Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-02-14
INTELLIGENT PACK MULES.
During Their army Experience The
Lenrn Many Things.

| During Their army Experience They
Lenrn Many Things.
SIN the government SERVICE" said
an ex-soldier, ''the pack trains are
led by bell mare aad the mules learn
to follow her with blind confidence
that is astonishing. After the sur
render of Santiago the army OF occu-
patton had several pack trains that
were keptin big corral near the camp.
One day General Breckinridge came to
visit General Shafter, who at that
time had shifted his headquarters to
a point near San Juan Hill, and how
to provide him with q saddle animal
was serious question. TIE climate
of south Cuba had proven very hard
on our horses and they were nearly
all dead OF disabled. In fact, the only
respectable looking beast we could
scrape mp was bell mare be-
longing to one of the trains, and the
order was accordingly given to saddle
her up.
''The general mounted and was
riding away toward headquarters,
when suddenly most hideous and
unearthly tumult broke loose from the
corral. The mules had caught sight
Of their leader and were frantically en-
deavoring to get ont and follow, each
one brayipg at tue top of his lungs
and every bray in a different key. It
was the most horrible row ever heard
in the province since the lombard
ment OF Moro Castle, and for the
time being it looked as if the crazy
mules were going to tear down the
stockade. General Bre ckinridge was
startled aad reiued up to investigate,
hut meanwhile a dozen Fuckers had
jumped into the corral and went to
work on the brutes with clubs, trying
to get them running around in circle
SO as to distract their attention. At
last they succeeded, and the general
fortunately disappeared down the road
before the drove came to q standstill
again. He would have cut a unique
figure if he had ridden up to Skaters
tent leading solemn cavalcade of 81
government mules, and that is exactly
what would have happened had it not
been for the presence of minl of the
packers.
"a pack mule that has seen service
gets very cunning. I rem mber we
had one old fellow who had been in
The army for 12 or Is years and he
knew as much as most of the men.
He was occasionally used as leader
and was very fond of the job, because
in that case he had no load to carry.
TO see him maneuvering to get to the
front was very comical. The regula-
tion pack weighs 200 pounds, and the
mules soon size it up to nicely, re-
iusing to carry anything more. For
that reason they are blindfolded while
being loaded; otherwise they would
be continually looking around to see
whether the pack was inside the limit.
"On one occasion we received a
coffin to be sent to Siboney md the
old mule referred to was selected to
carry it. The coffin weighed about
rs pounds. but the mule must have
concluded from its size thatit weighed
q ton, and he Immediately began to
groan in the most pitiful manner,
exactly like a. human being. When
tho coffin was put on his back he pre-
tended to stagger and sagged down as
if he was carrying l0-inch gun.
At the same time he turned his hoad
md looked ut me with mournful ex-
preston that was as easily read as SO
much print: Good heavensp he
seemed to say, are you going to allow
me to be crushed by this enormous
burden?" We were all shrieking
with laughter and tried 10 make him
take his place in line, but not an inch
would he bulge. Finally he deliber-
ately rolled over and knocked the
,ofin off. That settled it. We let
;he old rascal take the bell, and I
could almost hear him chuckling as it
vas looped around his neck. Another
mule was then blindfolded and took
IN the coffin without trouble"