packers had jumped INTO
the corral and went 70 work on the hrutes
with clubs, trying 20 get them running
around In circle. so as 70 distract their
attention. At last they succeeded and
the General fortunately disappeared down
tha road before tho drove came 10 a stand
still again. He would have cut unique
te~tva "a had ridden I'M 10 SnaffeT
tent leading q solemn cayaleade OF sixty
four government mules, and that Is Ge-
actly what would have happened had IL
not been for the presence or mind or tho
packers
"A pack mule that has seen service. gets
very. cunning" continued the ex-sOloier.
L remember we had one old Follow VINO
had been ia the army Tor twelve or hl.esl.
years. and he know az much as most OF
the men. He was occasionally USED as
a leader, and was very fond OF th9 )oo.
because In that case no mad no loan W
carry. TO see him manoeuyrlnY 10 ger
10 tho front was very eonheai,, ny
regulation pack weighs 200 pounds ana
tho mules soon learn 20 size IL up 70
nicely. refusing 20 carry anything more
For that reason they arc pilnu, .',a.'td
while being loaded, otherwise lhey "ouin
ba continually looking around 10 SEQ
whether the pack was inside the limit.
on one occasion We received a comm 70
be sent 10 SlbOney, ana tns oid hluie
referred 10 was selected 10
H. The coffin weighed only z,
ncrrds hut the mule must haVe
concluded from It's size that It weighed
tom. and he Immediately began 70 kroan
in the most pltiful manner exactiy IKE :.
human being. When the coffin was put oIi
bis Tack he pretended 20 gtagger ana
saeged down az II he was carrying a 10
,ncb o1,n. Al the same time he turned MS
head and looked at me with a m9urniul
expression, that was as easily tesd as 80 80
nHfNfnEI
- CIV are YOU going TO allow me 10 70
crushed by this enormous burdenr We
v,sre ali shfiebing with laughter, and
tried 10 make him take his place IN me-
bif NOT an inch would no bulge. finaiy;
- dof{berately rolled over and knocked
he coffin OF. That settled II; We let the
IA rascal take the bell. and i could al.
most near him chuckling as II was looPsa
nrourd his neck Another mule was then
Iiindfolded and took on the colin WITH
ant fFouilpN