Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-03-01
MULES FOR AFRICA.
Nine Thousand Purchased In Amer
lea by England.
Hundreds of Car Loads of feed, shoes
and Supplies Shipped with the
Animals on Chartered
Steamships.

When English capital and American
thrift combine, something is going to
happen, and the result is very apt to be
both interesting and stupendous, as In
the case of the recent purchase In the
United States of nearly 1900 mules by
the British government, and the frans-
portation of the same from interior
points, through the port OF New Or
leans, TO South Africa, for the use OF the
British army in the Transvaal.
In September last Maj. H. j. scobell,
of the Royal Scots grays, British cav
airy, arrived in New Orleans and In
the usual transformations manner Of the
English man of affairs went quietly to
work obtaining bids from the various
stock dealers throughout the west,
making several trips for the purpose.
He personally closed contracts with
dealers In St. Louis, Mo-; Kansas City,
No.; New Orleans, La; and In north
ern Texas, for $500 mules, or upward
of 300 car loads, at an average cost OF
about $50 per head +. o. b. steamer at
New Orleans-a total Of over 100000 for
the lot.
In addition to the mules Maj. ScobeH
also purchased 200 car loads OF hay,
oats, bran, etc., from New Orleans, St
Louis and Kansas City firms.
The larger portion Of the mules and
all of the feed reached New Orleans via
the Illinois Central railroad, the entire
shipment being loaded aboard the
transports at the Southport docks OF
that company, where the facilities for
handling such large consignments are
upexcelled.
The mules were moved from Kansas
City and st. Louis in special trains,
made up OF large patent stock cars, on
exceptionally fast schedules-the run
from st. Louis to New Orleans, dis
lance OF FOG miles, via the Illinois Gen.
trail, being made in 20 hours, which Is
practically passenger train service.
from Kansas City, distance OF $50
miles, via the Kansas City, Fort Scott
G. Memphis railroad to Memphis, thence
over the Illinois Central, the through
run to New Orleans was made In 40
hours, including stop-over at Mem
phis for feed, water and rest.
On arriving at New Orleans the ami
mails were unloaded and placed in large
stock. pens, where they were held and
cared for until the vessels were ready to
receive them.
The British government chartered the
steamships Prah, Montezuma, Cor
irthia, Huronia, Manchester City, An
selma de Larrinaga and Hermes to
,, transport the animals from New Or
leans to destination. The cost OF such
TRANSPORTATION was about 500 per head
These boats were specially fitted up
, Tor the service, being lighted with cleo
tricity, carrying their own disilling
plant, and every stall provided with an
automatic cock, from which water for
the mules can be let out regularly three
5 times a day. The feeding is done oy
hand, a sufficient number OF hostlers De-
Ing taken along for that purpose. One
= Or more veterinary surgeons accom-
panied each vessel, to take care of such
81 the animals as might fall sick on the
long voyage, which will consume a.
|, least 20 days from port to port.
The Manchester City, the largest Of
:. the transports, being $50 feet long
slowed away 1880 mules in her Av'
a decks, to say nothing of e0 car loads o.
feed, 5000 kegs Of mule shoes and nails
4 and nearly 300 men, including officers
). crew and hostlerA
The mule shoes. Of which there wer'
5000 kegs, were specially ordered from
= Troy, N. Y, via the Illinois Central 10
, shipment on the Manchester City. A
- this steamer was expected to clear New
!, Orleans shortly after the order wa
placed. quick service was essential
. Leslie's Weekly.